Your Gut Can Lie
I love when I take the time to have a deep dialogue with a friend. I always come to understand myself better in the process.
Last Tuesday I met my friend, Mimi Meredith (who writes a wonderful heartfelt blog) for breakfast. Two hours flew by. In that time, I felt happy, angry, amazed, frustrated, grateful and excited by our conversation.
This is what happens when we peel away layers of reasons, rationalizations, hopes and fears through dialogue.
Mostly, I was feeling a little apprehensive about my upcoming trip to China. My gut was telling me to be careful. I was visiting a new city with new clients and traveling by myself. The unknown held some possible dangers.
Yet when I finally sorted out my fears, I realized how silly they were. Of course I could run into some people who are not thinking of my best interest. And I could meet many people who are eager to learn from me and happy I traveled so far to share with them.
How lucky I am.
I’m sure there will be incidents I didn’t expect. I’ve been stuck in foreign airports before. I’ve had money stolen from me by “officials” and locked out of hotel rooms because of errors in the reservations.
And when I was a teenager, I crossed borders for reasons that I even gasp when I think about it.
Yet here I am, sitting comfortably in my beautiful home as I tell you about my gut feel about traveling to China.
My gut (really my brain) is wrong. It is trying to protect me, which is its job. Thank you gut, but I prefer to look at my sojourn as a wonderful adventure instead of a troubled journey.
Your gut has an efficient alarm system. You should heed the signals. Then determine if it’s a real or false alarm. The best way to do this is to talk out all your fears and possible consequences with a friend who will listen and not belittle your concerns.
Thanks Mimi. You helped me free myself to be excited about my trip.
Do you have something stirring in your gut that you need to give voice to?
Ah Marcia…it was indeed a great (and speedy!) two hours.
I love this line: “I prefer to look at my sojourn as a wonderful adventure instead of a troubled journey.”
That’s how you live your life and help those of us around you to live ours. So I’ll wrap you up in prayers for traveling mercies and wonderful adventures that fill your spirit. I’ll look forward to a full recap when you return. I love hearing how you adapt and embrace all the things you experience. You are an amazing woman and we all learn so much through you and from you.
And thank you for your kind words, friend. But really, China just needs to be prepared for a lot of Marcia Moxie in a beautiful and petite package!
I had the gut feeling that I should quit my PhD program two years ago. I was CERTAIN that there was a better opportunity for me in Chicago. That feeling nagged me for a long time, but moving so suddenly would have meant disrupting my family life. After a dialogue with my husband, I stayed, but my mind continued to tell me that I was ignoring my heart. Now that I’m almost done, I realize how much I’ve gained from sticking with my training. I also realize, in hindsight, how shortlived that “opportunity” would have turned out to be. I think you’re right…our modern self-help culture of “follow your gut at all costs” sometimes encourages impulsive decisions that aren’t the best in the long run. Talking it out is helpful, because sometimes it’s tough to know if our gut feelings are based on inner wisdom or just bad habits (like the habit of quitting long-term commitments in favor of shiny new “opportunities”).
Thank you for a great example. It is hard to counter the “follow your dreams” hype when getting to our dreams might not be the more alluring path.
