13 moments in life where the best thing to do is trust your intuition

Allow me to share my friend’s real-life runaway bride moment:

She woke up at the crack of dawn feeling off about her wedding, which happened to be later that same day.

So she did what any crazy bride would do and she pulled the plug on her wedding. Nope, it wasn’t as dramatic as you see in the movies. And yes, conversations were had and tears were shed.

But she managed to call it off in time, ensuring no one had to endure the hassle of showing up to a ceremony that wouldn’t happen.

Why her sudden change of heart? 

Here’s what she had to say:

It wasn’t  just cold feet. It was a strong gut feeling that she was about to make a mistake.

And then…

Three months later, her former fiancé became a father for the first time, yet with another woman. You do the math.

Thank goodness for her intuition! 

That unexplainable murmur that appeared out of nowhere saved her from what could have been a major heartache. 

That said, here are more examples of moments in life when that little voice inside is worth its weight in gold:

1) When you need to speak up

When your intuition tells you your idea is a game changer, speak up, and don’t keep it to yourself! 

Who knows? You might be the next Elon Musk in the making.

And it doesn’t end there.

Your inner voice will also prompt you to speak up when you witness something that doesn’t sit right with you. Heed your gut’s advice to speak up and be like Rosa Parks, brave enough to use her voice to challenge the status quo.

2) When to stay silent 

On the contrary, there are moments when saying nothing is your best move.

Like when that inner voice urges you to keep a secret that’s not yours to share. This is your intuition’s way of safeguarding your trustworthiness.

Or when you’re tempted to chime in on gossip, but something holds you back. That something is your intuition guiding you to rise above petty, unproductive, and destructive talk.

And there’s more where that came from:

In this modern world where everyone has an opinion about everything, your intuition might send regular reminders that silence can also be a form of wisdom.

3) Letting someone in or out

Have you ever had an instant connection with someone you just met and they turned out to eventually be one of your closest friends?

Or have you ever felt an unseen force pushing you to break up with a lover or part ways with a friend without any rational explanation?

That’s your intuition doing its thing. 

Listening to this internal voice helps you sift through your “people”, filtering out the red from the green flags.

4) Finding the perfect job

Let’s face it: The freedom to choose a career is a luxury not available to all.

So, if you’re one of the lucky ones in a position to pick between multiple career options, make the most out of this privilege by tuning in to your intuition.

Allow your inner compass to guide you towards a job that means more than just a paycheck. 

Go for the one that not only pays well but also feels right, even if it means going against what everyone expects of you.

5) Shifting to unfamiliar territory

Speaking of career, six years ago, my husband and I were at the top of ours when we decided to relocate overseas. 

This also meant leaving family and friends, but we took the leap of faith, packed our lives into our bags, and set off to a new country.

We often get asked why, and we always had a simple, one-liner reply:

“Because it felt right.”

Moving always comes with a degree of anxiety and uncertainty, whether it’s moving to a different country, a different city, or a new home. 

But if you find yourself getting excited about it and that excitement outweighs your fears, that’s your inner knowing hinting that this big move is good for you.

6) Taking a risk

Fear is also an innate human response to risk. But as the saying goes, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” 

When contemplating a risk, whether it’s starting a new business, investing in a passion project, or even skydiving, that gut feeling you can’t shake off is your intuition nudging you.

Pay attention to your gut and embrace the unknown with a sense of adventure. 

Remember:

Life’s greatest rewards are often hiding just beyond our comfort zones.

7) Recognizing hidden opportunities 

Be mindful of any thoughts, dreams, or ideas that keep making their way back to you. These recurring thoughts are usually fueled by your intuition and could be clues to opportunities worth exploring.

The same is true when you feel a strong sense of fulfillment in the thought of taking up a role or participating in a project – even if either of these seems way out of your league.

But that’s not all!

It’s also worth keeping your senses alert during quiet moments when you’re drawn to certain things outside your usual interests. 

