How Do You Know if Your Fear is Fueled by Intuition or Anxiety?

The skill of listening to and respecting our intuition is at the base of a flourishing life. Our intuition lets us know when something is in or out of alignment with us. It hints towards decisions that will enrich our lives and protect us. The skill of heeding intuition is one of the most important skills I can help my art therapy clients develop.

Many individuals do not have the opportunity to develop a strong connection with their intuition as a child. They grew up in environments where their feelings and thoughts were not fully welcomed or encouraged. They were not encouraged to explore and develop into their unique whole selves.

For example, some people grow up with authoritarian parents who have strict standards, high expectations, and little patience for a child who deviates in any way.

When a child’s full feelings and unique personhood are not honored, that child often learns to ignore their own feelings or needs in favor of keeping everyone around them happy. It’s a safety mechanism their brain/body developed to protect them. The brain/body knows they are safe only when everyone around them is calm.

The child’s mind/body learns to regularly scan the environment around them, waiting for unrest. This leads to a constant state of anxiety and walking on eggshells.

The trouble is, these behaviors cut a child off from themselves — from listening to their own intuition (they are focused on the…