Following Instincts

“Just follow your instincts”

It sounds good and the advice is often well-intentioned, but that adage can also steer us off the right path. While instincts are important, they can’t be followed without examination.

You might argue, “But instincts are designed for our survival!” And you are correct. Instincts were designed to keep you alive, but not necessarily to help you thrive. Yes, instincts help you flee quickly from the tiger lunging from the bushes, but they do little to keep you on an optimal path for the future. And since there aren’t a lot of tigers where I live, “following instincts” might need to be re-evaluated.

Instincts seek pleasure and flee pain. They seek comfort and temporary safety. But some pain is necessary. Comfort can be dangerous. And what seems safe in the moment, might be quite costly over the long run.

So while you shouldn’t completely ignore your instincts, please be wary of them. Examine them to see if they are trying to persuade you to trade progress for pleasure, long-term satisfaction for short-term security. Question your instincts.

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