74. Trust Your Intuition

Have you ever found yourself getting into a situation that you just knew was not right for you? There were no doubt all kinds of “reasons” you could put down on paper that pointed toward going ahead with it, but there was something about it that just didn’t feel good. If you listened to your intuition, you were probably glad later; if you didn’t, you were probably sorry.

All of us come equipped with a still, small voice inside. Unfortunately, our life-styles have become so fast-paced and hectic that many of us have forgotten how to listen to it.

For years, whenever I was faced with a major decision, I would make a list of all the pros and cons, and then make my decision accordingly and, I always thought, logically. Oftentimes, logic had nothing to do with it. One of the things I’ve learned by slowing down is that, if I’m listening to my intuition, I don’t have to make a list, I just know what I should do.

I have a friend who, when he can’t decide between course A or course B, simply decides on one or the other—it doesn’t matter which one—then he listens for the small voice which tells him whether he’s happy with that decision. He has made a special point of teaching this method to his kids so they can get an early start on learning to trust their intuition.

Uncluttering your life (#1), learning to say no (#84), spending one day a month in solitude (#77), making an annual retreat (#79) and many of the other ideas in this book will contribute to slowing down your pace, and help you get in touch with your intuition. Learning to trust it will help keep your life in balance.