Daily writing prompt
Do you trust your instincts?

Got quite a bit of work to get through today so I thought I’d keep things short and as interesting as I can.

photo by : moderatelivingblog.wordpress.com

I trust my instincts only 39% of the time and that’s if my random number generator spits out a number to its right sided corresponding shaded block.

Why 39%, you ask?

While instinct is a good thing, too much of it can put me into unnecessarily risky situations. But when I compare it to having an overly sterile life (which can also be counterproductive), the benefits of having some type of dynamism slightly outweigh the risks. After all, the greatest risk is not taking one. I’m willing to venture outwards for personal growth, but I want to do it in the most controlled way possible. Thus as a rolling probability check, it accounts for only 39% of all decisions

Finally, I figure that logical thinking is a good thing to have, but I’m afraid that my logical thinking may be unjustifiably tainted by past experiences that I put too much weight on. And that these past experiences have less and less of a bearing as time goes by. So, in the same way I cap my sense of instinct, the remaining table values on the table are my allowance for an analytical approach.

Hope y’all have a good one 🙂

By the way, everyone has their own sense of risk and logic so, it’s good to get a real hold of how adventurous you are by taking into account the number of risks you’ve taken and how much of them have panned out.

39% is a relatively aggressive attitude to take towards instinct so for some of you, you may want to dial it back.

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27 responses to “Chances Are – Part I”

  1. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    Venturing outward, in a controlled way…that sounds tricky!

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      ikr?? it’s all a very inexact science :/

  2. ibarynt Avatar

    That sounds like a damn if you do or damn if you don’t situation, whether it be instinct or logic.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      the worst part about it is, the outcome can still be negative either way. life is as unpredictable as it is beautiful!

      1. ibarynt Avatar

        That is what I say too life is unpredictable yet beautiful 🙌

  3. Ana Daksina Avatar

    I heard about a study once which asked one roomful of people to choose from a selection of art prints by instinct, and another room via a rigorously mental vetting. Brought back two weeks later and asked if they would now rather exchange their choice for another, almost everyone from the vetting room wished to replace theirs, while nearly none from the instinctive room did.

    As you’ve ably pointed out above, it’s a matter not of totality but of balance, and the point of balance is unique to each!

    Thought provoking post, integrating mind and heart. 👍

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      now THAT is an interesting experiment! and the results don’t surprise me at all given the subject. i’m glad you enjoyed the post Ana! 🙂

      1. Ana Daksina Avatar

        Aha ~ the nature of the subject was an element I hadn’t factored in, but you’re right, that would shift the balance also 👌

  4. lyndhurstlaura Avatar

    Good title!

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      Hi Laura! I wanted to do my comment on your post as my post for today but I just had a ton of stuff to work through. I’ll begin it for this Friday. but yes, the title fit in with the instinct question and will serve as a reminder that I have to get back to your post.

      1. lyndhurstlaura Avatar

        Hi there, no problem! We all have busy lives, and there’s no rush. So take care of priorities and the rest will follow. Have a good week! 😊

        1. Michael Williams Avatar

          Hi Laura! for some reason, the comment will not appear or let me send. weird right??? anyway, I’ll put it on as my post tomorrow. just wanted to let you know because I enjoyed your post!

          1. lyndhurstlaura Avatar

            How weird that is! Not to worry, looking forward to seeing it on your post. I’ve had issues sometimes adding comments on other bloggers’ posts, with the system demanding that I log in – when I am already – or putting my comment as anonymous, amongst others. WordPress has its issues like other social media. Take care. 🙂

  5. Darryl B Avatar

    Interesting way to quantify this! I assume the 39% is the instinct that says “waaait a minute…” 😂 So yes, for me going for it, regardless, 2/3 of the time is beyond my “risk tolerance”… kudos on your boldness 😎👍

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thanks Daryl! and yes, the “wait a minute…” moment is the signal that goes off in my head when I find myself projecting my intuitiveness on something. other times, it will be the “whoa, whoa, hold on a second….” lol.

  6. thingsihavethoughtof Avatar

    Hmmm… mathematically, 39% just means you don’t follow your instincts much and do the opposite more often than not. So you don’t trust your instincts, which is reasonable for some people.

  7. AinaBalagtas Avatar

    Very interesting! Insightful! I can’t wait for the Part 2. Oops… I love the title too!

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      thank you Aina! i didn’t explain it here but it’s actually a reference to a comment I made on someone’s site but was deleted by wordpress (it seems like wordpress has had some problems lately :/). nevertheless, i’m glad you enjoyed the post. I’ll have the other post up on Friday, the other part is a bit of a read so I don’t know how I’ll structure it so that I don’t take up yours and others’ time 🙂

      1. AinaBalagtas Avatar

        You’re the boss, Mike! I support you. Thanks a lot!

  8. Laura Avatar

    Wow this was interesting Mike 😆 you don’t think at all that 39% sounds risky at first, but then…
    Thanks for sharing your perspective, you’re right we all have our own balances of risk vs instinct

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      hahaha! i knew you’d notice lol. yeah, when you really think about it 39% is actually alot of trust in instinct alone. i just count on it not being too bad if things go sideways and it sort of works itself out from there lol

      1. Laura Avatar

        That’s true, and actually a really good way to look at it lol 😆

  9. Madam Avatar

    19 percent is the highest chance I usually take. 49 percent is a bit high.

    1. Michael Williams Avatar

      that’s fascinating Andy. most people would say they are more instinctive but it’s refreshing to hear you consciously stay at a low number. do you feel like you have a narrower margin for error with such important judgements? or do you like the rational approach better?

      1. Madam Avatar

        Michael, thank you for asking. I walk in the spirit of discernment, which means I listen to the inner high self (the Holy Spirit). I noticed my approach since becoming a single parent has forcibly been rational. Being a parent and my goals of working in a leadership role don’t give me leeway to make unwise decisions.

        Most of my choices are part of a collective of choices my inner circles of community friends would make.

        I am sad I don’t have the space to convince myself to date any time soon.

        The mindset gets in the way of my long-term goal, which is marriage.

        Good question.

        1. Michael Williams Avatar

          i understand now, and I think there’s a beauty in its practicality.

          and I’m sure a special man, sent by God, will see that – if they haven’t already – and is being slowly guided to you.

          besides, at 19% of the time, whatever instinct you allow will be pure and meaningful. and if it doesn’t get you to your goal, it will more than likely set you up to the step before it!

  10. Madam Avatar

    Thank you Michael. Your answer gives me confidence. Blessings. 🙂

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