Even not coming from a place of anxiety, I agree with you that it's not as simple as trusting one's gut. While I did you the phrase in this email I wrote to my kids a few years ago, I tried to show nuance: " Be patient, sit with decisions until they not only seem right but feel right. Trust your gut. There is a difference between doubts in your head and feelings in your gut. There is a difference between being nervous in your gut and something really not feeling right in your gut. You will need to discern for yourself how to discern those differences; everybody is different. I can help you when you are trying to tell the difference if you come to me for help. I can guide you but the ultimate decision would have to be yours. It’s fine to make mistakes. I just hope you recognize mistakes way earlier than I have." If you're interested in seeing the full email, which was more about one will never achieve contentment if one follows a path ill-suited for one’s essential nature, it's here: https://medium.com/illuminations-mirror/life-lessons-and-parents-roles-an-actual-email-to-my-15-year-old-son-and-17-year-old-daughter-48c8ef4f4ccf

I also think "follow your heart" is over simplified and misunderstood advice as I discuss in detail here https://medium.com/@marcus17043/are-you-well-advised-to-follow-your-heart-dea0cbeb214b