There is often no difference between the rationale and the instinct. Initially you subconsciously reach a rational conclusion, but you are only consciously aware of the conclusion. We call that instinct, but there is no reason why that could not have rational underpinnings. It takes some effort to get your subconscious to inform your conscious mind of the rationale. You are not conjuring up a clever story: you are discovering the clever story that was already written.