Things Usually Work Out When You Follow Your Gut

Welcome to Spark an Idea Thursday. Each week we’ll share some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition to your blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!

This week’s challenge is to “spark an idea about following your gut.” Here’s my brilliant idea: follow your gut. Even if it leads you astray (and it usually doesn’t), at least you won’t feel like you betrayed yourself.

In my experience, when you follow your gut, things work out. Here’s one example.

At the beginning of my senior year in college, I began waitressing at an “upscale casual” Italian restaurant. It was a decent job, and I was making good money (for a college student). I worked there for a few months – never late, never calling in sick, never upsetting a customer. Basically, I was a model employee. And then one day, just before I was about to leave for work, my boyfriend (of 2 years) and I had a fight and broke up. This was the guy I thought I was going to marry. I was devastated, but I still got in the car and drove to work.

I did my best to put on a happy face and get through my shift, but it didn’t work. I started crying and couldn’t stop. I went to my manager and told her I was going to have to leave. I explained exactly what happened and apologized profusely. I was in tears and could barely keep from crumpling to the ground.

This was her response: “If you walk out of here right now, don’t bother coming back.”

My brain told me to suck it up, stop crying, and just get through the shift (a very logical approach). My gut, on the other hand, said “[bleep] this job and this [bleeping] manager. Get the [bleep] out of here right now and don’t [bleeping] look back!”

So I did. I threw my apron on the floor and walked out.

I got a new job that was closer to my apartment and paid better. My new boss appreciated my hard work and promoted me after only two months. That job introduced me to sales and management, which turned out to be key skills for me in later positions.

And my old restaurant manager? She got fired a couple of months after I left for (1) treating employees poorly, and (2) doing drugs on the job. The restaurant closed down a couple of months later.

Sometimes, your gut just knows things your brain doesn’t. Listen to it.

What do you think, readers? Can you recall a time when you followed your gut and it worked out well (or not so well)? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Traci Feit Love is a freelance writer, editor & communications consultant for businesses that need smart, impressive content. To learn more or to sign up for her free e-course, “How to Get More High-Paying Clients,” visit her website at http://tracifeitlove.com.