discerning intuition from anxiety
This is part 2 of my 5-part series, “Connecting with Your Intuition.” Missed Week 1? Read it here →
Intuition is something we all have—but it’s also something we have to develop, practice, and trust.
For many of us, no one ever taught us how to listen to it.
In fact, most of us were trained to ignore or override our instincts—to be “reasonable,” to stay in the mind, to follow what’s expected.
But intuition is part of our design.
Caroline Myss beautifully describes it as:
“Intuition is God in our blood and bones, in our cell tissue and our basic design.”
Our intuitive system is a complex, wondrous interior operating system that is always running—providing non-stop guidance on how to live, love, and move through the world.
It’s that pulse of wisdom that lives in your body, in the subtle signals that whisper:
“Stay away from this.”
“Move toward that.”
“That’s too much—stop.”
You’re already in conversation with your intuition, even if you haven’t realized it yet.
We are constantly receiving tiny instructions—so subtle we often miss them. Most of us were never taught to notice these signals, or worse, we were taught to ignore them or do the opposite.
And yet, those little intuitions are always working on our behalf.
Learning to Listen
To reconnect with your intuition, begin by noticing the small bodily and energetic cues:
🌿 When you feel a subtle leaning toward or away from something.
🌿 When a “no” lands in your gut but your mouth says “yes.”
🌿 When you sense you’re veering off path, but can’t quite name why.
A Personal Story
A recent experience with trusting my intuition came this summer.
I had been feeling, for some time, the desire to share more publicly about my evolving identities—my shift out of evangelical Christianity into Interspirituality, and my queer identity. Probably for years, actually.
So as I was making that decision whether or not to share I noticed this desire to be more vulnerable and visible felt like a grounded, consistent “yes.” It came as a small surge of energy, a steady leaning forward. I felt clear and solid about it.
What complicated things was the anxiety that came with it—the worry about how it might impact relationships. I played out the “what if’s in my mind, and found myself procrastinating to avoid the discomfort. The anxiety felt like a no, active fear in my mind, nervous flustered feeling, downplaying the importance.
So was my body telling me yes, or no?
That led me to a familiar question:
How do I know the difference between my intuition and my anxiety? How do I sense what my intuition is telling me , and be able to discern that from the signals I’m getting that are anxiety.
Intuition or Anxiety?
I came across a great post from @shrinkchicks that offered these questions to help tell the difference:
✨ Do I feel a quiet knowing (intuition) or racing “what if” scenarios (anxiety)?
✨ Is this guiding me toward something I value (intuition) or just away from discomfort (anxiety)?
✨ Is this voice kind and supportive (intuition) or critical and harsh (anxiety)?
✨ Is this consistent over time (intuition) or constantly shifting with my mood (anxiety)?
✨ Does this come with clarity (intuition) or confusion and chaos (anxiety)?
✨ Does the feeling pass after reflection (intuition) or keep looping endlessly (anxiety)?
✨ Does this message feel grounded in reality (intuition) or rooted in fear of “what ifs” (anxiety)?
Learning to discern the difference has been key.
Intuition often shows up as body signals long before the mind can explain them.
This is why embodied practices—breathwork, meditation, dance, gentle movement—are essential.
They help us slow down enough to feel what’s true beneath the noise.
Reclaiming Your Inner Guidance
Listening to your intuition isn’t about being perfect at discernment—it’s about building a relationship with yourself.
It’s an ongoing practice of trusting that your body, heart, and mind know what they’re doing. This work is both subtle and sacred—an invitation to rebuild trust with the deepest parts of you.
Practical Ways to Cultivate Intuition:
Pause and notice small signals from your body.
Journal the little nudges you feel throughout the day.
Practice quiet reflection or meditation to tune in to what’s real for you.
Try the guided practice below
Next Week: Meeting Your Inner Saboteur
We’ll explore the Saboteur archetype—why it shows up, how it protects us, and how disruption can actually guide us toward empowerment.
🌙 Explore This Work More Deeply
If this theme resonates, you might want to try a Mini Intuitive Session — a 30min session to reconnect with your inner wisdom through image, story, and embodied reflection. Through body-based grounding, oracle imagery, and archetypal reflection, we’ll listen to what your intuition is already trying to tell you — helping you feel more grounded, clear, and aligned.
Guided Practice: Listening to Your Inner Guidance
Begin by pausing.
Take a comfortable seat. Soften your shoulders.
Let your breath slow down.
Notice.
What sensations are present in your body right now?
— Tightness? Warmth? Tingling? Spaciousness? Buzzing?
Let them be there.
No need to fix or analyze.
Ask quietly: “What is my body telling me right now?”
Allow yourself to be with that sensation longer, giving it space.
Bring to mind something you’ve been sitting with.
A decision, a question, a conversation.
Notice what happens in your body as you think of it.
— Do you feel a leaning toward or away?
— A sense of openness/ expansion, or constriction/hesitation?
— A grounded yes, or a tight no?
These are your intuitive signals.
The body speaks before the mind interprets.
Take a moment to jot down what you noticed.
Words, images, sensations—whatever arises.
Over time, these notes become your body’s language map.
End with an affirmation.
Place a hand on your heart or wherever feels right.
“My body is wise.”
“I am capable of hearing my truth.”
Take one more slow breath in…and a long, steady exhale.
Carry this awareness into whatever comes next.
