Going With Your Gut

In August 2015, I took a leap of faith and decided to enroll at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition® to become a Certified Holistic Health Coach. I had been contemplating this certification for almost a year before I decided to just do it.

My gut was telling me “Yes!” but my head was saying “No, what are you going to do with that?”. It wasn’t until I met with a life coach that I decided to go with my gut and go back to school. I literally signed up for IIN® the night after I met with her—talk about inspiration.

Fast forward a year and a half—I’m now a health coach with my own business. Yes, I’m still holding down a full-time job to help pay the bills but on the side, I devote time to building something I can call my own. It’s not always easy and sometimes I have to really motivate myself (usually with chocolate of some sort), but it’s worth it because I am making a difference in people’s lives.

Is there something in your life that you are currently contemplating starting? It might be that you yourself want to start your own business or maybe you want to make a career change. Ask yourself these questions and listen to your gut—it’s always right.

Why am I scared to take this step?

Many people stay in their comfort zones because they are too afraid of failure or change. What is holding you back? Do you fear failing? Are you afraid that a relationship, income, or family dynamic will change? We have to face our fears and embrace what comes next. If something is tugging at our heart, we need to listen to it and see where it can take us.

What is the risk versus reward?

When you are being faced with a decision, weigh the risk and the reward. If you make this decision, what is the worst possible thing that could happen? Also, if you make this decision, what are the reward possibilities? Think about both answers and compare. Is it worth the risk in order to receive that possible reward?

What daily actions can I take?

If you find that you are still not ready to make a decision, my suggestion is self-care.

When we incorporate self-care into our daily lives, we develop a better sense of who we are and what we are meant to do. Some of my favorite self-care activities that help us tap into our intuition include journaling, meditating, reading, and re-evaluating goals.

What is your gut telling you to do right now? If you take action, where could you be in a year and a half?