Your gut feeling

[Sandramapple]

I've seen people on here talk about a gut feeling. Like that they have a knowing about something.

How do you feel your gut feeling?

I have to make a decision to do one thing or another.

I've done all the logistical things like writing out the pros and cons of both

I also want to try to feel my gut feeling

I'm trying to feel both scenarios out.

People that have done it, please tell me, how have you tuned into your gut feeling?

Thanks.

Honestly, if you want a plain answer here, you need the speak plainly.

What is it you're not sure about, and what is your gut telling you?

Well I read a thread on here on mumsnet before about "gut feelings".

And people were saying that "they just knew".

Like if they had a decision to make , for example - which house to buy, which area to move to, which job to take,

They could feel their gut feeling of which way to go.

Like a feeling of surety, an intuition, a knowing.

I wanted to ask the people who do feel a gut feeling, what does it feel like. Or how do they do it

It sounds like you didn’t know what a gut feeling feels like?
Personally, I imagine myself, for example working in one job, maybe an office job. Then, I picture myself in a different kind of job, like working outdoors, say. Whichever scenario makes me “feel” happier, is my gut instinct telling me it’s a better fit for me

Yes thank you! That's what I was looking for.

Examples of how to feel your gut feeling.

Visualisation is a good idea. Thanks.

So when you visualised yourself in two different scenarios, you'd be able to see if you felt happier in one? Is that right

Also, for me, the gut feeling is like an additional piece of information and not the deciding factor. So, if you’re looking at buying a house, if everything else is equal, I’d choose the one that “felt” more like home to me. If that one happened to require an extra 50 grand to make it habitable, I’d probably take the cheaper one unless it “felt” like I’d never be happy there.

Yes exactly

Do some intuition practice?

How?

Tbh I don't always know

But I find waiting to see usually shows up that waiting to see shows my gut said no and why

Depends what though... think of both options and see which you feel calmest thinking about?

Gut feeling is your real feeling. Without all the bias and influences you feel.
If you had nothing else to factor in, except that one decision, what would you choose?

Gut feeling can't really be explained or pinpointed. It's when you 'just know'. It's a feeling from within. Sorry can't be more specific but I assumed everyone has this?!

No I think some people are more naturally in tune.

Many people get distracted by "what they should do. " or what looks better on paper. Or they look at logistic reasoning. Which is what I often do.

I was trying to decide between taking two different jobs before.

One looked better on paper, and was the more sensible option.

And I took it.

But I don't think it was right for me. And I didn't enjoy it when I was there.

I often go for what looks sensible and safe, rather than what's right for me. And I've learnd the hasn't led to good choices in the past

This is what I've definitely done wrong in the past.

I let other people sway me. Or I start thinking about what I should do (like what is the better sensible society job)

Rather than what I actually want to do. Amd that has led me to pick some very bad jobs.

I'm really trying to tune in to my gut feeling of what is best for me this time

Flip a coin, because when the coin is in the air you’ll realise which option you were hoping for.

I agree with this. I think you do usually "know" deep down which option you feel is best.

If you flipped a coin and it meant you chose option A, how do you imagine you would feel? If the answer isn't happy, that is telling you your gut is saying option B.

It's overly simplistic but I think it's a good initial guide.

That feeling of 'this is what I want to do but it isn't the most sensible option on paper ' is your gut talking to you 💐 you just don't listen x

Too scared to listen for fear of poverty!

But maybe I'll try my gut way for one year

I trusted my gut feeling recently.
My dog is very old, and recently had some issues that accumulated to the point I had her booked in to be put to sleep with a specialist vet that does home visits.

Everyone kept saying that it was the right time, she is old, it is pointless spending money etc. I spent hours on MN pouring over threads in The Doghouse about people in a similar situation. I convinced my head that I was doing the right thing... but my gut said no. I cancelled the appointment (and paid £150 for the privilege). Told them it didn't feel right.

Got my dog to the vets. No heroics and no expensive tests. Just some painkillers and antibiotics. She is almost back to normal now. I am SO glad I trusted my gut.

Someone once told me to toss a coin - if it lands on the wrong choice you'll know because you'll be disappointed

Honestly, I think it is a phrase that is thrown out as advice on here a lot (many posters seem to just repeat something they've seen others say) and it's not always very useful.

Yes, listening to your 'gut feeling' can be helpful if you are absolutely sure you can eliminate things like bias, learned patterns, anxiety, etc. My 'gut feeling' 'tells' me all kinds of nonsense if I'm feeling generally anxious or stressed

On the other hand, I think a lot of people squash down their 'gut feelings' about what they really want because they feel the need to normalise things that aren't quite right for them. Especially if what they want might be unusual, or inconvenient, or socially out-of-line.

I’ve spent my whole life making decisions because of gut feeling. The university I chose. Every workman and/or building company I employed. Every job I applied for. Every holiday. My husband 😀

I just had a feeling. Some people/situations/things just feel/felt right or wrong.
Im not sure if it is ‘a thing’ or whether it’s about trusting your instincts.
Sorry, not much help.

I think gut feeling e.g all facts point in one direction but you still are not sure that it’s right one but can’t explain why. For me it’s like : I feel that something is not right, I should be pleased/ excited/ happy but I’m not.
The previous example with jobs you probably didn’t put all significant factors e.g you put facts but not possible emotions.

I get my daughter to flip a coin when she really can't decide. If she's disappointed in the result it's a good indication that her gut feeling is for the other decision.

There is a science behind a gut feeling, it's your subconscious. Your brain is processing far more information than you're aware of in your conscious mind. That's why, for example, you can feel spooked and not know why. There's a whole bunch of sounds, smells, things in your peripheral etc. that are being processed and signalling to you that something is wrong. Once I learnt this I realised how important it is to pay attention to it.