Learn to Trust Yourself: The Case for Gut Instinct in a Logical World
In a world full of logic, listening to your inner voice could be your greatest asset.
Hey friends,
Do you know how many decisions you make each day? If you had to take a guess, what would it be?
The answer will shock you, as it did me.
Multiple sources claim that we make 35,000 remotely conscious decisions a day. Psychology Today took that a bit further, and after subtracting time for sleep, concluded that we make about 2,000 decisions per hour—or one decision every two seconds.
That statistic stopped me in my tracks.
Two thousand decisions every hour.
One decision every two seconds. 🤯🤯🤯
With all that decision-making happening constantly, it's practically impossible to consistently make good choices, let alone the "best" ones. So when faced with those pivotal life moments—the ones that genuinely shape our path—how do we actually decide?
Do we trust the calculated precision of logic or surrender to the mysterious whispers of our gut?
This question has been following me lately, specifically around that phrase we've all heard a thousand times: "When you know, you know." For years, I rolled my eyes whenever someone used this cliché.
It felt too simplistic, too convenient an explanation for life's complex crossroads.
Whether choosing a home, starting a new career path, or committing to a relationship. How could things so profound be reduced to such a basic feeling?
But the older I get, the more I'm starting to understand what this worn phrase actually means. And I think it might be one of the most valuable lessons I'm still learning.
The Campus Visit That Changed Everything
Let me take you back to my senior year of high school. I had my sights firmly set on prestigious East Coast schools—Fordham, Duke, American University. The dream of independence in vibrant coastal cities consumed me.
Then came that fateful morning in Iowa.
My mother, ever the thorough parent, woke me at what I lovingly call "the ass crack of dawn" to tour Drake University in Des Moines.
I was CRABBY (with a capital everything). The entire drive, I made it abundantly clear how much I did not want to be there. This small Midwest school wasn't even on my radar—why waste the time?
But then something magical happened.
The moment I stepped onto that campus, a wave of peace washed over me. Suddenly, all my irritation vanished. Without logical explanation, I felt it in my bones: this is where I belong.
I trusted that feeling—that knowing—and it led to:
Finding my career path
Meeting my girlfriend
Going through college with my lifelong best friend
Building friendships that continue to enrich my life daily
It wasn't the "logical" choice on paper. It was better—it was the right choice for me.
When Logic Led Me Astray
Not all stories have such happy endings, though.
In a previous job, I faced a difficult decision involving someone I deeply trusted and admired. Another colleague painted this person in an unfavorable light, and despite my gut screaming otherwise, I chose what seemed "logical" at the time.
The result? No external disaster, but an internal one.
For months afterward, I wrestled with my conscience. The dissonance between what I'd done and what I knew to be right manifested as anxiety so intense it sometimes took physical form. Looking back, I made the wrong choice—not because of how things turned out externally, but because I betrayed my own internal compass.
Had I followed my instinct, even if the outcome remained unchanged, I could have maintained my peace of mind. I could have stood firmly in my truth.
What I'm Learning About Inner Wisdom
Among those 35,000 daily decisions, the ones that matter most often speak to us through feelings rather than thoughts. This journey has taught me that "when you know, you know" isn't about magical thinking—it's about recognizing that our bodies often process information our conscious minds haven't yet sorted through.
That feeling of peace versus anxiety? It's your internal compass pointing toward alignment with your authentic self.
My Decision-Making Evolution:
✅ Learning to pause before choosing, creating space to feel what's right
✅ Distinguishing between fear-based hesitation and genuine warning signals
✅ Practicing how to honor my intuition even when I can't logically explain it
✅ Showing myself grace when I still get it wrong
Following your gut isn't always easy.
In fact, I think it’s often more difficult. It can be terrifying to choose the path that feels right when it contradicts what seems logical on paper.
But in my experience, that internal knowing has never led me astray.
Trust Your Inner Compass
I want to share with you an activity that’s helped me as I navigate my own crossroads, big and small, in the hopes it may help you too:
Close your eyes.
Imagine yourself having made Choice A.
Sit with it for a minute. Notice where tension lives in your body. Note where peace resides. Pay attention to the quality of your breath.
Then do the same with Choice B.
You’ll realize, your body often knows what your mind is still debating.
This isn't about ignoring logic or abandoning careful consideration. Rather, it's about integrating that deeper wisdom that's uniquely yours—the wisdom that comes from your lived experience, your values, and your authentic self.
The truth is, you already possess an extraordinary guidance system. It's been with you your whole life, quietly cataloging patterns, storing wisdom, and waiting for you to listen.
Sometimes the "logical" choice is right. But when logic and intuition conflict, at least pause long enough to hear what your gut is trying to tell you.
When you learn to trust yourself, you begin making decisions not just from a place of external validation or conventional wisdom, but from that centered place of knowing who you are and what truly matters to you.
And that, friends, is where the magic happens.
With deep love and admiration,
Brady
P.S. I'd love to hear about a time your gut instinct led you somewhere wonderful. Drop a comment if you're comfortable sharing—your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear right now. ✨