Should You Trust Your Instinct?

When I think about the things that happen to us in life, I see them fall into two categories. The first category holds the things that happen to us without our control. Things in this category can include being involved in a natural disaster or having someone run into your car. The second category has things in it that happen to you as a result of consequence of poor decisions. Those things can include damaging your health from over eating or too much smoking. Those are kind of easy examples to make a point, but what about the daily decisions you face like who to date, whether or not to make a purchase, or what career moves to take?

How do you know if you're making a good decision? How can you ensure that your decision today will be the best choice for the outcome of your tomorrow? I'll tell you first to go with your gut, but your gut can be very misleading. Your gut can tell you that pint of ice cream is just what you want, and you know you'll regret it tomorrow. Your gut can be impulsive and romantic and make you feel amazing. Sometimes following that instinct is absolutely the thing to do, but when it comes to major life altering decisions like continuing to date someone, taking or changing a job, or picking up the phone to make that call, how do you really know if your gut is being honest with you? How will you know if your decision will be the right one resulting in joy or the wrong one resulting in a negative consequence?

I asked my mentor, Rhonda Shasteen, these questions, and she knew just what I meant. She advised me that if the gut feeling sticks around, then it is likely the right move. If the feeling is fleeting like the craving for the pint of ice cream, it may not be the best move to trust your instinct.

I once had the strong gut feeling to take a job if it came through. The gut feeling was strong and lingered for several months while all the pieces fell into place. When I had a choice to take a risk to open up the opportunity to take the job, it was a no brainer. I had the gut feeling stick with me for so long, that I knew it was the right thing. I took the risk, and I've never been happier with a choice. My gut was right, and I was true to my instince and myself.

Go on and trust your gut because you can!