Trusting your gut can beat ten tips
Early in her career, Kendra believed she had to follow every career-development checklist: polish her resume every month, read two industry books weekly, track every networking detail. She’d start with the biggest task—updating her LinkedIn profile—only to get distracted by minor fixes in her email signature.
One frantic evening, after yet another checklist meltdown, she paused and asked, "What really matters about this work?" Stir-crazy from deadlines, she realized what mattered most was her creativity and connection with clients, not a perfect profile. She sat down with her favorite playlist, breathed deeply, and simply drafted a personalized email to one new contact.
The next day, she landed a valuable project by building authentic rapport, not by adding another badge to her credentials. That moment taught her the true power of identifying what matters, calming the noise, and trusting her gut on how to proceed.
Decades of behavioral research show that cognitive overload impairs decision-making. By trusting a clear intention and your instincts, you sidestep paralysis and produce meaningful action.
You can anchor your next project by stating what matters most in one sentence, then breathing for ten seconds or playing your favorite tune to calm your mind. Finally, follow the first instinct you have about where to begin. That trust will guide you forward more smoothly than any checklist.
What You'll Achieve
Boost decisive action and creative flow by aligning tasks with core intentions and intuitive insights, leading to authentic progress and calmer focus.
Anchor your day in one core question
Identify your core intention
Start by asking, "What matters most about this task or day?" Write it down in one sentence—your compass for all decisions.
Calm distraction with a single ritual
Pick one familiar action—brewing coffee, closing your eyes for ten seconds, humming a song—to ground yourself in that intention before you begin.
Listen and act on your instinct
After you calm the noise, follow the first impulse you have about where to start. Trusting that sense often leads to quicker, more authentic solutions.
Reflection Questions
- What core purpose do I often overlook in my daily tasks?
- How can I create a brief ritual to calm my mind before starting work?
- What signals does my intuition give me when I feel truly aligned with my goal?
- How might trusting myself change the way I begin projects?
- When have I ignored my instinct and how did it turn out?
Personalization Tips
- Before writing a report, you decide your goal is clarity. You breathe deeply and jump straight to outlining key points.
- At the start of a workout, you recall why you’re exercising: stress relief. You hum your favorite tune while stretching, then head to your treadmill.
- When tackling a tough conversation, you remind yourself your aim is connection. You pause, pick up a calming tea, and start by asking an open question.
The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done
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