Fear vs. Intuition: How To Tell The Difference
Nov 04, 2024With my recent birthday, turning 32, I've found myself in a reflective space. Birthdays often do that to me—sparking moments of introspection and a sense of recalibration. For this one, I kept it simple: a cozy dinner with close friends, cooking together, meditating, and just enjoying the company of people I love.
As a gift to myself, I decided to take a leap of faith and put down a deposit on a hotel for my first-ever retreat. It’s an exciting (and slightly nerve-wracking) new chapter in my life and business. The initial wave of fear was there—what if no one shows up? Can I manage the planning alone? But instead of letting fear dictate my decisions, I chose to listen to my intuition, that subtle internal voice saying, Go for it. Now, I’m fully embracing the process of planning this in-person retreat and feeling excited for what’s ahead.
This experience got me thinking about an interesting topic: understanding the difference between fear and intuition. It’s something we all encounter, yet many of us struggle to distinguish between the two. So, let’s explore how to tell them apart and why listening to your body is crucial for making aligned decisions.
Fear vs. Intuition: The Core Difference
Intuition is like an internal compass, guiding you with a steady and grounded feeling. It’s that quiet sense of clarity, even if you don’t fully understand why you feel a certain way. Intuition doesn’t push or panic—it gently nudges. When you feel it, it’s often calm and rooted in the present moment, offering a sense of rightness.
Fear, in contrast, is loud, urgent, and often chaotic. It’s driven by a need to avoid a perceived threat, whether that threat is real or imagined. Fear stirs up racing thoughts, anxiety, and physical tension in the body. It pulls you out of the present and floods your mind with worst-case scenarios.
Think of it this way: intuition feels centered and clear while fear feels rushed and unsettled.
Exploring the Difference
Imagine you’re at a social event, and something feels off. Intuition might tell you, “I should leave the room now.” There’s no panic, just a clear sense of knowing. Fear, however, shows up as a ton of racing thoughts: What if I’m being judged? What if something goes wrong? It’s an anxious loop that clouds your judgment.
Or, say you’re considering a job offer. If intuition is speaking, you might sense a quiet confidence: This feels right, or This doesn’t align with me. Fear, however, is that inner voice that bombards you with doubt: What if I’m not good enough? What if I fail? What if I make the wrong decision? While intuition provides clarity, even when the message is difficult, fear creates confusion.
Why It’s Hard to Trust Ourselves
Many of us have been conditioned to ignore our bodies’ natural signals. Maybe you were told as a child, “You’re too sensitive,” or “You’re overreacting.” Those messages teach us to dismiss our feelings, making it difficult to trust our own intuition. And if you’ve experienced chronic stress or trauma, reconnecting with that inner voice can feel even harder.
3 Tips to Reconnect with Your Intuition
1. Start with Your Basic Bodily Impulses
A simple way to start reconnecting with your intuition is by honoring your body’s needs. This might sound basic, but how often do we push off going to the bathroom because we’re too busy? Ignore hunger cues or suppress yawns because it’s considered rude? Start small. Respond to these bodily signals—they’re your body’s way of communicating with you. By honoring them, you’re building a foundation of trust with yourself.
2. Ask, Does This Feel Expansive or Contractive?
This question is powerful when considering a decision. Notice how your body reacts. If thinking about the choice makes you feel expansive—a lightness, a relaxed chest, shoulders releasing—that’s a sign of alignment. On the other hand, if it feels contractive—tension, heaviness, a sense of dread—that’s often a signal from fear or misalignment. Follow what feels expansive; it’s usually your intuition guiding you toward growth.
3. Get Quiet and Tune Into Your Breath
Finding a quiet space and focusing on your breath can help you access a grounded state, what we like to call the ventral vagal state in nervous system terms. This state is where you’re most open to receiving intuitive messages. Once you’re settled, bring to mind a question you’re pondering: Should I accept this new job? Is this relationship nurturing for me?
Notice what sensations arise in your body. Is there warmth in your chest, or tightness in your stomach? Ask yourself, What are you trying to tell me? Observe whether these feelings are expansive or contractive, and let any thoughts or emotions come up without judgment.
Trusting Your Inner Wisdom
Your body holds a natural wisdom, and the answers you’re looking for are already inside you. By tuning in and listening to your body’s signals, you can start to rebuild trust in yourself. Over time, this practice helps your intuition become stronger and clearer. The more you pay attention to these cues, the more confident you’ll feel in making choices that align with who you truly are.
Learning to trust your intuition is a journey that takes time and patience, but with practice, it becomes easier to tell the difference between the calm voice of intuition and the noise of fear.
If you’re interested in diving deeper and would like guidance on reconnecting with your intuition, I’m here to help. You can schedule a consultation using the link below.
