As a professional, you make important decisions often – some of them life changing. When you are struggling, your intuition provides a much-needed voice of reason. When you “feel” that something is right, you know you are making the best choice.

Yesterday, a touching story on the national news caught my attention. A group of World War II veterans, mostly aged in their 80s and 90s, traveled to Washington, D. C. to visit the World War II Memorial. When they arrived, a sign on the metal barricades indicated that – because of the government shutdown – the memorial was closed. These spirited veterans were disappointed, of course, for many knew that this might be their final trip to the memorial. Word traveled fast on Capitol Hill. A small group of concerned politicians decided to open the gates. They used their intuition, that voice inside that says “This is the right thing to do.” The Honor Flights, including nearly 150 veterans from Mississippi and Iowa, could now share memories with each other and pay homage to their fallen comrades. For once, I thought, government leaders got it right. They put the needs of others first. The swift decision required collaboration, and it worked.

The next time your gut screams out to you, “Do the right thing,” remember that your intuition knows best. It guides you through some of life’s toughest decisions. When you do the right thing, you will know it and feel it. And who knows? You could make someone’s day.