How do you know if you are listening to a voice of intuition vs fear? It’s an age-old question that people (me, I’m people) are terrified to get wrong.

There’s this story that plays out in your head that if you listen to the wrong voice, you’ll ruin your life forever. I get it, I’ve been there…and lots of times still find myself playing the game of confusing my intuitive thoughts and fearful ones.

But what if I told you that in the debate of intuition vs. fear, it doesn’t actually matter what voice you follow? What if I said that in order to find their differences, all you have to do is play with them?

I’m willing to bet it would make things a lot easier and a lot more fun.

Intuition vs. fear

Intuition is often described as a gut feeling or an inner knowing. I like to think of it as the relationship you have with your inner self. It’s the piece of you that has all the answers and steers you down the best path for you.

Intuition is usually a quiet voice within you and it often speaks to you with simple, easy-to-understand instructions. We think things can’t possibly be that obvious or effortless so we ignore it.

Fear, on the other hand, is all those voices installed in you when you were little. For me, it’s my dad telling me to be careful when I played outside. Or society making me feel like I have to “be good” so that I won’t get kicked out of the pack.

Fear is often the loudest one in the room reminding us that we could be in grave danger all the time. It has the tendency to overcomplicate or analyze every detail.

But I honestly believe that if you’re just starting out trying to remember what your intuition sounds like, it doesn’t really matter which voice you let run the show and I’ll tell you why…

Why it doesn’t really matter if you follow intuition vs fear

Support from Divine

You are, and always will be, a divine being. You came from God/Universe/Spirit, and that’s where you’ll return. And I’m here to tell you that God did not put you on this planet to suffer and be less than.

Our birthright is to have our desires fulfilled and Spirit has unlimited ways to get us where we want to go. We only run into trouble when we try to control everything.

Control closes us off to possibilities and therefore limits the input the Universe can give us. Let me tell you this, I have been a control freak for lots of my life and it gives me tunnel vision. I get so laser-focused on how I expect things to go that I cannot see any other way out of my situation.

As I’ve learned ways to relinquish control, I’ve been able to achieve more and have more fun in my life in a shorter amount of time. It’s also helped me strengthen my relationship to my intuition. 

With that being said, it really doesn’t matter if you’re following the voice of fear or intuition because either way, you’ll be receiving support from the divine.

In my experience, when I lean into that support and give up some control, things just happen a little faster.

Intention

Look, if you’re reading this, I’m willing to bet that despite what you sometimes say to yourself, you’re a pretty good person. You aren’t in the habit of hurting people just because you can. And you probably don’t go around making other people’s lives miserable for sport.

You’re trying to do your best most of the time. Because of that, your intentions are pure. What is intention? you ask. It’s the meaning you put behind what you are doing. And for the most part, people have good and pure intentions.

When our intentions are good, the universe supports us. Here’s an example. Say you are looking at accepting a promotion at your job or jumping ship to start at some new, awesome company. My argument is that you’ll be okay no matter which option you pick.

Here’s why…

This might sound crazy but hear me out. The universe/God/Spirit/Buddha knows you more intimately than you realize. It knows that you are looking for a change. It knows that you love working and that you are wanting something more fulfilling on some level (money, titles, whatever).

The Universe wants you to know it hears your desires so you get more than one option. And change does feel scary on a human level. You might have a different commute, more responsibility, a new team, or a number of other things that will result from this change. 

But what if you could trust that you are supported no matter which one you choose? No choice is better or worse than the other because things are always working out for you. You are supported no matter what. 

And yes, there are people who take new jobs and then get laid off right away. Or they take the promotion, and then their new boss sucks. But even then, some type of support is present. Maybe they just can’t see it in the moment. 

So follow your intuition or a voice of fear with pure intentions, either way, you’ll be okay! Even if the next step doesn’t feel the best. Just hold your faith in yourself, your choice, and in your God. It will always get better.

How do I know my intentions are good?

Really take the time to examine your intentions. Ask yourself “What are the reasons why I want what I want?” Be brutally honest with yourself here. No one is going to come to get you if the only reason you want a new job is that you want more money or you hate your boss. Being honest and clear about what you want will help the Universe deliver it to you.

Own your intentions and be unapologetic about them. What you want and what someone else taught you to want are probably two different things. If something seems shallow or selfish to you…more power to you! Here’s your permission to want what you want because you want it. That makes a good intention!

Hear your intuition vs fear more clearly

Here are a couple of ways to help you strengthen your connection to your intuition.

Play with it

I know you’ve been waiting for me to get to the part about play. It’s the best, best way to get in touch with your intuition. Play games with your intuition on every decision you have to make. 

First, get in the attitude of gratitude by thanking your intuition for showing up to play a game with you. Then, consult it with every decision you make in a time period. It could be a 20-minute window, half a day, or even a week.

Ask your intuition what you want for lunch or if you should go out on that date. Ask it anything and everything. Notice what the answers feel like in your body, and what they sound like in your head. Keep a note on your phone of the decisions you make and if you felt like you were following intuition vs fear. 

Be curious about what shows up. I think you’ll also begin to see that it’s okay if you follow the voice of fear. You’ll be able to course correct and see that even when you do follow fear, things always work out in the end.

Simplicity rules

One way I know I’m following my intuition is that there isn’t a lot of explaining happening. It’s sort of this “I’m doing this and I have no idea how it’s going to work” energy. I don’t know how things will work out and that’s okay. And it’s much easier to shrug off questions.

I stay focused on what I want and I trust that it’s going to happen. When the voices inside my head try to sway me to run or do something totally different, I gently remind myself that I’m not here for fear’s games anymore. I lovingly but firmly redirect my thoughts back to what I want to be thinking. 

Make your next decision with your intuition. Then examine what thoughts are coming up and how you’re responding to them. You’ll know it’s intuition vs. fear if your responses sound something like “I don’t have all the answers and I’m ok with that.”

It’s ok if you follow fear

The biggest takeaway I want to leave you with is that it’s 100% okay if you follow the voice of fear. It’s okay if you feel like you have to play small or hide. It’s okay if you feel like you’re getting it wrong.

It’s okay if you feel like you don’t have any intuition. These practices take time and sometimes more patience than you’ve got…and that’s okay too.

You aren’t broken or wrong or unloveable for messing up. You aren’t failing if things are taking you longer than expected. And you’re not a loser if you feel like quitting…or if you decide to quit.

I hope you know that if you are having a hard time finding intuition vs. fear, I am here to help you. I’ve been where you are, feeling like every choice I made was the wrong one. Paralyzed at the thought of what was coming to me next. And staying stuck in situations that I knew weren’t the best for me. 

There are a million ways out. And I’ve got one of them.