Do You Trust Your Instincts? Exploring the Power of Gut Feelings and Intuition

Do you trust your instincts?

Do You Trust Your Instincts?

“Do you trust your instincts?” I ask myself this question every morning. Sometimes, the answer comes in whispers; other times, it thunders through my mind. But does it really matter what I think? What about you? Do you trust yours?

Imagine this: You’re standing at a fork in the road. To the left, a path lined with safety nets and predictable outcomes. To the right, a wild, untamed trail riddled with uncertainty and whispers of adventure. Which path would you choose?
Would you hesitate? Or would you let instinct guide you?

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The First Glimmer

It’s 1999. The turn of the century looms, and with it, Y2K paranoia. A woman sits at her desk, scrolling through spreadsheets. The numbers don’t add up. Something gnaws at her gut—a sinking sensation that something’s wrong. “Relax,” her manager says. “The systems will handle it.” But she doesn’t. Against advice, she digs deeper, pulling an all-nighter.
And she finds it: a critical flaw that could’ve cost millions.

Instinct saved her career.
Would you have acted, or would you have dismissed that small, persistent voice?

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Trusting the Unseen

Instinct isn’t logical. It isn’t always kind. Sometimes, it drags you into uncomfortable places, forcing you to confront shadows you’d rather avoid. Remember that time you avoided someone for reasons you couldn’t explain, only to later find out they’d been hiding a darker side? Or the time you called an old friend out of the blue, just because you “felt like it,” and discovered they desperately needed someone to talk to?

What is that feeling?

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The Science of the Gut

Instinct is often a blend of subconscious knowledge and quick reasoning. Neuroscientists call it the “adaptive unconscious.” Your brain processes billions of data points daily, most of which never reach your conscious mind. Patterns emerge, forming whispers—nudges, really—toward certain actions.

But is that all it is? Cold data processed by a biological machine?
Or is it something more visceral, more ancient?

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When Instinct Fails

We’ve all heard stories of instincts gone awry. The gambler who bets the farm on a “sure thing.” The entrepreneur who follows their “gut” into bankruptcy. The relationship you just knew was meant to be, only to end in heartbreak.

In moments of doubt, you wonder: Is instinct trustworthy, or does it simply mirror your biases, your fears?
How often is what you think is instinct just wishful thinking?

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A Personal Reckoning

Let me tell you a story. A few years ago, I was walking through a crowded marketplace. The air was thick with the scent of spices and roasting peanuts. Suddenly, I felt it—a tug, like a silent alarm. My eyes darted to a man weaving through the crowd, his hand slipping into another’s bag.

“Hey!” I shouted without thinking. He bolted, leaving the bewildered shopper clutching her bag. I didn’t stop to calculate. I didn’t weigh the pros and cons.
It was pure instinct.

Later that night, I asked myself, “What if I was wrong?”

But here’s the catch:
I wasn’t.

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The Dance Between Heart and Mind

Trusting your instincts doesn’t mean abandoning reason. It’s a delicate choreography—reason as the steady rhythm, instinct as the improvisational dancer.

Picture yourself standing on a cliff’s edge, contemplating a leap. Your mind measures the distance, the risks, the rewards. Your instinct whispers, “You’ll make it.” Both are vital. Both deserve a voice.

But which one takes the lead?

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Exercises in Trust

Here’s something you can try: The next time you’re faced with a choice, close your eyes. Picture the options as vividly as you can. Notice how your body reacts. Does your chest tighten? Does your heart lift?

Instinct speaks through the body. Do you know its language?

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The Instincts of Others

It’s not just about trusting your own instincts. It’s also about recognizing and respecting the instincts of others. Think of the firefighter who rushes into a burning building, the parent who senses their child’s distress before they say a word.

Sometimes, your instinct will clash with someone else’s. A friend insists on taking a different route home. You’re skeptical but comply. Later, you discover the main road was blocked by an accident.

Do you trust their instincts, or do you cling to your own?

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The Ultimate Question

Here’s a thought experiment: What if instinct isn’t about survival but about expression? What if it’s not just about “doing the right thing” but “doing the most you thing”? The artist who follows a wild, irrational urge to splash blue over their canvas. The writer who abandons the plot to chase a fleeting idea.

Is instinct the true self breaking free from the cage of convention?

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A Challenge for You

Tonight, I dare you to listen to that small, persistent voice inside you. Call someone you’ve been thinking about. Take a route you’ve never traveled. Choose the unfamiliar dish on the menu.

You might surprise yourself.
Or you might fail spectacularly. But either way, you’ll learn something about yourself.

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The Final Question

Do I trust my instincts? Not always. They’ve led me astray, embarrassed me, even hurt me. But they’ve also saved me, inspired me, and pushed me toward growth.

So, here’s my question to you: Do you trust your instincts?
Before you answer, close your eyes. Listen to what your gut says.

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