intuition

There's a childbirth education model called "Birthing From Within" throughout which women preparing for childbirth are encouraged to discover that everything they need in them already. Rather than dishing out information, class facilitators encourage parents to tap their inner resources and come to know themselves capable of walking through the momentous challenges of birth and parenting. It's a "trust your gut" approach, very empowering.

While I'm all too aware of the tremendous power of self-deception, today I found a fresh appreciation for my own intuition, my gut instinct. I make decisions all the time, of course-- through a process that usually involves a blend of thinking, researching options, writing lists of pros and cons, and listening to my gut. Today, it was all about the gut. I had a job proposition that I know I don't have the heart for, so I won't pursue it. And I know it's really not worth it to go out again with the guy I had a date with last night. (As my friend, D, observed, I've tipped from giving him the benefit of the doubt over to doubting that there are any benefits.) With each decision, I'm turning my back on possibilities, and it feels right, good. It feels like I'm taking care of myself. I feel like I'm trustworthy with decisions like this. It's a good feeling.