In the final scene of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, the rebel alliance launches an assault on the Death Star in an attempt to defeat the Empire. The hero, Luke Skywalker, pilots his X-wing fighter along a heavily fortified trench in search of a small exhaust port in which to fire his missiles.

Amid the chaos of the battle, Luke hears the wise counsel of his recently departed mentor, Obi-wan Kenobi, who whispers, “Luke, trust your feelings.” Luke then switches off his targeting computer and — using the Force as his guide — proceeds to fly by instinct, eventually reaching his objective and destroying the Death Star.

Simply put, Luke saves the day by trusting his gut.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have ignored my gut, instead relying on my intellect — or worse, looking to gurus and other so-called experts to show me the “right” way. I was afraid of messing up and getting it wrong. I wanted someone else to illuminate the path for me.

Now I see how misguided I was. The truth is, no one can show you the absolute right path for you. Only you can do that. In fact, if you ever find yourself on a well-worn path, you can know with certainty that it isn’t your path. You blaze your own path, bushwhacking the trail as you go.

Yes, you will encounter resistance, setbacks, difficulties and disappointments. But keep forging ahead anyway. Keep going. Don’t ever stop. Just like a shark that needs fresh water passing through its gills continuously, you, too, need to keep pressing forward.

Believe in yourself — even if no one else does. Listen to your heart. Follow your gut. Like Luke Skywalker, trust your feelings to lead you where you need to go.

In time, your cumulative efforts will combine to form a rich, rewarding life. And one day you will turn around and see a beautiful, cleared trail leading up to exactly where you are supposed to be.