Using Your Intuition to Guide Your Business
Posted on December 06, 2017 by Andrea Scharlatt, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Find out why using your intuition is one of the most important things you can do to create a happy and successful business.
Some lessons in life and business are hard. And one of the hardest is learning to trust your instincts.
Now, I’m not implying that every business decision you make should be determined on feelings alone. There are definitely times when some good old fashioned research, data, and logic are helpful tools to building a successful biz. But even when the data and logic point in a specific direction, you still need to evaluate how the decision feels. Does it make your heart flutter with a feeling of intrigue and anticipation? Or does it create a feeling of dread or anxiety in the pit of your stomach?
Several months ago, I made a decision about an area of my business based entirely on logic. There were a lot of people telling me what the “smart” thing to do was, and the data on numerous spreadsheets backed it up financially. Logically, it made a lot of sense. Intuitively, I knew it was the wrong choice for me. The thought of it did NOT make my heart flutter with anything close to intrigue or anticipation. Rather, it felt more like someone had just strapped a twenty pound weight around my chest. But, despite the message my body was clearly giving me, I moved forward under the misguided belief that if it was “logical” it must also be “right”.
WRONG!
Fast forward. Basically I trudged through four joyless months agonizing over the details, and feeling all sorts of anxiety, dread, and resentment about my decision. But despite that consistent gnawing in my gut that was clearly telling me “you do not want this!!!”, I carried on–working hard and spending precious time and money to bring to fruition the very thing I knew I didn’t want.
Until last week. Last week I was fortunate enough that the universe intervened and brought my plans to a screeching halt. But here is the crazy part. I was devastated! I spent about an hour in agony and panic about the “opportunity” I had just lost, and I tried desperately to get it back. Until, it dawned on me, “What am I doing? I don’t even want this!” And suddenly, all that weight was gone. I was free. I realized that it was okay to let it go and walk away, because that was what my gut had been telling me all along. Although the decision wasn’t logical, I knew it was right.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time I have learned this lesson, and it probably won’t be the last. Maybe you can relate. The temptation to do the things that we “should” be doing can often lead us away from doing the things that we actually want to be doing. That can be especially true when those around us are reinforcing all those “shoulds.”
But this life isn’t about becoming who you think you should be. It is about becoming who you truly are!
So, whether you are making a decision about your career, your business, or something in your personal life, feel free to gather all sorts of data, advice, and facts. But before you act, take a moment to listen that voice deep inside that knows something far more important than any spreadsheet or any professional–it knows your heart.
Want to get more in touch with your intuition? Contact me to see how my unique blend of mindset coaching and EMDR can help you find and trust your inner voice.
