When do you trust your gut over your brain?

By Nate Williams | Published: February 9, 2010

Give Away Closed: Winners have been notified!
Thanks for stopping by.

Another giveaway!!!! Nate you sooooooo crazy!

What: I am giving away 3 pillows . (your choice)

About: When I was working in a corporate environment we measured everything …  ROI (return on investment) was king—finding a way to measure a campaign’s success was extremely important. We ran usability tests, held focus groups, reviewed eye tracking studies, analyzed statistics, tracked youth macro/micro trends, and much more … I think that information was very valuable but I felt we put far too much emphasis on things that were easy to measure, and not enough on things that were less calculable and more intuitive—things that live on the subconscious level.

And so, in response to this deliberate environment, I launched my own zine. Hola Amiga was about doing exactly what I wanted—for some or absolutely no concrete reason at all. And it was about not having to explain why I did what I chose to do. It was about nurturing and exploring the subconscious realm, all in a very low tech way.

How: To enter, leave a comment on the following:  ”When  do you trust your gut over your brain?”.

When: On March 1st 2010 I will randomly select 3 people from below and mail each person a pillow of their choosing.

Rules: Just one comment per person on this page http://www.n8w.com/wp/2725.

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  • teacuprach
    when it comes to love, I never trust my brain. it tells me things are good even when they don't make my heart happy.
  • Somaia
    I trust my guts over my brain when I see something I really like/want,but my brain is telling me that I can't have it for any reason !
    so I trust my gut & go for it !
    " like now my brain is telling me that I'm too late & I don't have any chance to have that pillow, but here I am commenting ! :D "
  • Isn't the foundation of modern art about feelings over thoughts? Think Rothko. For me, it's always when choosing colour. How does burnt cinnamon feel over pumpkin orange? Calm ocean green over just-boiled spinach? Perhaps Walker Evans sums it up more eloquently: 'Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts'.
  • Bonnie
    When my son wants out of jail again! Though he has an unbelievable talent for drawing, he has an equal talent for getting into trouble. At 30, he says he wants to get help for his inherited 'attitude problems' but needs a job to support his twin baby girls. Which is why I found your website. (Beautiful pillows,BTW) He is about to ruin his hands by loading & selling scrap metal since he can't get a job with his felony record. How can he sell his artwork -- to keep from being evicted? Okay, is this from my brain or my gut?? :) Thank you for any help!!
  • patindeldiablo
    I'm gonna say that when you're about to fall in love with "that girl"... you know, when you're sure that she's the one... you don't think, you do things happen... well, that's where I'm writting this from... wish me luck! Maybe I'll need it, maybe I won't but I have "the girl"...
  • I think people (including myself) trust their guts over their brains when 'art' is a part of it -- visual arts, music composition, creative writing, etc -- whether it is the actual process of art or the presentation (i.e., sharing) of it. Art is a "deliberate arrangement of elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions," and people become more intuitive, or instinctive, when they start becoming artsy :)
  • I think of the gut feeling as a solid thing under all of the thoughts and anxieties and other distractions in my head. The gut is solid and quiet and sometimes I have to make a lot of effort to cut through everything else and feel it. Almost every time, this has worked. One example...when my husband and I got engaged after only 2 months of dating, I was really worried about whether or not we were compatible enough, worrying about whether or not we were being impulsive, etc...but my gut said he was the one. And now we're still together 10 years later. We've got three kids, and he is still my best friend. The trick is learning to hear the quiet sure thing underneath everything else.
  • 11clare98
    First use gut then add brain...this method should be intrinsic to all good design... personal style can only evolve from this starting point. My gut says live and let live and Nate your art is awesome!
  • leo0528
    When it feels right.
  • Anything to do with my kids and their care.
  • my brain always tries to win. and even when i follow my gut, it's usually with the brain's (reserved and reluctant) consent. i like to have both in tune, but sometimes i go with gut, sometimes with brain. all depends! harmony all around it best!
  • kathy n
    always. I'm a teacher. Admin & politicians obsess over data. Not sure it's relevant.
  • BigeyesWorld
    I used to trust my brain until I realized I was better choosing with intuition rather than the brain. Maybe a really hard illness combined with an absorbing job and meeting my husband made me drop off everything I had, I changed country and start from 0.
    I's been a year since I decided to beat for me and it worked!
  • adamexcell
    I trust my gut when I'm creating. My brain tries to complicate things with reason, my gut is all feeling.

    These pillows are gorgeous Nate, very well done.
  • Peahead
    I always trust my gut over my brain... I used to go with my head more often, but always ended up going back to the thing my gut wanted!!! It feels much better when I go with my instincts - true to myself rather than what I think I should be doing.
  • mishi
    All the time. I only start thinking when i'm full. And then I fall asleep.
  • kareno
    Almost never, except when there's chocolate chip cookies involved.
  • Jay
    When it comes to sex. Oh, wait . . . maybe that’s something else.
  • elainechiu
    When I know that's what I truly want....whether it's an object, a goal or a person....
  • elainechiu
    When I know that's what I truly want whether it's an object, a goal or a person....
  • daverowley
    Gut over brain when writing or painting, brain over gut when grocery shopping, and mix it up when playing poker :)
  • Liz Muller
    Hello Dear--You are doing so well and such great work. I just had to comment because when I taught 2nd grade, my advice to parents was always "trust your gut" when it comes to your kids. Even if it doesn't turn out as well as you hoped, you will always know you have done your best.
  • Always with my children.
    P.S. love your work
  • Ymm
    When I'm creating I'm easily trusting my gut; it's the best thing in life I would say!
  • When your brain keeps talking and your gut says one of two words: no or go.
  • mrcompton
    When the creative sparks are flying!
  • mrcompton
    When the creative sparks are flying!
  • I trust my gut over my brain when I consider both options separately and one of them makes me feel a little nauseous and uneasy. Then I know that is the wrong one!
  • almost all the time. with every tooth, with every nail. but with no brain :P
  • when i surf ♥ ....if i used my brain for surfing i'd still have my big toe poking in the wet sand thinking how ridiculous catching waves really truly is.
  • jusabar
    I trust my gut when I meet someone. I usally get it right...
  • zigouiman
    Coll stuff… Nate, I want them all… pillow !!!
  • zigouiman
    Coll stuff… Nate, I want them all… pillow !!!
  • when you are young, everything tends to be judged with the gut.... as we get older, we start believing that the brain is better (you know reason and all). the trick is to go back to believing in your gut (or what I like to call the heart... I kinda view them as the same thing).

