My inner voice and I are pretty good friends these days.
More and more, I slow down, tune in, and listen for what’s right for me. There are three times that stand out when I’m really, really glad I listened to my intuition…and there’s one time I really, really wish I had, but I didn’t.
3 times I’m glad I listened to My Inner Voice
1. The night we went for ice cream + I found a home for my art
One August evening this summer, my husband and I wanted to go out for dinner. The small downtown closest to us has some restaurants, but none that were exciting. Suddenly, though, I got it in my head that I should look at the menu at a place we hadn’t been to in a number of years, right on Main Street, and boom, their menu had been updated and they had something we’d all want (including the four year old). I texted a friend to confirm this place was decent, and we headed on down.
Dinner was lovely, and afterward we wandered around the downtown area. I’d been looking for another local place to hang my art for a while; I was on a wait list at a coffee shop and considering a place in town where I’d have to pay to have my paintings hung with other works from local artists. My daughter started asking for ice cream, and my husband suggested one place, but I immediately said that no, I wanted to go to the Strand, which plays movies and has homemade ice cream from a place in Asheville.
We walked in and got my daughter a scoop, and after sitting down I noticed the art hanging on the walls. I stood back up immediately, as if possessed, and walked to the counter. I asked how I could get my paintings up on the walls to the woman behind the counter, and wouldn’t you know it, she was the one in charge of the art program! Not only that, but I was able to hang my stuff less than a week later.
You may be wondering how that was my inner voice and not just good luck. Well, to me it just felt like a beautiful unfolding. I received something I’d been looking for by listening to the little nudges and impulses I got, and instead of ignoring them, I followed through.
2. The time I got a part time job offer
Years ago I worked for a local non-profit. My husband and I moved away from the area and I left the job, but we moved back here shortly before my daughter was born. When she was about a year old, I was offered a part time job with this same organization, but every bone in my body said it was a no go. I declined and that was that (and I was very happy I didn’t try to ignore my intuition and take the job just for the money).
Cut to almost two years later. My daughter was almost three, she was staying with my mom a couple of days a week, and I had a lot more flexibility (and sleep!). Someone from the organization emailed me about a position that was only 10-15 hours a week, with hours that were very flexible and many of which could be done from home. I checked in with my gut again this time and got an excited YES!
My gut didn’t lead me astray, not when it said no, and not when it said yes!
3. That time I changed career directions on a dime
After my daughter was born I thought I’d go back to my full time job. However, I found that I just couldn’t make myself do it, and I wanted to throw myself into developing my coaching business, so that’s what I did.
After about a year and a half, though, I started to feel a little indecisive and uncertain about coaching. So much of it didn’t feel like a good fit for me. Then one day I was scrolling through Instagram and I came across a post from Elizabeth Gilbert. She had posted the art and words of Caroline Kelso and I’m not kidding, it was like lightning had struck me.
I took a screen shot of the art and texted it to a friend and said something like, “I need to start doing this. Now.”
The rest is history. I wrapped up my coaching business within a couple of months and have been building my business as an artist ever since. Life is just better when you listen to those internal impulses.
That time I really should have listened to my Inner Voice
When I took that “good” job
When I moved to North Carolina back in late 2004, I got a job pretty quickly at a local inn. I was happy there for three years, but felt like it was time to move on. My mom sent me a job listing for what looked like a good, solid job: It was with the state, my health insurance would be decent and would be free (compared to the zero health insurance I had at my current job), the pay would be good, and on and on.
I applied. I got an interview. I got a second interview. My potential boss called all my references. She was torn between two candidates, but eventually I got the call: I’d been offered the job.
I can remember exactly how I felt, even though this is going on 11 years ago: I felt ugh. That’s the only way I can describe it. I felt like I was pretending to want the job. It just did not feel right. However, it paid something like $8000 more a year than I was making, plus those dang benefits, and I accepted.
My boyfriend (now husband) and I went over to my parents’ place and I told them. My mother actually expressed surprise that I took the job, I guess even she knew, probably from my lack of enthusiasm, that it wasn’t a good fit.
I lasted there for less than a year. I cried on weekends more often than not. I was miserable, I was bored, I was constantly looking for a way out. I’d felt it wasn’t the right fit and I’d done it anyway, and I was paying for it.
I do want to point out the silver lining, though: My time at that job forced me to tap back into my creativity (because I was bored and I need something, anything to do). I started blogging and writing. I even used the job as motivation to take life coach training, which definitely changed my life for the better.
I don’t think you’re doomed if you don’t listen to your intuition here and there, but I do think if you ignore it long enough it comes back and bites you, and I’m certain you won’t live the life that’s the most gratifying and fulfilling.