Have you ever made a quick decision without weighing your options or simply asking for God’s guidance? I’m sure many of us have done this a time or two. We soon realize that we should have followed our first mind.
Some of you may be wondering what ‘follow your first mind’ means. Following your first mind is similar to listening to the small still voice (intuition). Your first mind nudges you to go one way, but you do the exact opposite. I learned about this from my aunt and other people who have more years of living under their belt than I do.
In my experience when I don’t follow my first mind, stress steps in and takes over. We don’t want to be stressed because stress will get our overall health out of kilter. Life is meant to be lived stress free, but often times when we don’t follow our first mind we bring undo stress upon ourselves.
Here are just a few examples of decisions made without going with your first mind:
- Purchases. You see that nice dress or suit and your first mind says don’t make the purchase. But you go ahead and make the purchase. Later you realize that you don’t like what you’ve purchased and you either end up letting it collect dust in your closet or you give it away. Money wasted, but lesson learned!
- Relationships. You help a family member or friend out, but your first mind, has reservations about helping them. You go ahead and help the person anyway. Later you realize that your family member or friend was only using you for their personal gain. Time wasted, but lesson learned!
- Marriages. You are standing before the minister about to say ‘I do’ when your first mind screams loudly that you should not marry this person. Six months to a year later you are filing for a divorce. Love wasted, but lesson learned!
- Jobs. You interview for a job and you are made an offer. Your first mind is telling you that this job isn’t the right job for you, but you go ahead and take the job because it is better pay than your last job. A few months into this job you dread going to work and wonder why you even took the job in the first place. Disgusted, but lesson learned!
The above examples are just a few examples of how things go wrong when we do not follow our first mind. Whenever you have any doubt about doing something, you should always weigh the pros and cons and be led by God. If you don’t follow your first mind, then you can bring undo stress upon yourself which can affect you physical, mental, and emotional health.
It is better that you follow your first mind. Don’t ever ignore your first mind, because nine times out of ten, your first mind is guiding you in the right direction.
Can you relate, please share your thoughts?
Your health is your wealth!
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Evelyn Parham is a mind body eating coach and writer in Greenville, GA. She blogs about well-being, personal growth, and beauty. Learn more
YOUR FIRST MIND!
Listen to your first mind don’t hesitate
or it will leave you lying in wait
Your first mind will not wait, wait, wait!
Your first mind is your best bet
just listen and don’t forget.
Your first mind will come like a summer breeze
but don’t hesitate or your first mind will freeze.
Push your first mind to the next rung
it will not like being left to hung
By: me
Very nice, Daniel!
I too believe that your instinct never lies. We must follow it for satisfactory results.
The only thing to beware of is to learn the difference between first mind/intuition and simple fear.
It could be your first mind telling you not to do something but it could also be fear of a challenge or opportunity. I have found that sometimes those voices sound similar. But one should be ignored and (as you pointed out) the other needs to be listened to.
Discerning the difference is likely something that comes with experience, but it is important also to not let fear stand in your way.
Maybe the dress, job, marriage or relationship is good for you. It is really the REASONS that the little voice tells you it is bad that can make the subtle difference as to whether it is intuition or fear that are trying to steer you away.
Hi Steve!
You’re absolutely right about knowing the difference between intuition and simple fear.
Your response reminds me of the time when I decided to attend graduate school. I was fearful, but I knew that it was something I wanted to do. I didn’t let the fear of the unknown stop me from going to grad school. If I had of given in to fear, I would have never made it to grad school.
Thank you for chiming in!
Take care,
Evelyn
For the most part the times I haven’t listened to my intuitions, I wish I had. Years ago, I would struggle against my better judgement. However over the years I’ve I intuitively I’m not feeling it, I simply won’t do it. 🙂
Hey Opal,
I hear you! 😉
Thank God for experience! Because it is a good teacher.
Thanks,
Evelyn
Hey, Soror. This Attorneymom. Keep up the great work. I am so proud of you.
Thank you, Soror! You just don’t know how much I needed to hear that at this very moment. We do need to talk!
I’m reading Tracye’s book too and will be doing a review sometime this week. Great minds think alike! 😉
Your blog looks good too. 🙂
Take care, sis!
-Evelyn
Combining that first mind thought with what the gut says is pretty powerful stuff. It’s amazing how often we talk ourselves in circles and end up right back at the beginning again. Great examples there! 🙂
Hi Clearly Composed,
You’re so right!
Thanks for stopping by and chiming in!
Take care,
Evelyn
As far as relationships- we have to point our hearts in the right direction. The Christians say ” the heart is deceitful – it just loves to love. The Muslims say ” love is blind it turns okra into zucchini” Seek God in all your affairs and you won’t go wrong.
Hey Vibrant,
AMEN!!! 😉
Thanks for that gentle reminder that in every affair I must seek God!
Take care,
Evelyn
Hi Evelyn,
Yes indeed I can relate. Paticurally the one about relationships. My intuition has never been wrong in that catagory. There has always been someting there, whenever weird or uncomfortable feelings settle in. I usually find that when I want to be wrong about a feeling, that right there is a red flag! This article is a helpful reminder to always give the spotlight on my first mind. Thanks!
Dandy
Hi Dandy,
Sometimes when I’ve gotten weird feelings about certain things, I have ignored it and have done the opposite, but I am learning to heed the weird feelings and the little voice. They will never steer you wrong.
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Take care,
Evelyn
Hi Evelyn,
The first mind – or intuition – is the gift of perfect guidance. It never leads you astray although it might not seem that way.
When I ignore the small, still voice I suffer. When I listen I am led in the direction of a proper course of action.
Thanks for sharing your insights on the intuition, it’s a little discussed but important topic.
Ryan Biddulph
Hi Ryan,
“Gift of perfect guidance.” So true!!
Great points you share here, Ryan!
Thanks for stopping by!
Evelyn
Can I relate you ask? LOL
How many chapters for a book would you like?
We’ve all been there and have similar stories to share, I’m sure. Like me, most have more experiences than they’d like to admit.
Somehow we know we should listen to ourselves but then we justify doing what we would rather do instead.
We always pay for it later but have to wonder how many times we’ll buy that same lesson. 🙂
Hey Jimi,
You’re absolutely right! I’m learning to listen, because often times when I don’t it does end up too pretty.
Thanks for stopping by!
Evelyn