What comes to your mind when you hear the word “intuition?” For most of us, intuition seems downright mystical because it’s a concept not easily described in physical terms. We all know what our “gut feeling” is, but too many of us write off intuition as some otherworldly ability that has nothing to do with the rational mind. Or does it?

Forbes published an article in 2017 that suggests otherwise. According to Gerd Gigerenzer, director emeritus of the Center for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, intuition is about instinctively understanding what information is important and what isn’t. So, those inexplicable hunches are more rational than you might realize and can even be viewed as a form of intelligence.

In other words, smart people listen to their gut feelings! In fact, most people can’t make intellectual advancements without the power of intuition to guide them.