And Speaking Of… Ego vs Intuition

I've taken significant risks that have paid off throughout my career, primarily driven by my pure instinct. My intuition always steers me in the right direction, even if the path is uncomfortable or bumpy for a short while. I have learned to hone in on my ability to listen to my inner guidance system and make difficult decisions based on intuition. I also?give both personal and professional guidance to others based on gut instincts, often referred to as "intuitive downloads."?

We all can access the answers we are seeking. Too often we seek external vehicles to help us find clarity on solutions to problems or decisions that we can solve on our own. It is easier said than done in many cases because of the noise of life, others' opinions, the fear of being rejected, people pleasing, the list goes on...

As I've grown in my leadership journey, I have often questioned whether I am making a decision based on my ego or based on my intuition. I always want to ensure I come from a place of service for my team, advisors, and preferred partners. It is critically important that I am not making decisions simply because I am trying to advance my ego-centric interests.

One way I know I am in an ego vs. an intuitive space is asking myself questions to discover if I am deciding to fill a void or advance my own self-worth or significance. I don't want to become dependent on my professional accomplishments and growth to define my self-worth and fill my proverbial significance bucket.

This is tricky to avoid and can be sneaky when you love your career the way I do. When you are deeply passionate about what you do, it is so easy to let your work define you, and when you become dependent on that as a vehicle to feel good about yourself, that is when your ego can take over and start calling the shots.?

What I have found in my professional journey is that when I am clinging to topics, tasks, or outcomes, my ego hijacks me.

For example, the perception of giving up control could be translated to "Vanessa isn't good enough to handle that."

I struggled in my childhood for visibility at school. I was always a runner-up or not considered for accolades or recognition after working hard. I find that once I achieve recognition or accomplish a task, it can be hard for me to let go of (my perceived) control because I have an unfounded and irrational?fear?that my worth is attached to those positive outcomes.

And do you know what?fear?stands for:??

False??

Evidence??

Appearing??

Real

As leaders, we must learn to let things go and trust. As someone who likes to drive projects, focus on details, and control the outcome, this is hard for me. My ego gets in the way and tricks me into believing that I am the only one that can handle the task. This is not true, and it is completely sabotaging the building of a team.

I am blessed to have strong colleagues at Gifted Travel Network who can gently and kindly call me out when I am getting in that mode so I can course correct and step back into what I like to believe are heart-led decisions vs. head-based decisions.?

As a lifelong learner, I'm always curious about how to improve and further develop myself to reach my fullest potential. I believe that self-reflection is a crucial part of any journey, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my insights with my LinkedIn readership.

I hope my vulnerability in this article inspires you to create the space for introspection and ask yourself the difficult questions. I look forward to engaging with your thoughts and takeaways in the comments below!