DEEP THOUGHTS: Perception or Intuition?

I grew up with a mother who "knew" people. I didn't understand how, but within two minutes of meeting a person, she could later describe their personality traits. I would say to her, "How did you know that? You're psychic," to which she adamantly replied, "No, I am not. I'm just perceptive." Time proved all her opinions about people to be true. I was amazed at her ability (she was not a people-person), and to irritate her a bit, I would call her a psychic. As I experienced more in life, as I observed a person's every move, listened to every word, delved into the person's motivations, I developed my own brand of perceptiveness. 
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I knew when a person was lying. I could sense a person's inner sadness. I became so confident in my ability to see through individuals, I began testing it. At networking events, I engaged people in conversations and I could weed out the BS, the inflated truths, the outright lies, and the arrogance covering their insecurity. I am not psychic, and I now understand why it upset my mother to be called that. It negated her ability to listen intuitively and to observe. Judging is not a popular word these days, but judging is exactly what we do when we meet a person. Is she boring? Is he arrogant? Does she think she's the only her opinion matters? Is he narcissistic? We form opinions with every new person we meet, and when done through careful and cautious observation, I think "judging" is a good thing. 

Judging tells us when to beware. It guides us to good people and steers us away from the bad. The alternative is to go into relationships and situations blindly. We wouldn't buy a house without a reputable inspection. We wouldn't sign a contract without careful legal review. Why would we enter into a relationship without careful observation and judgment of that person? Too many people leave relationships (business and personal) in shock at the person's behavior. If they had paid attention to every word delivered in all communication modes, the betrayal and the shock would not have happened. It's called living life with eyes wide open, which means PAYING ATTENTION. Pay attention to everything. We use very little of our brain power--not a good way to experience life. Being naive is great at five, appropriate at 10. As adult, being naive is dangerous. 

College doesn't teach the skill of perception or intuition, but that doesn't mean adults shouldn't learn it. Start opening your eyes, your ears, your heart, and tune in. Pay attention to all you encounter, to all who surround you. Perception is the greatest and most helpful gift you will learn. It doesn't come magically as it may to psychics; you will have to work to achieve it, but when you do, you will see all it offers.

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