As a man and a chronologically enhanced – old – one at that, I am increasingly hesitant about trusting my instincts. With the passing of years I have become less sure about responding instinctively to situations.
I worry that if I do something spontaneous, it is sure to be wrong. Or could have been handled differently and better had another, more carefully thought out, approach been adopted.
So to trust my instincts would be so worrying that I could not cope. Best not to be impulsive so the instinctive approach is anathema.
EDUCATION, A LIFE FORCE 
I always say better to think before you leap! (I’m “chronologically enhanced” also.)😊
I sometimes wish that I had the wisdom of experience in my youth of yesteryear.
I hear you and feel you, Henry. I miss the willingness to ‘go for it’ spontaneously; but ‘wisdom’ is probably prevailing due to our present limitations, eh? ~Ed.