We spend a lot of our time forming relationships with others, family, friends, partners. But what if the person you should trust first isn’t already in the frame? I’m talking about you.

I actually do trust my instincts with most things. I think what this question really asks is – do you trust yourself in your ability to form sound opinions, understand when people are likely to let you down and make the right decisions, even when those decision might be difficult?

It takes quite a lot of self reflection and honesty to acknowledge how well you manage this. We all have flaws (and to be honest I love that people have flaws,  it’s great material for characters!) It is about how we work through these challenges to navigate our way through life.

Sometimes you will hear people say ‘I just knew in my gut’ or ‘I just felt it was the right thing to do’. I understand where they are coming from but the expression itself is misleading. Guts and hearts do not hold our consciousness. What we really mean is that our brain’s primal instincts are kicking in, filling us with that overwhelming urge to act, or to run. It is the very thing that has kept the species alive for as long as it has.

Listening to this survival instinct can be really helpful, although these days it is more likely used to decide whether you want to tackle the person who jumped the coffee queue rather than face down a sabre toothed tiger. The design of this instinct is the same, will it hurt me if I don’t act, will I survive?

Whenever you are faced with this instinct issue, and need to overcome it, remember this phrase:

If it’s not illegal, and it’s not terminal, it’s survivable and I can handle it

Remember we still have to deal with our past, but we have to continue to live in our present and future, . Trusting your instinct, and yourself is probably the only thing you can do.

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