If you’ve ever felt something terrible was about to happen on the road before it did, you’ve experienced the RVer’s sixth sense. The lump in your throat before you step outside your rig and see a mountain lion on your camera? That’s it, too!
Now before you write this off as a bunch of nonsense, hear us out. All animals have a sixth sense of danger, including humans. Bob Wells of CheapRVLiving explores the science behind what most people call intuition.
Join us on this exploration of the RVer’s sixth sense and discover the science behind it.
Let’s jump in!
RVers Use Sixth Sense for Safety
In his video, The POWER of Intuition, Wells jumps right in with the science behind the RVer’s sixth sense. Known for his in-depth look at RV life, Bob doesn’t usually hit us with too much scientific information. But in this video, he does exactly that and explains why it matters.
Wells begins by discussing how we owe intuition to the evolutionary process. What most people call the “lizard” brain acts as the first responder in times of danger. Following the science, Wells explains this as the “fight or flight” response that keeps us safe.
Bob refers to this as a gut-brain connection; we’ll discuss that more in a bit. For your sixth sense to help you, you’ve got to trust your intuition.
In modern society, there are so many competing sources of information that sometimes, that connection feels lost. But never fear! You can restore it by using your intuition more often.
But more than just safety, intuition also allows our brains to process information in the background. So while thinking about dinner, for instance, our unconscious minds may be processing the cure for cancer.
What Is Your Sixth Sense?
Intuition refers to your ability to know something without using analytical skills. Think of it as a bridge between instinct and reason.
Instinct is an innate behavior, and in animals, it exists deep in their DNA. Because most creatures don’t possess the higher level thinking skills of humans, instinct rules their behavior. On the other hand, humans use reason that often gets in the way of our intuition.
We think of intuition as a hunch, a gut-feeling, premonition, inkling, or tingle down our spine. All of these things describe the way our gut-brain connection works to keep us safe. When we don’t understand where a feeling comes from, intuition is usually the source.
How Does Intuition Relate to the Triune Brain Theory?
Think about your brain as three parts working together as one. Going back to the evolutionary process, the earliest to evolve was the lizard brain.
Located at the base of your brain, this part responds the fastest to threats. It communicates to the rest of your body that, yes, you should probably run as fast as you possibly can.
The mammalian brain evolved later and sits in the center of your brain. This is where things like emotions, memories, and habits form.
Neurologists believe this center section is where your personality develops as well as the ability to make informed decisions. It’s the seat of emotions and lets you know how you feel about what you’re seeing and experiencing.
The last section of our brain to evolve sits at the top. This segment involves how we reason, create, and use language. Additionally, it lets us use abstract thought and images to communicate.
All three parts of the brain work together to form our experience of the world. But the most important takeaway from this section of Bob’s video is that they operate at different speeds.
Intuition, rooted in the lizard brain, is lightning fast and can save your life if you’re tuned in.
Pro Tip: Use your intuition when facing these 5 RV Safety Concerns.
What Role Does the Vagus Nerve Play in Your Intuition?
If all of these feelings existed only in your brain, it wouldn’t do your body much good. The vagus nerve is how your lizard brain communicates with the rest of your body to act. Connecting to every major organ, this nerve transmits the message of fight or flight throughout your entire bodily system.
Often called the stress response, communications from the vagus nerve increase the volume of certain chemicals in the body. These chemicals increase your heart and breathing rate and put you on high alert.
You might feel a tingle down your spine, butterflies in your stomach, a lump in your throat, or chill bumps all over your body. These all signal that it’s time to pay attention to your surroundings
The impulse from the vagus nerve is the literal conduit through which the lizard brain saves your life.
Is It Possible to Develop and Strengthen Your Sixth Sense?
As we said earlier, tapping into your intuition isn’t just about saving your life. Scientific discoveries, technological advances, and business moves may result from intuition. But if you feel like you’ve reasoned your way out of this gut-brain connection, there are ways you can reconnect with yourself.
Behavioral scientists suggest that something as simple as keeping a journal helps connect you to your sixth sense. Journaling allows you to think through your day and recognize your thoughts for what they are, intuition.
If you choose this route for reconnection, make sure to turn off the inner critic. Self-editing stops the lizard brain from really coming out.
Mindfulness is another way to tap into your intuition. When you’re in a new situation, think about how your body feels. Focusing on sensations rather than thoughts puts your lizard brain in the driver’s seat.
Additionally, pay attention to your energy levels. If you feel drained around someone, it could be your lizard brain telling you they’re toxic.
And capture those “aha!” moments throughout the day. These flashes of inspiration helped creatives make cognitive leaps that gave us the polio vaccine, light bulbs, and computers. Perhaps that’s what we’re referring to as lightbulb moments.
Pro Tip: Bob Wells thinks you can live the RV life affordably, so we uncovered Is Cheap RV Living Fact or Fiction?
Learn to Trust Your Gut
Putting yourself in unfamiliar situations can be a recipe for disaster. Our brains evolved with the necessary tools to keep us safe if only we tuned in to the messages.
Wells’ video is an excellent primer on the systems that make our hair stand up and our hearts race. For RVers, this sixth sense is a powerful reminder to listen to our gut. Trust yourself; it could save your life.
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