Learning to Trust Your Own Intuition Builds Personal Confidence

Many years ago, I learned a concept called Know For Yourself.    Know for yourself is learning to break the habit of needing other people's opinions and approval,  and learning to trust your own internal judgments..  You learn to build autonomy, and  move away from masses thinking, because imitating the masses builds a life of conformity. 

Know for yourself is a concept  that I feel I had been searching for all my life.  I have always had my own thoughts and opinions, but I felt that I wasn't capable enough to really accept my thoughts as being correct for me.
This really comes from all the past conditioned beliefs we are taught growing up.  We are taught to take certain experts words and advice as the only correct answer.  Much frustration can set in for individuals when you feel deep down your intuition is telling you something, but you are overriding it because a perceived expert or guru knows better.  

An example may be something as simple as your doctor telling you to get the flu shot.  There has been so much fear instilled into society over the last few years about the need to get the flu shot.  Doctors suggest it every time you are in the office.  The drug stores offer it, there are ads in magazines, tv, etc.   There are signs everywhere you go, including the airport!  People line up for hours to get their flu shot because someone in a white coat has told them they should, and without question, they buy into it.

I have an uncle that had the flu shot when it first came out, and within days he became a vegetable, at age 60, and has been in a nursing home ever since, barely recognizing anyone and unable to care for himself.  This, along with my understanding of know for yourself, was a re-confirmation that despite what a Dr. may tell me I need, I  do my own research and take full responsibility for my health.  Whenever I have anything at all that needs to be addressed with my health, I fully research online to read and educate myself on all the possibilities and solutions before I walk into a Dr.'s office.  I want to be as informed as possible before I simply "accept" the recommendation given, so that I can ask informed questions, and make my own choices.   The interesting thing I have observed, is every year my Dr. asks me if I want the flu shot.  Every year I remind him about my uncle.  Every year it is like I am telling him this story for the first time.    I look at the generation before me, and how many never think to question a doctor.  People are told to take medication and in many cases, they have 6-8 bottles of pills sitting on their counter and have no idea what any of them are for, and why they are taking them.   It is a lack of personal confidence and not realizing they can ask questions.  Many feel that they could never question someone with "authority".  No one will ever care about your own health and well being as much as you.  Taking full responsibility for our health is just one more area of life that the principle of know for yourself comes into play.