Doubt and fear can stop you from following your inner voice and gaining success.
Following your intuition sometimes requires you to confront your fears, doubts, and uncertainties head-on, which can be daunting.
It can go against the norm. You may have to go against what others think or expect of you. It requires a strong sense of self-confidence to trust your inner wisdom and believe in yourself when others doubt you.
Doubt and fear are natural responses to uncertainty. At these times your mind can tend to fill in the gaps with worst-case scenarios.
Learning to differentiate between your intuition and the voices of fear and doubt is important. It requires mindfulness and self-awareness.
Embrace uncertainty
Be willing to embrace the unknown when following your intuition and recognize that the outcome may not always be clear at the beginning.
Learn from past experiences
Reflect on times when you followed your intuition and it turned out well, and use those experiences to build your confidence. Or conversely when doubt and fear took over.
Keeping a journal helps…
Keep a journal
Write down your intuitive feelings, actions, and outcomes across three columns in your special journal. Over time look back on what you’ve written with hindsight. This will help you differentiate between feelings based on fear vs your intuition. This will help you overcome your self-doubt.
Stay true to self
Realize that following your inner voice may not always lead to immediate positive outcomes, but it is still important to stay true to yourself in the long run.
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.
Take action
Act on your intuition, even if it feels scary or uncomfortable at first. 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.
It’s best to start small and work up…
Small steps
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.
Practice self-care
Take care of your physical, emotional, and mental health to help reduce stress and anxiety, which can interfere with your intuition and cause self-doubt.
Such as:
- Taking a relaxing bath
- Reading a book
- Listening to your favorite music.
This quietens the noise and allows room for your intuition.
Practice mindfulness
Spend time in meditation or mindfulness exercises to quiet your mind and create space for your intuition.
Take some time to sit quietly and focus on your breath. 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
Reach out to 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
Celebrate the times when you do follow your inner voice and it leads to positive outcomes. 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 shirt you’ve been eyeing for a while.
- Share Your Success: Share your success 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.
