Are uncomfortable feelings your intuition or something else in disguise? Fear? Anxiety? Self sabotage? How can you tell the difference?
Has this ever happened to you?
A new opportunity presents itself. Perhaps it’s a new project, romantic interest, job, partnership, business opportunity, etc.
You feel excited at first, but then the initial enthusiasm starts to fade and give way to doubt, second thoughts, general sense of unease, or even a sense of dread.
So, you think to yourself: “It must be my intuition telling me it’s not the right time / person / project / decision / etc.”
But is it?
What appears to be our intuition is often something else.
On the surface, it seems as though we are picking up on intuitive cues – a feeling, gut reaction, hunch, dream, or maybe even things that we interpret as “signs”. After all, this is the way intuition works, right?
And yes, this is true.
But not always.
Sometimes, “intuitive cues” are not your intuition at all.
Instead, what seems to be our intuition is actually a manifestation of underlying fears, anxieties, or subconscious beliefs.
It can be a form of self sabotage or a way to avoid something that scares us. Or it could be a self-protective mechanism that we developed as a way to protect ourselves from potential harm.
Whatever it is, it is NOT your intuition. So, don’t be fooled. (But, sometimes it is. So, there’s that to consider, too.)
Confusing? Yes.
And no, it’s not just you. It happens to all of us.
So, what can you do?
If you’re not sure if what you’re feeling is truly your intuition, here’s a simple technique you can try:
– Pick a quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed.
– Close your eyes and put your hands over the center of your chest.
– Take five long, deep breaths while focusing your attention in the area of your chest beneath the palms of your hands.
– Continue taking long, deep breaths until you feel yourself begin to relax.
– If your mind starts drifting or thoughts pop up, try focusing your attention on your breath. Follow it as it goes in, then out… in… and then back out.
– Next, think about the situation that you would like more clarity on.
– Once you have the situation in mind, ask yourself: “Is this fear or intuition?”
– Notice the first answer that comes to mind.
– Continue taking long, deep breaths, keeping your body as soft and relaxed as possible.
– Next, ask: “What’s really going on here? What do these feelings/signs/etc. really mean?”
– Notice what thoughts arise, as well as any physical sensations you might be experiencing.
– How do you feel about the answers that have come up?
– What feels true to you? Is it truly your intuition or something else that you’ve been feeling with regards to the situation?
– Continue breathing and notice anything else that comes to mind.
– Once you feel that you’ve gained some insight, open your eyes and make a note of what thoughts and answers came up.
Tip: It helps if you can take some written notes. But even if you can’t, this process should still help you gain some clarity on what’s really going on.
If you still feel confused or unsure about what things mean, be patient with yourself. You could also try this.
The more you practice this technique, the easier it will get. The key is to train yourself to quiet your mind so you can hear your inner guidance. So you can hear the truth.
It’s there. Lurking within, the answers you seek are all within…
Photo by: Lauren Rushing
