How Trusting Your Gut Can Help You Make Better Life Choices

Have you ever had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right about a person or situation, and ignored it?

I used to do that all the time. I took jobs that looked good on paper, spent time with people who drained me, and paid the price. It wasn’t until I started trusting my gut that I began to make better choices.

When I Didn’t Listen to My Gut

I once hired a job coach after being laid off, picking them out of several options. I fell for their sales pitch, even though something told me that their approach wasn’t right. But I was vulnerable and ignored my instincts.

I accepted jobs even when something felt off, like the manager’s communication style or being part of a department that didn’t align with my skills or interests.

I prioritized salary and the company profile, but ignored the discomfort I felt within.

None of these choices ultimately worked in my favor in the long run. Over time, I’ve noticed a pattern: whenever I ignored my gut, I ended up unhappy.

Since then, I’ve learned to tune in to what my body is trying to communicate. But I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a reason my body knew before my mind did.

Gut as Your Second Brain

In the book Zen Camera, David Ulrich shares that there is a network of neurons lining our gut, known as the enteric nervous system (also referred to as the second brain).

These neurons send signals to our brain, alerting us to any threats or dangers in the environment. These signals can trigger feelings like anxiety or excitement and influence the choices we make.

Ulrich encourages photographers to trust their intuition. He asks them to notice how their body responds to a scene and to let those sensations guide the shot.

This philosophy doesn’t just apply to photography. It extends to the rest of our lives: To trust the wisdom of our gut and the signals our body sends us.

Trusting Your Gut

Learning to trust our gut isn’t easy. Our environment can impact our ability to trust our instincts.

Sometimes, I’ve stayed in situations longer than necessary, thinking I was being resilient.

I’ve woken up feeling anxious daily in some jobs. I’ve stayed around people who made me uneasy just to be polite.

It’s only after leaving those situations that I realized how much calmer my body felt.

Walking away from a situation or person can feel like a failure, but it can be an act of self-care. My body kept giving me signals throughout my challenging experiences, but I wasn’t listening.

You may be used to relying on your head and dismissing your gut. But the important choices in our lives require both.

Someone may look great on paper, but if your gut says something different, it’s worth paying attention.

Learning to Listen Inward

Learning to trust my gut took time and self-reflection. I had to become more aware of how I felt in different situations and with certain people.

Journaling and meditation have helped me tune in to myself and understand my patterns.

The next time I need to make a decision, whether it’s for a therapist or a business, I pause and pay attention to what my gut is telling me. I notice whether I feel rushed or if that choice brings me peace.

I honor what I feel rather than what looks good on paper.

What has been your experience in trusting your gut? How often do you listen to it when making important decisions?