Decisions, Decisions… They’re a major part of the fabric of our lives. Research shows that we make around 35,000 decisions a day! As a highly driven career woman, you’re constantly making important decisions that help a business thrive
One way we make decisions is based on deliberate, logical thinking where we assess and analyze a situation, facts, current information and a step by step process to problem solve and come to a decision that makes sense. Another way we make decisions is based on our intuition or “gut feelings” and sometimes it’s a combination of the two.
What Is Intuition?
Intuition is the ability to connect the conscious and unconscious parts of our mind. We’re able to bridge this gap using the gut-brain connection. The gut sends sensory information via the vagus nerve to the brain.. so the neurons in your gut communicate with the neurons in your brain, it’s like an informant. Then, you experience specific feelings in your body that let you know if a situation, person or decision feels right or wrong to you. Sometimes thinking and analyzing just isn’t enough. You gotta get out of your head and tune into how it feels in your body… in your gut.
You can call it your inner guidance, sixth sense, instinct, inner voice or a hunch. It’s a deep, inner knowing or sense of certainty that just feels right and you trust it. For some people it’s difficult to trust, so they dismiss it because it doesn’t always make sense or can’t be explained. It’s just a sensation in your body that leads you in the right direction.
10 Common Signs Of Gut Feelings
- “Butterflies” in the stomach
- A sudden sense of clarity
- Clammy or sweaty palms
- Tension or muscle tightness
- Tightness or a sinking feeling in your stomach or chest
- Increased heart rate
- Goosebumps
- Hairs standing up on your body
- Vivid dreams
- Calm, relaxed feeling in your stomach
We experience a lot of physical sensations all the time. The intuitive sensations we receive can come on suddenly and may be gentle or strong.
Having self awareness helps us know when it’s our intuition kicking in. The more you practice self awareness and understand the signals of your body, the better you will understand the intuitive hit or download you receive and be able to listen and trust it. Your intuition kicks in no matter if you ask it to or not. It’s your choice to notice and listen.
Women tend to be very in tune with their intuition. Using it as a powerful decision making tool for career and business related issues is like having a superpower. Studies show that many successful leaders, executives, managers, etc. rely on their intuition to navigate the most challenging situations and the time-critical decisions they’re faced with on a regular basis. It’s not just a woo-woo theory.
5 Examples of using Intuition in Career or Business
- You want to make a career change and you logically way the pros and cons, but in the end, you tune into what “feels right”
- You receive a sudden opportunity to relocate for your job and although everything sounds amazing, your intuition says no
- You’re hiring an employee and you pick up on a negative or positive vibe from them that helps you make your decision
- You have a potential business deal on the table and while everything looks good on paper, you turn to your intuition to determine your decision
- The business needs to head in a new direction and you’re not sure where and then out of nowhere, you have a moment of clarity
How to Trust Your Gut Feelings
One simple exercise you can do when you need to call on your intuition for an important decision is by closing your eyes and saying to yourself “I am going to blank” (fill in the blank with one possible decision, such as “I am going to change my career”) and notice what you feel in your body/gut. Then do the same thing but with the opposite statement “I’m not going to blank” and notice what you feel in your body/gut. You may notice any of the signs mentioned above indicating a yes or a no, a wrong or a right.
5 Ways to Cultivate Your Intuition + Trust Your Gut
- Practice Self Awareness
- Check in with yourself
- Create Moments of Silence/Stillness/Meditation
- Disconnect from devices
- Get adequate Sleep/Rest
If the concept of learning how to trust your gut is new to you or maybe you’re skeptical I highly suggest you try integrating it into your decision-making toolbox. Again, your intuition is kicking in whether you’re aware of it or not. Of course it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of a situation, analyzing and evaluating all the facts and data, but adding in the amazing tool of intuition can really help you bring a more holistic approach to making a well informed and accurate decision so you can thrive in your career and business.
Do you have any questions for me about following your intuition or learning how to trust your gut? Leave them in the comments below.
