Why It’s So Hard to Follow Your Gut
“Do you think everyone has a gut instinct?”
“Yes.” I answered. “It’s not a matter of having one or not. We all have one, and we all can hear it, but not everyone trusts themselves to act on it.”
Following your gut, usually means defying logic, and without self trust, it’s difficult to go against the grain to take action.
Typically, our gut instinct, or intuition, means letting go of what’s practical, and having faith in what’s possible.
I had a trip home planned, to fly from California to New York for a family event. Two weeks before that trip, my gut told me to go home early. That it could be my last chance to see my Grandpa, who wasn’t doing well, despite my mom predicting he had about 3–4 weeks left.
Logistically, it didn’t make sense for me to fly home-
$700 airfare, 9+ additional hours on a plane, missing more days of work after just coming home from a 10-day vacation.
On paper, this “wasn’t smart.”
Intuitively, I knew I had to go.
So I went. I arrived and had an amazing conversation with my Grandpa. The next day, he passed right in front of my eyes.
If I had denied my intuition, quieted it, and instead leaned into practicality, I never would have had that last chance to hug him and laugh with him, and I certainly wouldn’t have been there to witness him passing.
This is why I’m so passionate about trust-based behavioral coaching.
Because life is too short to do what makes sense.
Kelley Hoag is an LA-based Somatic Therapist. For more of her work, join her newsletter community, schedule a free call, or follow her on Instagram.
