The Journey Begins: The First Step in Learning to Trust My Intuition

I’m about to share something super personal with you—the first step I’ve taken on my journey to learning to trust my intuition. Honestly, this is one of the most vulnerable things I’ve written, but it feels right. It feels like the beginning of something I’ve been avoiding for far too long: giving myself permission to listen to me.

This isn’t a story about having it all figured out. (Spoiler: I definitely don’t.) Instead, this is about the messy, beautiful, and sometimes uncomfortable process of healing—learning to pause, reflect, and tune into the quiet voice inside that I’ve spent years silencing.

So, let’s dive into where it all started, why I felt so disconnected, and how I’m slowly beginning to trust my gut again.

Why I Knew I Had to Start Listening to Myself

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the person who fixes things. The peacekeeper. The one who makes sure everyone else is okay, often at the expense of my own needs. But somewhere along the way, I lost touch with myself.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ignored that little nudge in my gut—the one that said, This doesn’t feel right or Something’s off here. Instead, I’d overanalyze, second-guess, and ultimately dismiss what my body and intuition were trying to tell me. Why? Because I’d convinced myself that the problem was always me.

When something felt wrong, my first instinct was to look inward: What am I doing wrong? How can I fix this? I carried the weight of every bad feeling, believing it was my job to "fix" myself so I could be better—for my family, my friends, my work.

But here’s the thing: That constant self-blame? It was exhausting. And no matter how much I tried to fix myself, that nagging feeling of something being "off" never went away. That’s when I realized I needed to start listening to myself—really listening.

How Pausing Became My First Step Toward Intuition

Let me tell you, pausing was not easy for me. I’m a "get-it-done" kind of person, so slowing down and sitting with my feelings felt unnatural at first. But when I started to pause, I noticed something incredible: my feelings weren’t random or meaningless. They were signals—tiny whispers from my intuition trying to guide me.

Whenever I felt off, I began asking myself a few simple questions:

• Why does this situation make me uncomfortable?

• What is my body trying to tell me?

• Am I feeling this way because something’s truly wrong with me, or is it my environment that feels off?

These questions helped me shift my perspective. Instead of jumping straight into self-blame, I started to get curious. I started to wonder if maybe—just maybe—my intuition wasn’t the enemy. Maybe it was trying to protect me.

What I’ve Realized So Far About Trusting My Intuition

I’m still at the very beginning of this journey, but here’s what I’ve realized so far: my intuition has been right a lot more often than I gave it credit for. Those gut feelings I used to dismiss? They weren’t flaws or overreactions. They were my body’s way of saying, Hey, pay attention. Something’s not right here.

For years, I tried to ignore those feelings or explain them away. I’d convince myself I was being overly sensitive, dramatic, or unreasonable. But now, I’m learning to treat my intuition like a trusted friend—a friend who always has my best interests at heart.

Unpacking Why I Ignored My Intuition

Looking back, I can see why I stopped trusting myself. Growing up, I learned to prioritize other people’s needs and opinions over my own. I was taught to be "nice," to avoid conflict, to keep the peace at all costs. And over time, that conditioning led me to believe that my feelings were less important than everyone else’s.

Here are some of the stories I internalized that kept me from trusting my intuition:

• "If something feels off, it’s probably just you overthinking."

• "You need to fix yourself before you can fix anything else."

• "Don’t rock the boat. It’s better to stay quiet than risk upsetting anyone."

These beliefs weren’t just unhelpful—they were downright harmful. They kept me small, disconnected, and constantly second-guessing myself. But now that I’m unpacking these stories, I can see them for what they are: lies I no longer have to believe.

Learning to Pause and Reflect

You know what’s been the most surprising part of this journey? Realizing how powerful it is to simply pause. When I feel anxious or uneasy, instead of jumping straight into fixing mode, I’ve been practicing sitting with the feeling and asking myself what it means.

It’s not always comfortable. Honestly, sometimes it’s downright scary. But every time I take the time to pause and listen, I feel a little more connected to myself. It’s like I’m slowly rebuilding the trust I lost over the years.

What’s Next on My Journey?

So, what’s next? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure. I don’t have a detailed plan or a clear roadmap, and that’s okay. This journey isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about learning to trust the process (and myself).

Here’s what I’m focusing on right now:

• Listening to my body: Paying attention to how I feel in certain situations and what my emotions are trying to tell me.

• Setting boundaries: Saying no when something doesn’t feel right, even if it’s uncomfortable.

• Practicing self-compassion: Reminding myself that it’s okay to not have it all figured out.

• Staying curious: Approaching this process with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

Wrapping It Up: One Small Step at a Time

If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far, it’s this: learning to trust your intuition doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process—a messy, imperfect, beautiful process. And it starts with one small step: pausing long enough to listen to yourself.

Friend, if you’re feeling disconnected or like you can’t trust your gut, know this: you’re not alone. This is hard work, but it’s worth it. Your intuition is there, waiting patiently for you to tune in. And when you do, you might just find that it’s been guiding you all along.

This is just the beginning of my journey, and I’m so glad to have you here with me. Let’s figure this out together—one step, one pause, one moment of trust at a time.

FAQs

How do I know if I’m ignoring my intuition?
If you constantly second-guess yourself, dismiss your gut feelings, or rely on others to validate your decisions, you might be ignoring your intuition.

What’s the first step to reconnecting with my intuition?
Start by pausing. When something feels off, take a moment to reflect on what you’re feeling and why.

Why is it so hard to trust my gut?
Many of us are conditioned to prioritize logic or external validation over our instincts. Learning to trust your gut takes practice, patience, and unlearning those old habits.

Can intuition really guide me in making decisions?
Absolutely. Your intuition is like an internal compass—it helps you sense what feels right or wrong for you, even when you can’t fully explain it.

How long does it take to rebuild trust in myself?
There’s no set timeline—it’s different for everyone. The important thing is to take small, consistent steps toward listening to and honoring your feelings.

What if I make mistakes along the way?
That’s part of the process! Mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow. Be kind to yourself—you’re doing the best you can.