    ok, that's it, thanks Nate!! hope you are well and enjoying summertime in B.A. I love the picture of Milo at the water park. You must have had sooo much fun!! xx Brenda
  • Amy
    I trust my gut over my brain when it comes to paint. Conventional wisdom often tells you to play it safe, but so far, I've been much happier when I have chosen colors that are a bit unexpected or bold.
  • katyant
    When I'm opening my frig :-)
  • Well, I always try to find a balance bewteen what-could-work and what-I-like-doing. Brain has 2 totally different hemispheres and I believe it is good to estimulate people with different kind of sensations. So, I find shing & shang quite effective... a bit of salt and a bit of sugar :)
    Thank you
    Juan
  • When I design I try and trust my gut instinct as to whether something works or not.

    When shopping, I'll try clothes on and trust my truest and first reaction, I can always post-rationalise it with my brain later.
  • When I'm designing something, I try and trust my gut instinct on whether it works or not.

    Also when shopping, I trust my gut reaction when I look in the mirror and then post rationalise with my brain.
  • ktangster
    Simple. Love.
  • lovebunny77
    My brain in generally quite untrustworthy - therefore gut usually wins, usually followed by brain saying -- oh ok then.. well maybe... you might be right.... = decision made!! ;o/
  • Sophie Leon
    when I have a problem I try to think a lot about it to fix it, but I never can fix it until i just stop thinking about it and just do whatever my heart tells me to. It's not okay to do everything ur guts tells u, but it's not always right to do what ur brain says, sometimes it's fine to let urself go :) ...do i get a pillow!? they're great!
  • When I'm illustrating, sometimes my brain says "I don't know if anyone else is going to like this" but my gut says "I love this piece of art."
  • outi
    when I get inspired and excited about something with big WOW! then I am on the right bath.
  • Clau
    Mis instintos siempre me advierten Cuando algo anda mal .... siempre los escucho! Yo quiero ganar algo !!!!!!!!!!!! jajajajaj
  • when it comes to my kid - my gut. didn't always used to be that way. but i think i'm finally trusting it now.
  • When I'm out shopping for clothes. :) I love the pillows especially the 3rd his ans hers one :D
  • Dan
    I never trust my brain, it's even more ridiculous than my gut. So I trust my gut always.
  • I think I would say I trust my gut in a lot of situations. I will still take time and mull things over and consult those who are wiser than me but in the end do what feels right. I have faith in God and will pray about it if the right thing isn't obvious. I guess that would still count as a "gut" feeling since faith is not necessarily a logical thing. Also, since I have faith in God, I don't think that events occur on accident. I think that God uses situations and people in my life for a greater purpose, even if I don't know what that is. That's not to say that something won't turn out badly but even that bad thing will teach me a lesson or help me grow. Obviously, not everyone is meant for greatness, but everyone is somehow a part of God's plan and if you believe that, then I think the "right" decision will come to you. Also, if you know what it says in the Bible then you have a pretty good idea of what the right thing to do is. I know I'm probably taking this question too seriously but if I am being honest, that is how I really feel.
  • Dickie Chikago
    Simplest example : when I am drinking wine and with a hungry stomatch = time to eat. My pillow please.
  • I mostly trust my gut in human relationships and art, and generally my brain follows.

    Nice pillows!
  • When it screams for scotch eggs... Brain says NO! Tummy says YES! Tummy wins ;)
  • Lizzie
    When I'm in a cake shop.
  • Heather
    I seem to trust my gut instinct much more easily when the decision doesn't impact other people. When the consequences of a bad decision could affect others, it gets more complicated... I hate indecision in general though, so a short, sharp gut decision is always preferable to long, drawn out researching!
  • Amy Hawk
    I trust my gut over my brain when it comes to matters of the heart. Sometimes you gotta go with a feeling no matter how ridiculous your brain tells you it is!

    (Love the pillows!)
  • vanessasky
    I go with my gut when there isn't valid science for me to go by, which is plenty. I think the gut and the mind are connected really, and I believe there is a Radiolab on the subject. It's on how the body quickly accesses memories which can turn into instinct, I think. Beautiful pillows!
  • simona bava
    I would say 100% procent but I don't sometimes I use my brain and I always (almost) regret it.
  • LauraBe
    I suppose I am really luky, being my guts and my brain often in tune! But, when they do not agree on something, I usually follow my guts and my personal tastes!
  • christin
    the gut doesnt lie....the brain can trick you....go with the gut always even if it doesnt make sense at that moment.
  • whoops -- meant to type 'love' the colours... not look!
  • these are gorgeous. look the colours + the design - and even the tag!
    very inspirational.
    thanks nate!
  • thanks ... more coming very soon :)
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