I’m sticking with my gut

As I write this we’re over 1 month into covid-19 quarantine. My kids were sent home for March Break last month and told they’d not be coming back for 2 more weeks. That’s been extended indefinitely.

Everything has been turned on its ear since then.

For the past couple of years I’ve been trying to work out “What’s Next?” for me, and that question now has entirely new meaning.

As I wrestle with what I should be doing, or not doing, at this time I’m reminding myself I should stick with my gut.

Every regret I’ve ever had was because I went against my gut. I find I can live with the outcome of any decision if I stay true to my gut instincts.

If I find myself trying to “squeeze a round peg into a square hole” then I should drop it. That isn’t the right thing for me at this time.

I was trying to force myself into a decision this week about a large investment I was contemplating. But… I kept trying to talk myself into it.

I’ve made similar investment decisions recently with no effort or thought, and no regret. Those are the ones I need to stick with.

Once I recognized this, I dropped the idea and moved on. For this particular memory in my head, I feel really at peace as I think about it.

Over a year ago I turned down a 7-figure offer from an investor who wanted to buy a piece of my webinar business. It just didn’t feel right. We stayed engaged with the process for many months but finally my partner and I felt this new guy would not be a good fit so we abruptly ended the talks and walked away. I’ve never regretted this decision. It was completely aligned with my gut.

Every “bad customer” I’ve ever had was someone who was presenting themselves as a problem but I went against my gut and gave them a second or third chance and at some point I was filled with regret for keeping them around.

Every time I’ve been miserable in my life I can trace to a decision I made where I went against my gut instincts and did something anyways. Afterwards I suffered greatly with regret.

The periods in my life filled with struggle and poverty were endurable because I was aligned with my gut. It got me through it and I wouldn’t change anything.

Right now, with the uncertainty of covid, it’s really impossible to know or predict much of anything. So I’m going to trust my gut more than ever.

Right or wrong, success or fail, I know that’s a decision I can live with.

How does your gut come into play with your decision making?