Sometimes I Just Know Things and Am Never Wrong About Them

First, some background: the project that I have been investing most of my time in at work (since I started!) almost completely unraveled today, setting me back weeks.  I also found out that several other people had spent months trying to get this project to work and had failed before I was hired.  I'm not sure that anyone has a good handle on exactly what the problem I'm facing is or how to solve it, though there are some very promising avenues that I'm going to be following in the days and weeks to come.  In short, this task looks extremely difficult and many would throw their hands up and say "impossible!"

Second, some clarification: I have a very strong sense of intuition.  Ideas, convictions, and other thoughts will sprout into my head with very little set-up or thought.  Typically they take two forms: the first form is that a hundred facts will coalesce into something truly profound and the second form is a strong confidence in my ability to carry out a task.  An example of the first form came during a car ride home from my grandmother's house.  The car was silent when I began laughing.  When asked what was so funny, I replied that my father's password to the family computer had just occurred to me.  I don't know if it was changed when we got home, but I didn't bother trying it.  I had no reason to be sneaky and I just knew that I was right.  Years later, my dad told me that I was, in fact, correct.  The other form came this past winter.  The previous winter I had run the mile twice in 4:20 and change but didn't seem to be quite as sharp heading into a meet at Boston University.  Somehow, I knew that I could run faster than 4:20.  The track coach said that he thought I should run conservatively to put myself into position to run around 4:20 in two weeks.  The cross-country coach told me he didn't think I could do it.  I just knew I could.  Sure enough, I ran aggressively and ended up with a 4:19.70 that will likely stand as my PR for a long time.  Sometimes, I am wrong about things, but never when I just know.

Third, the pieces come together: This time around, I just know that I can overcome this challenge and complete the project.  Intellectually I am sure but the intuitive knowledge that I can is comforting.  I don't expect it to be easy or always fun or pleasant.  But I expect success because I know I can deliver.