Brianna Wiest - The Mountain Is You_ Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery (2020)

THE MOUNTAIN IS YOU
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But this is often confusing to people, because which feelings
are your instincts, and what are your fears, or doubts,
or limiting beliefs? How do we know the difference?
Well, your instincts aren’t actually feelings; they are
responses.
If you find yourself particularly drained after spending
time with someone or are feeling like you don’t want to
see them again, that’s your instinct. If the work that you
do exhausts you and every bit of it is forced and undesirable,
that is your instinct. Instinct is not a feeling (you
don’t have an “instinct” that you’re sad today); instinct is
quickly moving yourself out of harm’s way without having
to think about it.
You have to remember that your feelings, while valid, are
not often real. They are not always accurate reflections
of reality. They are, however, always accurate reflections
of our thoughts. Our thoughts change our feelings. Our
thoughts do not change our instincts. What you naturally
gravitate toward or away from is your instinct. It’s not
something you feel or interpret; it’s something you naturally
do.
When people talk about using their instincts to craft a
life they love, this is what they mean: that they are obeying
what their subtle intuition tells them they feel best
doing. Sometimes, your instinct can move you toward
your art, even if it makes you uncomfortable and resistant.