You know that feeling when your chest tightens and a voice whispers, “Don’t do this”—but you can’t tell if it’s wisdom protecting you or fear controlling you?
You’re not alone. Most people spend years second-guessing themselves, mistaking anxiety’s static for intuition’s clear signal. The cost? Missed opportunities. Stalled relationships. A quiet erosion of self-trust.
But here’s what changes everything: intuition and anxiety speak different languages. Once you learn to decode them, you stop living in confusion—and start moving with clarity.
How intuition feels in the body (vs. how anxiety feels
Intuition arrives as a gentle knowing. It feels grounded, neutral, and spacious—even when the message is uncomfortable. You might sense it as:
- A quiet certainty in your chest or gut
- A sense of expansion, like your breath deepens
- Clarity that persists calmly over time
Anxiety, on the other hand, constricts. It feels urgent, loud, and chaotic. Common signs include:
- Racing heart, shallow breathing, tightness in the throat
- Spiraling thoughts (“What if? What if?”)
- A need to act now or fix everything immediately
The key difference: Intuition doesn’t shout. Anxiety does.
The 5-question discernment test
When you’re stuck between two inner voices, pause and ask yourself:
- Does this feeling make me want to contract or expand? (Intuition = expansion. Anxiety = contraction.)
- Is there urgency attached? (Intuition = patient. Anxiety = “Do it NOW!”)
- Am I being guided toward something, or running away from fear? (Intuition moves you forward. Anxiety keeps you small.)
- Does this decision require me to prove something? (Ego/anxiety needs validation. Intuition doesn’t.)
- What happens when I imagine myself doing the opposite? (If relief floods in, it was anxiety. If dissonance arises, it was intuition.)
Answer honestly. Your body already knows.
The 24-hour rule: let truth settle
Here’s a practice that cuts through 90% of confusion: Wait 24 hours before acting on any “urgent” impulse.
Anxiety cannot sustain itself for a full day without external fuel. It will morph, shift, or dissolve entirely. Intuition? It stays consistent. The message doesn’t change—it just becomes clearer.
If you wake up the next morning and the knowing is still there, calm and unwavering, trust it.
Spotting ego signals: urgency and proving
The ego disguises itself as intuition, but it has two telltale signatures:
- Urgency: “If I don’t do this right now, I’ll miss my chance.” (Scarcity thinking.)
- Proving: “This will show them I’m worthy/smart/successful.” (Seeking external validation.)
Real intuition never operates from lack. It doesn’t need to convince you or perform for others. It simply is.
Grounding practices to strengthen discernment
You can’t hear intuition clearly when your nervous system is dysregulated. These practices create the inner quiet you need:
- Breathwork: 4-7-8 breathing (inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8). Repeat 3 times.
- Body scanning: Close your eyes. Ask, “Where do I feel this decision in my body?” Notice without judgment.
- Nature immersion: Step outside. Let your bare feet touch the earth. Anxiety fades when you re-enter the present moment.
- Journaling: Write without editing. Ask, “What does the truest part of me want to say?”
The more grounded you are, the louder intuition becomes.
Real-life examples: relationships, money, career
Relationships: You feel a pull to end a friendship, but guilt floods in. Test it: Is the pull calm and clear (intuition), or is it reactive after one argument (anxiety)? Wait 24 hours. Check for ego (“I need to teach them a lesson”). If the boundary still feels right—and peaceful—honor it.
Money: You’re offered a high-paying job, but something feels off. Test it: Does your body relax when you imagine saying no (intuition), or does panic set in because of external pressure (anxiety)? Notice if urgency is driving you (“I have to take this”).
Career: You want to pivot industries, but fear whispers, “You’ll fail.” Test it: Is the fear specific and loud (“What will people think?”), or is there a quiet resistance beneath it (“This path doesn’t feel like mine anymore”)? The latter is intuition.
The invitation
Discernment isn’t a gift reserved for mystics. It’s a skill—one you sharpen every time you pause, breathe, and ask your body what’s true.
Start today. The next time confusion arises, don’t rush. Let the noise settle. Truth doesn’t hide. It waits for you to get quiet enough to hear it.