When you were growing up, did you often hear your elders tell you to follow your gut? I did, but I can’t tell you that I fully knew what they meant. That is … until I got older.
I’ve always been a little more intuitive than the average bear. My hunches and insight have often surprised those I come in contact with as well as myself. Unfortunately for many years, I didn’t take advantage of this intuition for myself. I didn’t know the importance of listening to my inner voice.
One of my biggest life lessons came when I decided to buy a house some years ago. I searched high and low for a place that was a good fit for me and my budget. I finally found a home that I liked. However, the neighborhood left a lot to be desired. Despite every uneasy feeling, I jumped right in and made the purchase. The closer I got to the closing, the louder the voice became telling me I was making a mistake. But wait… I didn’t know how to hear it and clearly didn’t listen.
That house had a lot of great memories as well as quite a few rough ones. Some of the unpleasant experiences were constant reminders that I should have passed on that home. It was during that time that I promised myself that I would make it a point to follow my gut.
So how do you do it?
1. Acknowledge uneasy feelings – Have you even been preparing to do something and felt a little sick and changed you mind? Often our bodies will physically tell us if something isn’t right. It could be a queasy stomach, headache, or a feeling you can’t explain. Make sure you take it seriously.
2. Listen to your inner voice – Do you sometimes hear a soft voice instructing you how to proceed? It can be as simple as “girl, don’t enter that building” or “be careful how you interact with that person.” Often this is your gut warning you that there will be consequences if you go against that voice.
3. Spend time by yourself – Some people call it meditation and others refer to it as being still. Either way, it will be hard to listen if you are busy all of the time. It can be hard if your daily life requires you to be around other people all of the time. Spend at least 15 minutes each day in silence and watch how you are more attuned with yourself.
How do you follow your gut? What is your ritual for hearing it? Has ignoring your voice put you in bad situations? Feel free to share.
Courtney Bell is passionate about helping people achieve their goals. She is a life coach, professor, and blogger with over 10 years of experience creating strategies for adults and students to live the lives they desire. Courtney currently lives in Chicago. Like her Facebook page – Courtney Bell Coaches and follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cbellcoaches.
