Start Trusting Your Gut

Gut checks work

I wish had the confidence to always trust my gut, no matter the backlash I faced further down the line. People who make big calls on a hunch tend to do well.

And even if things go pear-shaped, at least they have been true to themselves and can take full responsibility.

That inner feeling that tells you something isn’t right usually happens for good reason.

According to the Harvard Business Review, Scientists call the gut the “second brain” for a reason:

When you approach a decision intuitively, your brain works in tandem with your gut to quickly assess all your memories, past learnings, personal needs, and preferences and then makes the wisest decision given the context.

I always knew there was a part somewhere within my beer belly that has wisdom beyond its years.

My gut could always tell me quickly if a person is a bad egg or if a situation is not right for me.

There have been key moments when I knew I was going down the wrong path, but everything told me stepping away would be a mortal sin or bad for my career growth.

The idea of conforming and going down the conventional route doesn’t sit well with me.

In fact, it never has.

My gut told me early that “this isn’t for you, pal”. And continues to reinforce this narrative almost daily.

I remember my gut screaming at me when I was in my first lecture at college.

But I ignored it. And sat there like a chump for 3 years.

My gut was furious with me. I suppressed the uncomfortable kidney shots my gut was throwing like a young Mike Tyson. I told my gut, I just need to get this degree and you and I will be free.

But then I got a corporate job. And my gut started to get really mad with me again. I said we will just do this for a year and then we will go on an exciting adventure. And then I continued down this route for more than 5 years.

My gut has gone into hibernation at this point. He has given up trying to push me into a better life. At times though, he will be back with a vengeance and say, “mate, I know you can do more than this.”

But due to my excuses and inactivity, my gut has all but lost hope. Like so many of our guts. We get in a decent enough position and then we settle. And our gut starts to settle down a bit more.

Until the mid-life crisis kicks in and our gut puts its foot down and says, so you have lived a dull, unfulfilling life. But let's at least go out in style and buy a sports car to make up for the life we were too scared to live.

Give yourself a gut-check

It’s never too late to listen to your gut.

When you face an important decision in life, give yourself a gut-check.

What is your gut trying to tell you?

Don’t ignore it and face regret further down the line. Let your gut lead you.

Trust your gut is responding in a way for a reason and has your best interests at heart.