The Key To Trusting Our Gut

By Brian Maynor

 

It’s easy to say ‘trust your gut’, but how do we know it’s pointing us in the right direction?

Making decisions is part of life.  We make countless decisions every day, some without really even thinking.  Those are not the ones that bring our gut into play.  Our gut starts nudging us when we are faced with important decisions that could take us outside of our comfort zone.

The general dilemma when it comes to trusting our gut is whether we take a risk or follow the status quo.  Following the status quo is safe, logical and we are indoctrinated to believe it will lead us to the ‘right’ conclusion.  Following our gut means we take a chance and abandon the perceived safety of what we ‘should do’.

Standing at the crossroads of these decisions is terrifying, and how do we know our gut is leading us in the right direction for us?  The key lies in knowing ourselves.  We often rely exclusively on outside opinions, information and advice when making decisions; neglecting our own thoughts and feelings but if we want this information to carry any value then we have to know ourselves.  Without that we have no way of evaluating the advice and information gathered.

Here is a 4-step guide to help us understand ourselves better, and thus feel more secure following our gut:

1.      Take a personality test.  This is a great first step to knowing ourselves better.  Whether it’s the Myers-Briggs Personality Test or not, personality tests are designed to analyze our personalities into groups and gives us an understanding of who we are on a broad scale.

2.      Assess our strengths and weaknesses.  Start by writing down the things we’re good at and the ones we’re not, providing examples if possible.  Then ask friends and family members to write down what they feel are our strengths and weaknesses.  It will be very eye opening to compare how we see ourselves to the way others see us.

3.      Establish priorities.  We all value things differently, and that’s okay, but it’s important to know what our priorities are when making decisions.  One of the easiest ways to do this is to set various scenarios.  For example, if our house was on fire, what would we do and what would we save?  We can also establish work scenarios to evaluate our professional priorities when making career decisions.

4.      Identify strong emotions.  This is often an overlooked analysis, which is very helpful to identify what affects us emotionally.  First recall incidents where our emotions were really high, and then review the situation to identify the trigger.  Specificity is key, so it helps to analyze one emotion at a time.

When it comes to making decisions it doesn’t matter what anyone else says, does, recommends or would do in our position.  Decisions are not objective or subject to general norms.  They are unique and require a thorough understanding of ourselves if we want to feel comfortable trusting our gut and making the best decisions for us.

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

I am always curious to hear about your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and help make your work wardrobe pull double duty.  Email your questions, quandaries and conundrums to [email protected].  Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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