It asks you to listen to something that doesn’t explain itself clearly when everything around you is offering louder answers.

But sometimes what seems like a “yes” on the outside is actually a “false yes” on the inside. 

What’s a “false yes”?

It’s an action, feeling, or decision driven by societal expectations, fear of disappointing others, or external validation. It’s the kind of yes that makes sense when you say it out loud, but feels heavy when you sit with it quietly. Over time, that weight becomes harder to ignore.

For me, going to medical school or law school would have been a false yes.

My intuition was guiding me to something else: becoming a monk.

At the time, that path resonated deeply with my truth and aligned with my purpose. It wasn’t something I could easily explain to others, but on the inside, it felt steady. It felt like something I needed to explore, even if I didn’t fully understand where it would lead.

Sometimes, right after we make an intuitive decision like that, we start feeling nervous — wondering if we made the right choice.

That’s usually fear stepping in and reminding us of things from past failures or pain. 

I was terrified when I decided I was going to become a monk. It went against what my family wanted for me and what society expected of me. There was uncertainty, discomfort, and a sense of stepping into the unknown.

But deep down, I knew my intuition was guiding me because of the pull I felt inside. It was quiet, but it was there. Every time I paused and reflected on my decision, it felt more like a yes than a no.

It made sense to me without having much logic to it. That’s when I started responding to it as intuition. It was consistent, calm, and honest in a way that didn’t need approval. The more I followed it, the quieter the fear became.

When we trust these signals, we begin to understand what truly resonates with us. We can learn to recognize the difference between what feels aligned and what simply looks acceptable.

Over time, that trust becomes something we can return to, especially when the noise around us gets louder.

With love,
Jay ♥️

P.S. I invite you to move my words from your inbox into your real life with The Daily Wisdom AI prompt series. Whether you try the AI or stick to pen and paper through Today’s Wiser Choice, the point is the same: personalized wisdom can offer a more meaningful perspective in your life.

Try This: Think about a decision you’re currently facing… something you’ve said yes to, or feel pressure to say yes to.

Now, step away from the noise for a moment. Quiet others’ opinions or expectations.

Sit alone with the decision, take a slow breath, and notice the response in your body. Does it feel light, steady, and calm? Or does it feel heavy, tense, and forced?

Next, say the decision out loud: “I’m choosing [the decision].”

Pay attention to what happens internally when you hear yourself say it. 

Give yourself permission to pause. You don’t have to decide everything immediately. This is just a practice in listening to what’s going on inside you versus what’s going on around you.

Last Friday on my podcast, I explored a moment many of us know all too well… walking into a room full of strangers and instantly feeling small, anxious, or out of place. Instead of assuming something is wrong with you, I reframed it through what’s actually happening in the brain. In those moments, your brain may shift into protection mode. It can start scanning for social threats and triggers a stress response. When that happens, the very things that help you connect, what to say, how to be yourself, how to feel at ease, can suddenly feel harder to access. What we often call awkwardness or insecurity isn’t really about who you are, it's your nervous system doing its job, trying to protect you from rejections.