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Challenge Starts Wednesday!
Friends, it’s just a couple more days until May 1st, the day I’m starting the Trust Your Gut challenge and documenting it here. You’re welcome to join me, or do the challenge on your own. The downloadable guide is free, over here.
So why learn to trust your gut?
Because gut feelings are a real, tangible source of insight.
There's solid scientific backing gut feelings. It's not just a hunch; there's some serious brain-gut communication going on.
Research shows that our gut, equipped with its own network of neurons and neurotransmitters, communicates bidirectionally with our central nervous system. This enteric nervous system, often dubbed the "second brain," might just be the source of those gut feelings we often overlook.
The Gut-Brain Connection is a thing
Studies have shown that our gut can offer insights that our conscious minds might miss. For example:
A couple years ago, my day-job decided to reorganize. It’s a huge company, and do the math, a couple years ago was the start of the insane pandemic. I had been working for two different teams for a while, splitting my time between Group A and Group B.
I liked them both well enough, but they did very different things. The content of the work was different, the personalities of the teams were quite different, and whatever choice I made could change the trajectory of my career at this company. I was given a choice, and it was kind of a big deal: I had to pick one group to move with, today.
On paper, it make total sense to go with Group A. I was doing the most work for them, I like them, they liked me. They needed me to keep doing my work.
But my gut pointed elsewhere. Group B, it said, even with its unknown future, morale-upheaval, and state of dissarray was the way to go.
I surprised a few people by switching tracks, and in short order, it became clear why: the structure of Group B shook out over time, and I was 100% in the right place for me.
On paper, it was the wrong thing to do. But my vibes said otherwise, and the vibe was right on.
If you’ve ever made a decision based on a gut feeling that turned out to be right, that's your intuition at work, my friend. Our gut is closely linked to our emotional responses. It's rich in cells that produce neurotransmitters and hormones associated with our feelings. So, when we get a gut feeling, it's not something to ignore—it's our body's way of signaling something important.
So, how do we tune in to these gut whispers?
Notice when it’s happening
It starts with being present and receptive to our body's signals. Practices like meditation and mindfulness can help us quiet our minds and listen to our intuition.
Document and reflect
It's not just about tuning in; it's also about reflection. Pay attention to your gut feelings and how they play out in your life. Notice when they lead you in the right direction and when they might be off-base. This reflection helps us understand our intuition better and distinguish it from other mental chatter.
Discern
It’s not about blindly following every gut feeling; it's about discernment. By getting to know our gut feelings and how they manifest, we can learn to trust them as valuable guides in our decision-making process. As you document your experiences, you’ll see trends that will teach you the difference between your intuitive voice verses your “ego” voice. (I define “ego voice” as your mortal, biased, “I want this not that” self.) Your intuition is neutral. Your ego-voice has an agenda. Discernment can help you tell the difference.
Next time your gut speaks up, take a moment to listen. You might just uncover some valuable insights that lead you in the right direction.
Get the guide
If you aren’t sure where to get started, this free download will help you with daily exercises you can do to kick-start your intuition.