How to tell the difference between intuition and fear based feelings

Sometimes we find it difficult to know if it’s our fear holding us back or our intuition telling us that something is not right. We may confuse the gut feelings of our intuition with the sick feeling in our stomach that comes from fear based thoughts.
We all have fears that follow us around. We may have had bad experiences in the past and now fear certain types of people and/or situations. How do you identify whether a particular feeling is a fear of the unknown or genuine intuitive guidance telling us to ‘don’t go there’?
Our intuition encourages us to open up and try new things and meet new people. Our fear is usually focused on the opposite, the avoidance of new things or relationships that we could fail at or get hurt in. Fear is adrenalin focused and can exhaust you with the strength of its emotional energy. Intuition is more likely to be a gentle knowingness, peaceful but strong.

Fear may result in thought ‘rantings’ in your mind about how horrible a person is or terrible a place or situation. When you feel fearful you may call upon your higher guidance (or wise self, the peaceful part of your mind) and affirm ‘please take this fear from me’. Then breathe deeply and slowly into your solar plexus. Move away from the situation that is causing you fear to a place where your feel safe and peaceful. You will then be able to see the truth of the situation more clearly.
Remember you may be absorbing other people’s fears or even large and powerful fear thoughtforms that have been created through fear based mass media messages and imagery. In this case, I find the use of white light or other energy clearing techniques such as Reiki, Pranic Healing or Qi Gong work well to lift and transmute fears from ourselves and others around us. If this is a little too woo woo for you, try finding a place in nature away from other people and sitting for a while to calm yourself and clear your thoughts.

When we are fearful we feel out of our depth and this can be a signal from our inner self that we don’t have enough support or resources for us to create a positive situation or relationship under the current circumstances. Fear doesn’t necessarily mean ‘don’t do this’ but more like a message to gather more information, do some more personal healing work and seek support before you proceed.
Intuition is focused on providing us with solutions and alternatives. If we receive the insight to ‘not get on that plane’ then our intuition will also be with us to provide the alternative ‘book the next flight’, add another day to your holiday etc. Our fear will just tell us what not to do with little insight as to the alternatives.
When we are fearful we may feel:
Heady, anxious and out of the body
Ungrounded
Irrational
Cruel and judgemental towards other people
Pumped full of adrenalin
Confused
Hyper-Alert
Defensive
Scattered
Alone
Out of control
Separate from other people.
When we are following our intuition we are likely to feel:
Peaceful and safe
Calm
In control
Adventurous
Open minded
Inspired
Strong
Focused
Loving and supported
Generous
Honest
Don’t however confuse your intuitive feelings with that heady ‘high’ of heart racing excitement. Often our intuition feels like a quiet prodding towards situations that aren’t glamorous but are nurturing for our highest good. Or it may feel like we are let down gently, especially when our intuition is guiding us away from problematic situations or people we are overly attached too, as at these times we might also feel grief or sadness over an opportunity that is not right for us, even though we desire it so much.
