The quote of the day is:

“We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be.” (Jane Austen)

I don’t know about you, but when I’m truly in my element, working at my best, everything flows effortlessly. It’s not that there are no challenges, but rather that the next steps seem unmistakably clear. I just seem to know what to do, as if I’ve an inner guide pointing in the best direction.

Yet, there are times when I find myself preemptively strategizing about serious and important matters—times when I feel compelled to intellectually map out each move before taking action.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, it’s during these moments of flow that I tend to do my best work, and it’s certainly more enjoyable. This quote from Jane Austen captures what seems to me a universal truth often overlooked in our quest for direction and clarity: the most reliable source of guidance is nestled within us. In a world brimming with advice at the click of a button, it’s essential to remember that our inner wisdom holds unparalleled value. It also explains my experience of being in flow versus intellectually figuring things out.

Seeking Guidance Internally vs. Externally

It’s easy to seek guidance from external sources—friends, mentors, or even experts in various fields. While these sources can provide valuable perspectives, they often do not fully resonate with our unique experiences and internal truths. The path to genuine self-assurance and decision-making clarity lies in understanding and trusting the voice of our own inner guide.

So often, I find that when I listen to those nudges from my intuition, I end up taking routes that I would never have considered had I thought everything through logically in advance. It’s often like it acts as a trusted friend who can see the bigger picture and is pointing me in directions I just haven’t seen.

Intuition as a Natural Inner Guide

Intuition is often described as a gut feeling, a subtle guide that nudges us in the right direction when logical explanations fall short. There is often talk about learning to trust your intuition; I would suggest that the first step is simply to listen to your inner guide —you always have the choice of whether to follow it or not. The more I listen and notice, the more trust naturally follows. Trusting has never seemed like something that I had to “do.” At some stage, it just became obvious that I trusted those nudges I got.

As I type this, it seems to me that there are infinite depths to explore with this idea. By infinite, I simply mean that there is always more to see, more to expand into. So, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if, in the future, I have seen this at an even deeper level, that I would describe my trust as even stronger. But for now, I’m not going to judge where I am now and just keep listening—it seems a much more pleasant experience than any self-judgment thinking, making up, and comparing how I think this “should be.” So if, out of habit, you have innocently found yourself doing that—know that you don’t have to!

About Jen Waller

Jen Waller is a transformative coach dedicated to empowering individuals to get out of their own way and make a meaningful impact in the world. With an impactful, nurturing coaching style, Jen supports clients in unlocking their potential and achieving their goals. As an experienced coach and trainer, she guides clients from self-doubt to success.

Discover how Jen can support you to get out of your own way here.