I’m a firm believer that whenever you’re making a decision, be it personal or professional, you should always use an equal combination of solid research and pure instinct.
Your intuition is that little voice that you have inside that guides you and pulls from the knowledge you’re holding within. Think of it as a decision-making compass. I rely on my intuition for all of my major life choices and it hasn’t led me wrong. In fact, it’s only been on those occasions where I went against my gut, that I ended up feeling as if I ultimately made a mistake. I did this a couple of times, and ended up regretting it!
So, if you are considering a big choice in your life or if there has been some sort of huge decision that has been weighing heavily on your mind, ask yourself the following questions:
- What does my gut say?
- What was my first instinct ?
- Do I have any misgivings about any of my choices or options? If so, what are they?
- Have I done thorough research? Do I need to conduct more to get to the bottom of it?
- Have I given myself enough time to ponder my options and sleep on it?
- Is there something bothering me or making me feel uneasy?
- Has anything like this ever happened to me in the past? What decision did I make then?
- What emotions am I feeling in response to the choices? Are any of them negative?
- Is there a trusted friend or family member that I can talk it over with?
- What’s the best and worst thing that I can imagine happening as the final outcome?
Asking (and then answering) these questions can help you to decide. If you sense that something is off, you are probably right. Your intutition will always show you the way. If you find that you have gone against your intuition in the past, it might be due to issues related to an inability to set boundaries, people pleasing, not feeling excited about your future, or freezing up when making choices.
To pull yourself out of this type of intuitive funk, try to take some time out to relax and let your mind do the work. Reflect on similar situations that have happened previously and think about how you can do choose similarly in this case. It can also be helpful to jot down your thoughts related to each option or talk them out.
Remember that your intution is a trusted friend who will guide you through all of your critical choices. As such, embrace it warmly.