How I Learned to Trust My Own Intuition

For most of my life, I looked outward for answers.

I’d ask everyone—friends, family, strangers on the internet—what they thought I should do. I believed other people had the clarity I was missing. I thought their advice was more valid than my own inner knowing.

But something always felt… off. Like I was living my life based on someone else’s script. I didn’t know it at the time, but I had been silencing the one voice I truly needed to hear: my own.

Learning to trust my intuition didn’t happen all at once. It wasn’t a lightning bolt or a sudden awakening. It was a slow, sometimes painful, unfolding. But it changed everything.

The First Time I Ignored It

I still remember the first time I really felt my intuition—and ignored it anyway.

I was about to take a new job. On paper, it looked perfect: higher pay, a sleek office, and the kind of title that would make people nod in approval. But there was a tightness in my chest I couldn’t explain. Something inside whispered, “This isn’t it.”

I told myself I was just nervous. I brushed off the feeling, chalking it up to fear of change. So I signed the contract. Six months in, I was burned out, disconnected, and completely out of alignment with who I was.

That’s when I started wondering:

What would have happened if I had listened to that quiet voice instead of drowning it out with logic and outside opinions?

Rebuilding a Relationship with Myself

Ignoring your intuition for years doesn’t just go away with one decision. I had to rebuild that trust, like you would with a friend you’ve let down one too many times.

I started small. Really small.

At the grocery store, I let myself buy the pasta sauce I felt like eating, instead of overthinking which was the "healthiest" or most "budget-conscious." When choosing plans for the weekend, I paused to ask myself, “What do I actually want to do?”—and honored the answer, even if it meant disappointing someone else.

And slowly, something began to shift. I began to realize that intuition isn’t loud—it’s subtle. It doesn’t scream; it nudges. It’s the flutter in your gut, the quickening of your heartbeat, the sudden sense of peace—or unease—you can’t explain.

It’s the part of you that knows, even when your brain hasn’t caught up yet.

When Intuition Saved Me

One of the most powerful moments of listening to my intuition came when I was in a relationship that looked fine on the surface but felt wrong deep down. He was kind, supportive, and said all the right things—but I constantly felt small around him. Like I was shrinking myself to keep the peace.

There was no obvious reason to leave. My friends were confused. Even I was confused.

But my intuition kept saying, “You’re not yourself here.” And this time, I listened.

Leaving that relationship didn’t make sense to anyone but me. And yet, the moment I did, it felt like I could breathe again. That decision led me into a season of rediscovering who I was—without needing permission or validation.

The Turning Point

The more I followed my intuition, the louder and clearer it became. I stopped needing to ask ten people for their opinions before making a move. I started making decisions that felt right—not always easy, but right.

I said no to projects that didn’t align with my values, even when the money was tempting.

I moved to a new city because my heart felt drawn to it, even though it scared me.

I started writing again—not for approval, but for healing.

And in all those choices, I found something I hadn’t felt in years: peace.

The Lesson:

Your intuition is your inner compass. It won’t always make sense on paper. It won’t always get applause. But it will never lead you astray.

Learning to trust yourself isn’t selfish—it’s sacred. When you honor your inner knowing, you start living in alignment with who you truly are. You begin to move through life with confidence, clarity, and calm.

So if you’re standing at a crossroads and you’re unsure of what to do, ask yourself:

What does my intuition say?

And then—trust it enough to listen.

================

Thank you for reading

Best Regards: Habib