Trusting in yourself and your instincts is crucial for improving your success. One of the most subtle yet important emotions to embrace is your "gut feeling," also known as intuition. To some extent, believing in yourself relies on reflection and tapping into innate physiological responses that arise in various life situations and challenges you encounter daily. Based on a series of life experiences and interactions that cannot be disputed, trusting in yourself, your "gut feeling," your intuition the ability to perceive naturally or consciously without deliberate thought should provide an initial sense of comfort and practical guidance when making both minor and major life decisions.
Self-Reflection
Looking inward, assessing, and contemplating one's own thoughts, feelings, and sensations to gain insight and develop an understanding of personal behaviors and experiences.
Judy M. Kellum's Story
Judy M. Kellum, a 45-year-old executive director of JMK Enable, an Atlanta community-based organization she founded, provides mental assessments and services to abused women and adolescent girls. JMK Enable relies primarily on grants but also on fundraising efforts and donations from supporters, professionals, and local celebrities. Over the years, Kellum has built trusted relationships within the community and is known for her compassionate, authentic, and reliable approach as a leader and professional. Following a recent fundraising event organized by Kellum, staff, and several beneficiaries of JMK Enable, Kellum was informed by her accountant that $2,000 was missing from the funds collected. Days after the event, Kellum convened a meeting and discussed the discrepancy with the designated staff responsible for handling cash donations; initially, no one came forward. However, the next day, Nina K., a longtime JMK program manager and single mother of two, requested a private meeting with Kellum and confessed that she had indeed "borrowed" the money to cover her upcoming mortgage and groceries for her children, intending to replace the funds within a week during the next payroll cycle. Kellum has known Nina for more than a decade and has always valued her integrity. This incident has strengthened both their professional and personal relationship. What should Kellum do in this situation? Could the solution be clear to you? While Kellum raises many valid points to Nina, her "gut feeling" suggests there may be more to uncover beneath the surface, warranting a deeper investigation for an informed and potentially rectifiable response before any permanent actions are taken. Many of you, at some point, have or will face a personal, professional, ethical, or social dilemma and will need to make a decision that feels right and one you can live with.
Life coach and motivational speaker Iyanla Vanzant discusses in her book "Mastering the Four Essential Trusts: Trust in God, Trust in Yourself, Trust in Others, Trust in Life" (2015) the inherent power of "trust in yourself." She explains that
"Trust transforms rejection, surrender, disappointment, and loneliness into motivation instead of obstacles.Trust propels us beyond what's happening and what's missing into taking the next best step that will make a difference trust is an intrinsic part of our human identity."
At the same time, Warell (2020) suggests that not trusting oneself limits self-confidence and the belief that one's full potential can be achieved. While self-awareness and authenticity-centered behaviors build trust, integrity must be paramount to avoid inconsistencies between words and actions (Nguyen, 2022).
5 Top Reasons to Listen to Your "Intuitive Feelings":
- Core Beliefs and Value Alignment
- Accumulated Knowledge and Experiences
- Ability to Empathize and Understand Others
- Holistic Perspective and Subjectivity
- Signals and Warning Signs
Logic and rational thinking certainly have their place and, for many individuals, take precedence over subconscious intuition, but recognizing and heeding your inner voice goes beyond mere validation. According to Ryan (2015), when we trust ourselves and our instincts, the following can occur:
- We Flourish in Our Authenticity.
- We Release Ourselves from "Shoulds" and "Musts."
- We Live More in Alignment with Life's Path.
- We Assertively Say "No" When Necessary.
- We Liberate Ourselves from Some of Society's Expectations.
We Become More Optimistic and Trusting in Life.
Trusting in yourself can be innate and cultivated. Relying on knowledge and experience unique to you can aid in making both significant decisions and meaningful actions or inactions in life. While intuition should not be the sole basis for decision-making, learning to listen to your "intuitive feelings" can serve as a valuable tool and complement to logical reasoning and critical analysis. Strengthen your inner resilience and enhance your mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being with mindfulness practices. The power resides within.