365 Days With Self-Discipline: 365 Life-Altering Thoughts on Self-Control, Mental Resilience, and Success

WEEK 44

Day 302: On Listening to Your Gut

You  might  find  the  idea  of  listening  to  your  gut  feelings  odd  or  even

ridiculous.  Some  people  I  coach,  normally  left-brain  individuals  who  use

logic  and  facts  all  day  like  engineers  or  accountants,  are  not  used  to

following  their  intuition  and  feelings.  Instead  of  asking  themselves  “What

do I feel?”, they are more comfortable asking “What do the facts tell me?”

—Nigel Cumberland

 

301

Using  logic  and  facts  is  essential  in  accomplishing  your  goals,  but

sometimes  it’s  important  to  listen  to  your  gut,  instead  of  what  you  can

determine through using a rational thinking process.

For example, I was once running a company in a profitable industry,

with a good and proven business model. There were many possibilities for

growth, clients enjoyed the service, and it was probable that (with enough

persistence) I would get venture capital funding and expert coaching.

However, in my gut I felt that the business wasn’t for me. It clashed

with  my  personality,  and  no  amount  of  rational  thinking,  facts,  and  logic

would have persuaded me otherwise.

In the end, I sold the company and it proved to be the right decision, a

decision that was based primarily on my intuition and feelings, not logic.

Don’t  ignore  the  usefulness  of  your  gut  feelings.  It’s  fine  to  be  self-

disciplined and remain persistent no matter what, but if deep down you no

longer care about your goal or it otherwise makes you feel uneasy, let your

intuition make its case. It’s highly probable that it’s right.

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