We’ve all heard the advice “trust your gut.”
But what does that mean exactly? And what does trusting your gut actually entail?
You’re faced with a big decision and don’t know what to do. Maybe you have conflicting feelings about a new job offer. Or you’re on the fence about signing a lease on a new apartment. When struggling with indecision, you’ll often be told to trust your gut or follow your heart.
Trusting your gut means listening to your inner voice. Or following your intuition. And while trusting your gut may sound a bit “woo-woo” and magical, there’s scientific evidence that your gut and brain have a powerful connection, so much so that scientists even refer to the gut as the “second brain.”
Your stomach sends signals to your brain when something is off, whether it’s eating expired food, or a situation that’s making you feel stressed or nervous, your stomach will react.
So if you’re at a crossroads, and unsure of what path to take, it will help to do some exercises to help you block out the noise and listen to your intuition. Here are different methods to help you trust your gut.
Journaling to connect your hand to your heart
To paraphrase author Erica Jong, writing by hand connects the hand to the heart. So if you’re trying to figure out what it is you really want, then start by writing in a journal.
Writing by hand makes us feel less self conscious. We’re not trying to be perfect on the page. We’re not distracted by typos or spelling errors. We can write freely and without judgment.
Start with dumping out your feelings on the page. Don’t worry about trying to sound coherent or eloquent or smart. With journal writing, you don’t have to edit or censor yourself. All that matters is getting your thoughts and emotions out of your head and onto paper.
Feel free to list your annoyances, irritations, worries, fears, grievances, whatever comes to mind. And when you’re no longer weighed down by your feelings, you’ll start to gain clarity around your true thoughts and feelings.
It might help to ask yourself questions like:
- Why am I feeling this way?
- Why am I so torn?
- If I didn’t have to worry about fear or judgment, what would I go for?
- What’s the worst that can happen?
- What’s the best that can happen?
- What’s the most realistic thing that will happen?
A journal is a neutral observer. You’ll find that it’s a simple but powerful tool to examine your thoughts and unearth what your gut is trying to tell you.
Do a gut check
There’s a reason that we use the phrase “trust your gut” when talking about our feelings of intuition. There’s a real physical sensation that happens when we feel excited or nervous or scared. Think about the times your stomach has tightened right before giving an important presentation. Or getting butterflies when you see your crush walking down the hall.
Our feelings often manifest in our body. So when it comes to listening to a gut feeling, sometimes all you have to do is assess what your stomach is doing and how it’s responding.
So the next time you’re being presented with a tough decision, then try this gut check: sit in a quiet space, relax your body, and ask your gut what it thinks about a situation.
For example, let’s say you’re debating between two job opportunities. Imagine yourself choosing Company A. How does your stomach feel? Does it tighten or feel cramped? Or does it feel relaxed? Then, imagine yourself choosing Company B. Again, try to assess the sensations you are feeling.
If you find yourself overthinking a decision, increasing your awareness of your bodily sensations can clue you into how you’re really thinking or feeling.
Ask yourself what you want for lunch
Paralyzed by indecision? Or overthinking a response? Improve your decision-making ability by making more low-stakes decisions.
Making small, seemingly mundane decisions will acclimate you to the act of decision-making. And as you get the hang of making these everyday decisions, you’ll gain confidence in making bigger decisions.
You can start by asking yourself what you want to eat for lunch. Not only will this low-stakes decision help you feel more comfortable with making decisions, but it will also get you in the habit of asking yourself what it is you truly want.
You can also ask yourself: what do I want to watch on TV? Or what do I want to read before bed? Which friend do I want to see today? Challenge yourself to make these micro decisions and you’ll feel more confident when it’s time to make a more high stakes decision.
Pick a choice. Any choice.
We often feel stymied by a decision because we fear that we’re going to make the wrong one.
Whether it’s choosing the wrong job offer or apartment or vacation spot, we worry that we’re going to have buyer’s remorse on our decisions.
But it’s important to remember that more often than not, a decision you make won’t be etched in stone. If you picked the wrong job, you can always leave. If you picked the wrong apartment, you can find a new one.
And the only way you’re going to improve your decision making skills is to make more decisions. The only way you’ll be able to trust your gut is if you give yourself enough data and information to inform your future decisions.
According to neuroscience, intuition isn’t just a new-agey concept or a feeling that comes out of thin air. It’s based on the recommendations given by your brain.
Your brain is processing information and referring to your previous experiences–everything from your relationships, and conversations you’ve had with others, to the things you’ve eaten, and books you’ve read. In other words, your lived experience informs your intuition.
So if you want to be more intuitive and be better at trusting your gut, it will help to commit to a choice. Your choices are providing a strong foundation for your intuition.
Written by JiJi Lee
