Intuition vs Fear: How to Distinguish Between Them
A common question I receive is, “How can I tell if what I’m feeling is intuition or fear?” This often comes up when someone is about to travel and has a “bad feeling” about getting on an airplane.
For example, Kylie Jenner faced this dilemma on an episode of the Kardashians and decided to get off the plane.
Distinguishing between intuition and fear can be confusing, but when you understand the signals your body is giving you, it becomes clearer.
Understanding Intuition
Intuition is one of your innate senses. We all have intuition. You aren’t “bad” at using your intuition.
Someone taught you to read, but no one ever taught you how to tap into this skill.
The more we practice using intuition and understanding how it communicates to us, the more we can use it to our benefit.
Intuition is an inner knowing that you feel in your body. It guides you to make decisions and navigate life effectively. T
rusting and following your intuition can save you time and pain.
For example, you might have wondered whether to break up with someone only to stay in the relationship longer than necessary, doubting yourself along the way.
It’s easier to understand intuition when you’re clear about what it isn’t.
Characteristics of Fear and Anxiety
Every emotion has a distinct sensation.
Fear, for instance, has a specific feeling associated with it, such as an increased heart rate or a sense of dread.
Anxiety, paranoia, and insecurity each have their own physical sensations as well. You might experience a pit in your stomach or a tightness in your chest.
Learning to identify your emotions by recognizing how they feel in your body and naming them regularly is crucial.
Once you understand what an emotion feels like for you, you can distinguish it from intuition.
Fear’s Role in Survival
Fear manifests as a protective mechanism. For example, you might have a thought like, “Is the plane going to crash?”
This is your brain’s way of keeping you safe. Our primitive brain is designed to recognize potential threats, like a giant metal plane flying through the air.
However, not every fear warrants action.
Intuition vs. Fear in Modern Life
Modern society presents countless potential dangers, from physical safety concerns to emotional threats like social rejection.
Our brains might read these as danger signals, but it’s important to know when to listen to these feelings and when to override them.
Fear can be useful in genuinely dangerous situations, like if a stranger follows you at night, but it doesn’t always mean you should act on it.
The same goes for any emotion.
You can validly experience any emotion, like heartache, anger, resentment, or sadness, but it doesn’t mean you should always act on them.
Recognizing Intuition
Intuition is also a sensation in your body, but it doesn’t feel like fear, anxiety, paranoia, or insecurity.
It’s clear and neutral, similar to stating a fact like, “The sky is blue.”
Unlike fear, intuition doesn’t trigger strong emotional reactions; it feels more like a quiet certainty.
If you’ve ever had the experience of knowing a song before it came on the radio, or thinking about a person and then they call you. There was a neutrality to that.
That’s what intuition feels like.
Practical Tips for Differentiating Between Intuition and Other Emotions
Taking pauses throughout the day can help you name your emotions and acknowledge your thoughts as just thoughts, not facts. For instance, recognizing “I feel anxious” versus “This situation is dangerous” can make a significant difference. Understanding your thoughts and emotions can lead to better decision-making and less confusion.
Journaling is also a great way to gain clarity. I like to write about a specific situation I’m experiencing and then go back and read what I wrote- and I’ll identify, is that a thought? An emotion? I like to reflect back on my day and ask “what emotions did I experience today?”
Being quiet and still. I love meditation for this, or even walks with myself (no music or podcast). Your intuition is always speaking to you, you just have to listen, understand what you’re hearing, and be able to act on what you sense.
Conclusion
If you’d like to delve deeper into understanding your thoughts, emotions, and intuition, consider my workshop, Intuition Made Simple.
This time-efficient workshop includes specific exercises to help you distinguish intuition from thoughts and emotions, like fear and anxiety, empowering you to trust yourself more. As well as exercises to teach you how to use your intuition effectively day to day.
By following these steps and practicing regularly, you will improve your ability to recognize and trust your intuition, leading to more clarity, confidence and effective decision-making.
Check out Intuition Made Simple here.
With love,
Carmen xo