3 Reasons You Should Always Trust Your Instincts

Have you ever gotten that feeling that something is just wrong or not right about a situation or person? You just have this annoying pit-like feeling in your stomach or chest and you can't shake it? That's your instincts talking to you, and telling you that this idea is not one of your best.

There are a number of times your instincts come into play in your life. For example, when you feel scared or threatened your body will tell you to run and get away in order to protect yourself. Other times, you may just have a gut feeling about a person or opportunity where you just know it's going to be good or bad.

Either way, our instincts play a big role in our decision-making. For me, some of the worst choices I've ever made and some of the most terrible situations I've ended up in, could have been completely avoided if I had trusted my initial instincts. However, I chose to ignore what my body and heart were saying because I wanted so badly to believe that a person or opportunity was great.

Instincts are natural and survival-style emotions that were originally put in place to help us survive in the wild, but now that most of us are not hunting or running for our lives, they really just help us to make emotionally smart and safe choices.

Have you ever been at a job interview and the whole time you just have a bad vibe about the whole situation? It's hard to explain, but it sort of just feels like you're in the wrong place and don't see yourself ever being comfortable. That's your instincts telling you this is not the job for you.

Another example is this: have you ever met someone new and right away and you just have this overall bad feeling about them? You may have found yourself saying things like, "I'm not sure, there's just something about them that rubs me the wrong way," or "I just don't get a good feeling about them." That's your instincts telling you that this person is trouble.

Your feelings and most importantly, instinctual ones, are usually right and trying to guide you in the right direction. Here are three reasons why we should listen to them more often:

1. They're Almost Never Wrong

Think about and reflect on this idea. How often have these generally bad or gut feelings ever really been wrong? I honestly cannot think of one time where my instinct was wrong about a scenario or person. When I reflect on this, it was mostly me ignoring the feelings and proceeding forward.

Our bodies are incredibly perceptive and can feel more than we can at a first glance or meeting. We don't give ourselves as much credit as we deserve, but your instinctual feelings are hard to ignore for a reason; they know they're right.

2. Saves Time & Pain

The amount of time and heartache I could have saved myself if I just listened to my body is incredible. I once went on an internship interview for school credit and it was expected that I would take the position. However, the whole interview I had the absolute worst feelings of anxiety. Instead of insisting this position was not a good fit, I decided to stick it out because it seemed easier.

I ended up being miserable, mistreated and walking away with a very heavy heart. Let's save ourselves some time and pain and just listen. Let's just find another option. There  almost always is another choice or opportunity out there we just have to be willing to listen to ourselves and then go find something better.

There's no sense in losing time and feeling bad.

3. You Find Genuine People and Opportunities

Just like our instincts have the ability to sniff out the bad, they also work to find us the good. Have you ever met someone and immediately liked them or had a great feeling about them within a few minutes? That's your instincts telling you to hold on to this person.

By trusting your gut, you'll know when you're making a great decision. For example, when you're searching for a house or new car to buy, and people always tell you that you 'will just know.' That same mindset of just knowing is applicable when you realize you've fallen in love or met the person you were meant to marry. You just know.

That gut reaction of just knowing you are making a great choice are your instincts speaking to you, reminding yourself what the best option will be.