This pull towards something new might seem random initially, but it’s in fact your intuition working its magic, urging you to broaden your horizons.

Believe it or not, your intuition sometimes knows more about your needs than your rational mind does.

8) When to persist

Spotting a good opportunity is one thing. But just before you let your excitement take over, remember this reality:

The challenging part is sticking with it.

Take  J.K. Rowling, for example.

She recognized the potential of her Harry Potter series long before publishers did. She remained committed to her vision despite numerous rejections.

She trusted her gut even when everyone else doubted her, and it paid off. 

Her story is a powerful reminder that when you feel like quitting, tuning into your intuition can often be the push you need to keep going.

9) When to give up

Here comes the caveat:

While persistence is often crucial to overcoming obstacles and achieving success, there’s also a fine line between persistence and stubbornness. 

Persistence is about not giving up easily and pushing forward, but being stubborn is sticking to a failing plan and remaining stuck. The former is admirable, but the latter can hold you back.

In times like these, tuning into your gut instinct can help you discern when it’s wise to let go.

Keep this in mind: Giving up is not synonymous to defeat.

Instead, it’s an intelligent and strategic move to redirect your energy towards other avenues, which might be more feasible and fruitful.

10) Accepting help 

Deciding to let go means you’re ready for outside help. This is when real growth happens. 

It’s about adding fresh energy and new ideas to your efforts.

It’s also recognizing that teamwork is often the path to individual and shared success.

Your intuition, that inner sense, is your guide to recognizing when it’s time to welcome support. 

Paying attention to this inner voice matters because it can help you understand what you need to get better, both from yourself and the people around you.

11) Offering help 

Moving from accepting to offering help is a beautiful loop of giving and receiving. 

And what’s the role of intuition in this cycle?

It acts as your internal alarm, alerting you when someone could use your help, even before they voice out their struggles.

Acting on these intuitive feelings helps add to your collection of meaningful relationships and enhances your sense of belonging.

12) Offering forgiveness

After you’ve reached out to help, there comes a time when your intuition suggests opening your heart further through forgiveness. 

Forgiveness isn’t about saying what happened was okay, but it’s about choosing your peace over past pain

So, how can you tell if the universe is giving you a go signal to forgive? 

Consider these cues:

  • When you think of someone and, instead of anger, you feel empathy.
  • When you reminisce about past conflicts but feel nothing but serenity.
  • When you no longer feel the anger bubbling up at the mention of a name.
  • When you’re ready to look past the faults and see the person.

Take note of these wise words from theologian Lewis B. Smedes:

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”

13) Indulging in yourself

As soon as you’ve freed your heart, it’s time to tune in to your inner senses for the perfect time to reward your spirit.

Sure, we all love to spoil ourselves, and you can do that anytime without the guidance of intuition.  

But when your intuition tells you it’s time for a treat, that means more than just urging you to go on thoughtless whims and random treats. 

Instead, it’s an invisible pat on the back and a loving nudge prodding you to pick a meaningful reward to celebrate your growth and resilience.

Now, that gives a whole new meaning to “special treat,” doesn’t it?

Fine tune your intuition

Life throws us a lot of dilemma-filled moments, like knowing when to keep pushing or when to let go. Our intuition is always there to help, but it’s easy for us to miss it.

Reflecting on past moments when our intuition guided us correctly can motivate us to pay more attention to it in the future. 

But why wait? Why not start fine tuning into your intuition now?

Can you sense what your inner wisdom is hinting at today?

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Tina Fey

I'm Tina Fey, the founder of the blog Love Connection. I've extremely passionate about sharing relationship advice. I've studied psychology and have my Masters in marital, family, and relationship counseling. I hope with all my heart to help you improve your relationships, and I hope that even if one thing I write helps you, it means more to me than just about anything else in the world. Check out my blog Love Connection, and if you want to get in touch with me, hit me up on Twitter

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