Trust Your Gut: The Safety Skill We Don’t Talk About Enough
I almost titled this piece Do As I Say, Not As I Do—and honestly, that might still be accurate. But let’s talk about what “trust your gut” actually means, because it’s not mystical, dramatic, or paranoid.
Your gut isn’t making decisions. Your brain is.
It’s quietly processing information in the background—body language, tone, inconsistencies, context—and then sending you a warning through the gut–brain connection. Sometimes it shows up as uneasiness, goosebumps, muscle tension, or that unmistakable sinking feeling.
This is not paranoia.
Paranoia colors every decision. Gut instinct is situational. It’s the difference between being afraid of all men versus feeling uneasy about one specific person who just walked into your salon.
And yes—mobile and housecall groomers, I’m looking at you—but this applies to all of us, in business and in life.
When Ignoring Your Gut Goes Wrong
I travel frequently and almost always check two suitcases. I use escalators without thinking twice. But on my last trip, I had three heavy suitcases because I was working a trade show and missed the shipping window.
The first gut feeling I ignored?
Struggling past the luggage cart machine—and walking away because it cost eight dollars.
“I’m not spending $8.”
Yes. I can see the collective eye-roll from here.
The second ignored warning came when I bypassed the elevator because too many people were waiting. I could almost hear my guardian angel sighing.
“Oh, sweet child.”
I made it about a third of the way up the escalator when the heaviest suitcase tipped backward—and took me with it.
Falling up an escalator is not recommended.
⭐☆☆☆☆
Zero stars. Do not suggest.
Gut Instinct vs. Paranoia
Here’s the key distinction:
If this experience made me afraid of all escalators forever, that would be paranoia.
Learning to use common sense with heavy luggage in the future? That’s wisdom informed by instinct.
Gut feelings are specific. They’re not constant fear—they’re context-sensitive warnings.
Why This Matters for Groomers
Now let’s bring this home.
Before entering someone’s house.
Before opening your van door.
Before putting a pet on your table.
Pay attention to the vibes.
That sudden discomfort?
The client who makes you uneasy for reasons you can’t quite articulate?
The situation that feels just a little… off?
Those are not “overreactions.”
Those are your brain telling you, This may not end well.
Red flags are not emotional—they are informational.
The Takeaway
You don’t owe anyone access to you, your body, your space, or your safety.
Trusting your gut isn’t fear-based—it’s experience-based intelligence doing its job.
The lesson isn’t to live afraid.
The lesson is to listen before something goes wrong—instead of explaining it afterward.
And if your instinct says, This isn’t safe,
believe it.
Your gut doesn’t need proof.
It needs permission.