35 pages 1 hour read

Joseph Nguyen

Don't Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking Is the Beginning & End of Suffering

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2022

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Chapters 11-15

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 11 Summary: “How To Follow your Intuition”

It is natural to seek out advice in trying to make decisions in life but, at best, outside opinions confirm what a person already knows or feels—no one else can tell a person what is right or wrong for them. This makes it critically important to follow one’s intuition, “that still, quiet voice that always nudges us toward the things we need and the things that will help us grow most in the moment” (94). This does not mean not relying at all on the intellect. At the same time, too much thinking will cause fear and self-doubt, whereas intuition can lead one to explore the unknown and create bold new possibilities. 

Intuition can help one understand what they really want, and what the next step is for achieving it, without bogging them down in too many details or long-term considerations. Intuition and the intellect can often be at odds. Intellect is often wrapped up in fears, especially concerning other people’s opinions. Trusting in intuition may be scary, but it is usually right, and taking a leap of faith is key to gaining freedom from the trap of overthinking.