Orlando Counselor Providing Trauma, Anxiety, and Relationship Therapy

Do you ever wonder if your decisions are driven by old worn out fear patterns or if you’re getting an intuitive thought or hunch? Do you feel frozen in your tracks because you are afraid you will make the wrong decision?

As an anxiety and trauma counselor in Orlando, I am asked this question often, “How do I tell the difference between fear and intuition?” In my last post, I shared a bit of my own personal journey with this question, as well as 7 tips for tuning into your own truth. In this post, I am continuing on with the list of intuitive guide posts.

If you’ve struggled with anxiety or with making fear-based decisions, this post and my last post Fear or Intuition? 7 Tips for Tuning into and Trusting Your Intuition, will help you discern the difference between fear and intuition. As mentioned before, the truth lies within you. These are merely guideposts to get you started.

1. Know that fear is lurking.

   Trusting your intuition does not mean that you won’t have fear. It just means you will be more reliant on the wisdom of your intuition rather believing all the fear thoughts.

2. Be kind to the fear parts.

   Belittling yourself for making fear-based decisions isn’t helpful. When you notice fear parts of yourself trying to drive the bus, kindly ask that part to take a step back and invite your intuitive part to the driver seat.

3. Make the journey from your head to your heart.

   Intuition isn’t a heady process. It’s a felt sense of right or wrong, a gut feeling. If you’re like me, you may have to think and rethink things for a bit, but when it comes to making the final move, allow the heart to lead the way.

4. Know there are no wrong decisions, just different directions.

   Even if you make the “wrong” decision, trust there is something you need that you can only get by going down that path. Be open to whatever that is and remind yourself to trust the process.

5. Nurture your relationship with your intuition.

   Take time each day to quiet the mind and connect with your intuitive self. This may mean breath meditations, guided meditations, journaling, spending time in nature, going for a run, drawing, painting, listening to music or whatever you do to get out of your head. From this place, set the intention to be led by your intuition throughout the day.

6. Build relationships with other intuitive people.

   When I am feeling anxious or bound up by fear, there are certain people I seek out and others I avoid. When it comes to developing my intuitive sense, I need people in my life that model and value the intuitive process.

7. Be open to internal hunches and external nudges.

   After you have invited your intuition to help guide you, be open to how you receive the guidance. Sometimes, it will come in the form of inner knowing. At other times, it will be a song on the radio or passage you read in a book that will resonate as truth.

For more on this, check out my last post, Fear or Intuition? 7 Tips for Tuning into and Trusting Your Intuition

I would love to hear about your experience with discerning the difference between fear and intuition. If you have some insight in uncovering your own personal truth, please feel free to share it in the comments section below.

Lauran is an anxiety and trauma therapist providing counseling in Orlando, FL. She also specializes in helping people heal old broken relationship patterns that keep them from finding, creating, and keeping healthy relationships with partners, friends, and family. Lauran uses a down to earth approach infused with cutting-edge therapies that go beyond traditional talking to help clients feel calm in their body and mind and find peace within themselves.