Is It Intuition or Fear? How to Tell the Difference

I think one of the hardest parts of trusting yourself is knowing which part of yourself you’re listening to.

You get a feeling about something. Maybe it’s a friendship, a business opportunity or an idea you’ve been quietly sitting on for months. Your first thought is, I think I know what I want to do. Then your mind gets involved. What if I get it wrong? What if people think I’m ridiculous? What if I regret it?

By the end of the day, you’ve asked three people, pulled another card and somehow feel less sure than you did at the start. Sound familiar? 💜

What does intuition feel like?

Sometimes intuition is as ordinary as realising you’ve been looking forward to a particular project all week. Or noticing that every time you’re about to agree to something, you wish you had another day to think about it.

People often say intuition feels calm and fear feels loud. I can see where that comes from, but I wouldn’t make it a rule. You can feel nervous about doing something you genuinely want to do. You can also feel an immediate sense of relief when you decide to put off a conversation you know you need to have.

I’d pay attention to what the feeling is asking you to notice. Is there a specific concern you can look into? Is there something you’d like to do, even though you’re nervous about how it will go? Both can be true.

Three questions to ask before you decide

1. What do I know for sure?

Write down what actually happened. If someone hasn’t replied to your message, that’s what you know. They’re upset with me is one possible explanation. You can take the feeling seriously and still give yourself room to find out what’s going on.

2. What exactly am I afraid of?

Get specific. I’m scared to put my work out there might mean I’m worried people I know will judge me. Or it might mean I haven’t worked out what this will cost and I’m worried I can’t afford it.

Those are two different worries. Once you’ve named yours, it’s easier to work out what would actually help.

3. What’s one small step I could take?

If you’re thinking about writing a book, spend half an hour writing the story you keep telling people. If something feels off in a friendship, you might ask a gentle question and see what they say. If you’re weighing up an opportunity, ask for the details in writing and give yourself time to read them.

A small step can give you information that another evening of thinking about it might never give you.

An oracle card practice for when you feel unsure

If you like working with oracle cards, pull one and ask, What would help me see this more clearly?

Before you read the guidebook, write down the first detail you notice in the artwork. Then finish these two sentences in your journal.

• The part of this situation I keep coming back to is…
• The thing I still need to find out is…

Want to try it now? If you have access to the online Rising Light Oracle, draw a card there and write down the first thing you notice. You can use a deck you already have for the same practice.

You can come back to what you wrote tomorrow and see whether it still feels relevant. If you’re new to working with a deck, here’s a simple way to get started. Read How to Use Oracle Cards for Beginners.

Sometimes the most honest answer is I don’t know yet. You might need a good night’s sleep, a conversation or a little more information. And when you do know what you want to do, you’re allowed to take it one step at a time, even if you’re still a bit nervous.

~ Sarah Jayd