Instinct

One dictionary definition of “instinct” is:

“an innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour in animals in response to certain stimuli.”

“the homing instinct”.  The “homing instinct” is an ability to return home from a great distance.

Animals are born with this incredible (to me) sense.  They are not taught the thought or feeling to “return home” as we are through intelligent language, gestures or behavioural patterns.  

Human instinct is defined as “the way people naturally react or behave, without having to think or learn …”.

Human instinct seems more varied and less simplistic, though just as incredible (to me).  We are are learning as soon as we are formed and never stop, our entire lives.  I feel happily exhausted at just the thought, and also really excited all at once.  I hear people say they were bored at the weekend or of a quiet evening.  I think the last time I felt bored was as a teenager, before I was out ALL of the time!  Being a parent now leaves no time for boredom (but many boring chores that I am training my monk mind to embrace ha ha), I get really self indulgent planning a “quiet evening” of doing NOTHING (apart from this new love of blogging or creating art), I love the headspace and time to just be!  I admit, I sometimes have little excitement from data inputting in my Admin day job, it is not thrilling and could be classed as, yes, bloody boring!..I divert…back to “instinct”…

We do not learn instinct, we are born with it.  Have you ever considered how magical that is?

I love it when you read or hear stories of true human instinct, such as how a neighbour has run into a burning house to save the dog, no thought necessary, just a hugely selfless, brave, dog lover!  I watched a video once that showed a traveller jumping instinctively into a fast flood to rescue a sloth clinging desperately to a branch, about to go under or get swept away, he didn’t know the sloth, he didn’t have to care, he didn’t consider consequences, it made my heart swell! I am no athlete but on a couple of occasions I have caught the dog’s ball thrown my way that can only be seen by my peripheral vision, no time to process there is something going to hit me full in the face, my ninja-like smoothness grasping the offending object, and for that split second I AM Superwoman! That is human instinct (I’m not really a ninja or Superwoman, well not on week days!).

On a less dramatic note, my Mum always gives good, sensible and sometimes, contrarily, off-road (that’s the best!) advice.  She ends with “go with your instinct” (I am not so gullible to think on occasion this could well be because Mum does not know what advice to give in that moment!).  No matter, this advice always feels like the most empowering to me.  Instinct can feel like the most simple choice, yet, the most intricate to hone in on.  

I personally value human instinct above the angel on my right shoulder gently guiding me to  the most logical path, or the devil on my left shoulder cackling for me to be reckless, You Only Live Once (could not bring myself to abbreviate that…must get down with the times some day!)…My instinct feels as if it is a higher level of trust that I should never ignore.  Well, if it is good enough for bees, it is good enough for me!

I consider my instinct to be that “knowing” in my soul of which cannot be taught or directed by another human.  It can, at times, be distinctively physical, I become aware of the butterflies in my tummy or the warmth (of love or dread) in my heart…at times it takes a lot of quiet and concentration over a significant amount of time.  Or, in contrast, I have experienced instant flashes of doubtless epiphanies.  Yes, of course…or…not on your nelly!

Either way, trusting your instinct is “returning home” to a safe, settled space, after the journey.  With no time to doubt, no matter what the consequence, just a natural reaction out of your angel’s control or your devil’s irresponsible dictatorship.  Instinct is natural magic, my magical best friend when needed.

Do you listen to your magical best friend, instinct?  Or do you have an amazing story of instinct, natural reactions or instant superhero’s?  I would love to hear them.

Thank you for reading my blurb.  Until next week…we are not alone…