Trusting Instincts, Cultivating Intelligence
How Creative Adaptive Intelligence Fuels #ThrivLIFE
In a world that often prioritizes logic over intuition, we are taught to second-guess ourselves, seek external validation, and ignore the wisdom of our own instincts. But what if the key to success, fulfillment, and adaptability was already within us? What if the answer wasn’t about doing more, but about trusting more—trusting our instincts, our intuition, and the unique intelligence that emerges when we align both?
This is where Creative Adaptive Intelligence (CAI) comes into play. CAI is the ability to creatively adapt to circumstances, making decisions that are both innovative and aligned with our purpose. When integrated with ThrivLIFE principles—self-leadership, empowerment, and sustainable success—we gain a roadmap to navigate challenges with confidence and clarity.
The Wisdom of Instincts and Intuition
Our instincts and intuition are two powerful tools for navigating life, yet they serve different functions:
Instincts arise from the body’s deep knowledge, shaped by past experiences and primal intelligence. They tell us when something is “off” or when we’re in the right place.
Intuition is heart-centered—it guides us toward what aligns with our values and purpose, even when logic struggles to make sense of it.
ThrivLIFE Perspective: When we learn to trust both our instincts (the body's signals) and intuition (the heart's wisdom), we move from reactive survival to proactive thriving. Creative Adaptive Intelligence helps us harness both for self-leadership and decision-making.
Overcoming Conditioning: Reclaiming Self-Leadership
Many of us are conditioned to suppress our instincts and doubt our intuition, leading to uncertainty and self-doubt. Social norms, past experiences, and external expectations often make us outsource our decision-making to others rather than trust ourselves.
The Shift:
Recognize where you've been conditioned to seek approval rather than trust your own knowing.
Begin the practice of self-inquiry: “Is this fear or doubt protecting me, or is it holding me back?”
Reconnect with your inner authority by reflecting on past experiences where you knew what was right for you, even if it defied logic.
ThrivLIFE Action: Start small—trust your gut on daily decisions. Notice when you override instinct with doubt, and experiment with leaning into trust instead.
The Role of Suffering and Aliveness in Growth
Suffering is often seen as something to avoid, yet it plays an essential role in understanding what brings us alive. Struggle teaches us clarity, helping us distinguish between what fuels us and what drains us.
Reframing Challenge:
Suffering doesn’t have to be the main character. But aliveness wants to be.
Fear and doubt don’t always mean “stop.” Sometimes, they mean “pay attention.”
Desire isn’t selfish; it’s a compass leading us toward purpose and fulfillment.
ThrivLIFE Integration: Rather than avoiding discomfort, use it as a tool for learning. Ask: “What is this experience teaching me about what I truly want?”
Commitment and The Freedom to Choose
True self-leadership means owning your choices and fully committing to them. The beauty of Creative Adaptive Intelligence is that it allows us to shift and pivot when needed, without fear of failure.
Guiding Principles for Decision-Making:
Every decision is a step forward, not a pass/fail test.
If a choice isn’t working, you have the freedom to make a new one.
Commit fully to your path, while remaining adaptable.
ThrivLIFE Mindset Shift: Success isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about trusting yourself enough to take the next step and adjust as needed.
The Front Porch Project: A Case Study in CAI & ThrivLIFE
During the pandemic, I started the Front Porch Project, a community-driven photography initiative that I didn’t plan in advance. The idea was suggested to me, and within 24 hours, I had a landing page and was photographing my first day of porch portraits.
I simply trusted the pull to do it. It began as a way to capture families at home with a pay-it-forward request to support local businesses and charities, but it grew beyond my wildest expectations:
I personally captured over 950 portraits during the three months of the stay-at-home order.
40+ photographers joined the project, estimating a total of over 4,000 portraits taken.
An estimated $1.28 million was funneled back into local economies directly from the project.
None of this was a pre-set goal, nor was there a structured plan. It all happened because I followed intuition, instinct, and adaptability while also leveraging the wisdom and systems I already had in place. The results went beyond just the numbers given back to the community.
The biggest success? Through the tremendous support of the participants in the project and assistance from the government, I was personally able to continue paying my team, ensuring we could handle the overwhelming response to the project. It took a village, and everything seemed to fall into place quickly and without too many errors. I simply focused on the work, and together, we were able to cultivate a huge impact on our community!
This is the essence of Creative Adaptive Intelligence in action.
ThrivLIFE Lesson: Trusting your skills, purpose, and vision—without needing full clarity upfront—creates momentum and success beyond expectation.
Trusting Yourself is the Key to Thriving
Creative Adaptive Intelligence isn’t about having the perfect plan—it’s about cultivating trust, adaptability, and self-leadership in everything you do. The more you lean into your instincts and intuition, the more clearly you’ll see the opportunities meant for you.
Your ThrivLIFE Next Steps:
Practice small acts of self-trust. Pay attention to what your gut and heart tell you today.
Reframe challenges as learning opportunities. What is your discomfort revealing about what you truly desire?
Commit without fear. Make choices, trust yourself, and pivot as needed.
