The Sunshine Report Trust Your Inner Voice Karen and Jay share insights from the ‘Road Less Traveled Robert Frost got it right in his poem, ‘The Road Not Taken,’ – when he said: ‘Two roads diverged in a yellow wood – and I chose the one less traveled by – and that has made all the difference.’ He was citing the courage to trust your instincts, follow your dreams and be unafraid in challenging the pressures to conform to the expectations of others. ‘Trust your inner voice.’ Or ‘trust your gut.’ These are phrases you’ve probably heard quite a few times throughout your life, whether it be from a friend or family member giving advice, or perhaps it was a coach of some sort giving instructions. Not only that, it’s also a sensation you’ve probably felt either when you feel something is wrong, or better yet, when you feel something is ‘right’ – although you may not be able to explain it. You just instinctively know that you’re meant to do something. It’s almost like a sixth sense that our body has when encountering something that requires us to make important decisions. The phrase ‘trust your gut’ actually does connect in some ways with our gut. Interestingly, there’s something called the ‘brain-gut connection,’ a communication system that connects these two parts of our bodies through a web of over 100 million neurons, more than exist in the spinal cord! While we may think our gut instinct is derived purely from emotion, there is in fact a whole body of research showing that these instincts come from exposure to different events and experiences, even ones you may not consciously remember! So, when you find yourself in a situation where your instinct is playing a role, what you’re actually sensing is a physical response to memories - memories of events you may have experienced and you feel as though they’re being repeated, igniting a fight or flight sensation. And when these situations occur, how do we know whether to trust our instinct or trust purely logic or reason? Albert Einstein was asked a similar question in 1929 about how he made decisions. Arguably one of the smartest men to ever live, his response was simple, “I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right.” Rather than dismissing his instincts, he would rather test them out. If they were wrong, he figured there was still value in what he could learn. And if they were right, it would help improve his intuition. There are times in life when we doubt ourselves and question our instincts. And in doing so, it can lead us in a direction that where we may end up feeling as though we are not being true to ourselves and our values. However, when we follow our instincts and combine this with other observations or facts, even data points, we give ourselves a unique opportunity to make the best decision for ourselves, and hopefully, others around us. So why is that valuable? Namely because it creates a level of confidence in ourselve’s to go out into the world with an idea or a goal and accomplish it. This isn’t to say we should always trust our instinct as nothing is foolproof. But it is to say that by being more aware of our gut instincts, we can find hold of an incredibly important guide as we navigate the uncertainties of life. In the case of Albert Einstein, his belief in his own intuition allowed him to forge his own path, against the grain of what others perhaps expected of him. It made him a trailblazer in the worlds of science, math, and technology while also leaving behind an incredible legacy. And while each of us may not be an ‘Einstein,’ we each have our own unique talents and potential. So, let’s listen to our inner voice and give our unique qualities the opportunity to reach their full potential – bolstered by the courage to chart our own exciting and uniquely individual path! Read The Report Aerosmith…Not the ‘Same Old Song and Dance!’   Read More Justin Spencer, CAKE, and Recycled Percussion – ‘Be Yourself!’ Read More Positive Profile of the Week: Arthur Sullivan - Charting a Different Path! This week we are delighted to highlight a friend and wonderfully successful New Hampshire entrepreneur, Arthur Sullivan. Small towns are turned around because of people with vision. These people can see the diamond in the rough or in other words, they truly see the opportunity and what can come from it. Artur continues to do exactly that - day in and day out – at the Brady Sullivan Company. A Keene State graduate who rose through the ranks to become Manchester’s 2013 Citizen of the Year, Arthur had the entrepreneurial spirit from the start. In the 70’s, he owned a small cleaning company that focused on commercial services in the greater Manchester area. With those early successes, he would transition to revitalizing and assisting in getting buildings ready for renovation and move-in status. One of his biggest customers was - you guessed it, Shane Brady. The two of them would eventually join forces and create a real estate company that now stretches from the seacoast of New Hampshire to the state of Illinois. Arthur and company have turned nothing into something for they have seen the opportunity to invest, where others have not. You see, while other people were knocking things down and building shiny new things, Arthur used his passion for preservation and the ability to see the diamond in the rough and transform nothing into something - for example, the Mills. Once upon a time Manchester was the textile capital of the world but it would later go dormant, and decay would set in upon these magnificent buildings. Where others feared to tread, Brady Sullivan picked up the Waumbec Mill for $15,000 at auction and about $200,000 in back taxes. Then made a significant investment in bringing it back to life with office space and mixed use. Folks, that beautiful building is now worth $15 million and is providing amazing opportunities for the Queen City. It would have been easier to knock it down and rebuild but that's not what Arthur Sullivan does, as he charts a different path that leads to opportunity and greatness for a community. In addition to his commitment to preservation and opportunity via real estate, Arthur Sullivan and his partner Shane give back in huge ways. On their website it’s hard not to notice their community support page. From the NH Charitable Foundation to the Boys and Girls Club, the impact made is massive. There are so many stories of community support that the testimonials would contain more words than all seven books of Harry Potter! George Eliot coined the phrase “Don't judge a book by its cover” in his novel The Mill on the Floss published back in 1860. Arthur Sullivan’s work is a true example of living by this saying and because of him our communities in the state of New Hampshire and across the region are destined for greatness via his commitment to preservation, legacy, and passion for community spirit. Quotes of the Week "Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never, ever apologize for it. Go against the grain, refuse to conform, take the road less traveled instead of the well-beaten path." - Mandy Hale, 'The Single Woman'.     Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]