Following your intuition sometimes requires you to confront your fears and doubts –– all those uncertainties head-on. This can be daunting, which is a natural response to dealing with the unknown. At these times your mind can fill in the gaps with worst-case scenarios.
Therefore, learning to differentiate between your intuition and the voices of fear and doubt is important.
Here are some prompts and strategies to help you overcome these obstacles and gain confidence in following your intuition.
Embrace uncertainty
Do you invite new possibilities?
Be willing to embrace the intangible when following your intuition and recognize that the outcome may not always be clear at the beginning.
When we tap into our intuition, we open ourselves to new possibilities and ideas that might not seem logical at first.
Many entrepreneurs and scientists give credit to their intuition leading the way in unknown territory and contributed huge advances to society as a result. Steve Jobs is one of many I cover in my article on the power of intuition: real life success stories.
Learn from past experiences
What have you learned from the past?
Reflect on times when you followed your intuition and it turned out beneficial, and use those experiences to build your confidence. Or conversely, recall the times when you didn’t follow these prompts due to doubt and fear.
It requires mindfulness and self-awareness.
Keeping a journal helps…
Keep a journal
What evidence do you have?
Writing down your intuitive feelings, actions, and outcomes can help. Make three columns, one for each of these, in a special journal and start keeping track.
Over time look back on what you’ve written with hindsight. This will help you differentiate between feelings based on fear vs your intuition. As well, it will help you overcome any self-doubt.
Stay true to self
What are your dreams and desires?
Realize that following your inner voice is about staying true to your Divine self.
It may not always lead to immediate positive outcomes even though things are working in the background. Remember the 3 P’s: Persistence, perseverance, and patience are key.
You may have to go against others’ opinions. This requires inner confidence and belief in yourself.
Surround yourself with people who support you. And…Remind yourself that you are the expert on your own life and that your intuition is a valuable tool for making decisions.
As Napoleon Hill professes in Think and Grow Rich (available at Amazon – affiliate link)…It requires not only desire, but faith!
Practice with low risk situations
Do you test your intuition?
Acting on your intuition, even if it feels uncomfortable at first, is a key way to build trust in following it. The more you act on your intuition, the more confident you will become.
Practice using your intuition and note the outcome in your journal.
Start with situations that are less consequential and low-risk. Try guessing who the visitor at your door or the caller on your phone is before you answer or look to see.
It’s best to start small and work up…
Small steps
What are some other small ways you can use your intuition?
Get confident with knowing when it’s your intuition. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or fearful, try taking small steps toward your goal. This will help you build confidence and momentum, and make it easier to follow your intuition in bigger ways.
Here are five examples:
- Choosing a restaurant to eat at – Trusting your intuition when picking a restaurant can help you have a more enjoyable dining experience.
- Selecting a book to read – Trusting your intuition can help you choose a book that resonates with you and that you’ll find interesting.
- Deciding whether to buy a particular item – Trusting your intuition can help you avoid buyer’s remorse by only making purchases that truly feel right for you.
- Deciding how to spend your free time – Trusting your intuition can help you choose activities that will leave you feeling fulfilled and recharged.
- Deciding which route to take when driving – Trusting your intuition can help you avoid traffic and get to your destination more efficiently.
Include self-care
What self-care do you include in your schedule?
Make sure to take care of your physical, emotional, and mental health to help reduce stress and anxiety, which can interfere not only with your physical wellbeing (e.g. gut health) but also your intuition.
Examples of self care practices:
- Taking a relaxing bath
- Reading a book
- Listening to your favorite music.
This quietens the noise and allows room for your intuition.
Practice mindfulness
How do you get into the ‘flow’?
Spending time in creativity, meditation, or mindfulness is how you can focus and quieten the ‘noise’ to create space for your intuition.
Take some time to sit quietly and focus on your breath or spend time doing something repetitive but creative with your hands. Nothing complicated, keep it simple.
This will help you connect with your inner self and gain clarity on your intuition. When you’re feeling doubt and fear, take a few deep breaths to calm yourself and ask yourself what your intuition is telling you.
Seek support
Do you feel encouraged in intuitive ways?
Reach out to like-minded friends, family, or a coach who can offer encouragement and support as you follow your intuition. It’s important to have a community that understands and supports your journey.
If there’s no one like this in your community, try online forums where you can connect with people who share similar experiences.
Look for online courses and workshops that focus on personal development, mindfulness, and intuition.
Celebrate the successes
What rewards will you give yourself?
To celebrate the times when you do follow your inner voice and it leads to positive outcomes have a list of rewards ready. This reinforces the importance of trusting yourself and your intuition. It’ll make it easier to identify and follow in the future.
- Treat Yourself: After a successful follow-through with your intuition, treat yourself to something special. It can be anything from a cup of coffee at your favorite cafe to buying that outfit you’ve been eyeing for a while.
- Share Your Success: Share your success with an outing with your loved ones. They’ll be happy to hear about your accomplishments and may even join you in celebrating.
- Write it Down: Take a moment to write down your success. Reflect on how it felt to follow your intuition and how it led to a positive outcome. This will help reinforce the habit of listening to your intuition.
- Take a Break: Celebrate your success by taking a break from your routine. Take a day off, go for a walk, or do something you enjoy. This will help you recharge and prepare for the next challenge.
- Give Back: Celebrate your success by giving back to your community. Volunteer at a local charity, donate to a cause you care about or help a friend in need. This will help you stay grounded and connected to the world around you.
Tips for following your inner voice and conquering fear
An effective way to overcome doubt and fear is to focus on the present moment. When you’re caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past, it can be difficult to hear your intuition.
Take a few deep breaths and bring your attention back to the present moment. This will help clear your mind and create space for your intuition.
It’s helpful to practice self-compassion and trust in yourself. You may not always make the “right” decision or have all the answers, but by trusting in your ability to navigate challenges and learn from your experiences, you can build confidence and resilience in the face of doubt and fear.
With practice and patience, you can learn to trust your inner wisdom and overcome doubt and fear.
It requires you to break away from the norm, trust your intuition, and have the courage to pursue your dreams and passions. While it can be scary at times, following your inner voice can lead to a sense of fulfillment and purpose that is difficult to achieve otherwise.
