Do you ever get a gut feeling and ignore it because you’re unsure if you can trust it? Or maybe you’ve trusted a feeling before, only to find out later that it led you to the wrong conclusion.
We often hear the advice: “Trust your intuition.” But how can we truly know if what we’re feeling is intuition or insecurity? Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered!
Today, we’re diving into the key differences between insecurity and intuition so you can start trusting yourself again.
Intuition is that inner knowing—a sense of certainty that comes without any logical explanation. It’s a quiet voice that whispers truths, often guiding you in the right direction.
Your intuition comes from the prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain responsible for rational thinking and calm decision-making. It taps into past experiences and subconscious knowledge, bringing subtle insights to the surface.
Insecurity, on the other hand, is rooted in fear and self-doubt. It stems from negative beliefs and past experiences that have left emotional wounds. Insecurity is stored in the amygdala, the brain’s fight-or-flight center, and often leads to anxious, fear-based reactions.
Many of us were taught from a young age not to trust our feelings. It could have been something as small as a parent telling us, “You’re cold,” when we didn’t feel cold. Or more significant experiences, like being told we made a “dumb” decision or having our emotions invalidated.
These experiences teach us to second-guess ourselves and rely on others’ opinions instead of our own inner guidance.
As adults, this confusion between intuition and insecurity often leads to:
Here’s the truth: Your intuition is never wrong.
What can be wrong, however, is the meaning we assign to our intuitive feelings.
For example, if your partner starts acting distant, your intuition might sense that something is off. Insecurity might jump in and say, “They’re cheating on me.” But in reality, they might be planning a surprise party or dealing with personal stress.
Your intuition correctly noticed a change, but your insecurity created a fear-based explanation.
The key is to tune into how the feeling shows up in your body and mind:
To start trusting your intuition again, follow these steps:
When you feel a gut instinct, take a moment to pause. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and check in with your body. Are you feeling calm and curious, or anxious and panicked?
Ask yourself questions:
If you notice fear-based thoughts, challenge them:
Spend time each day tuning into your body and emotions. The more you practice mindfulness, the easier it becomes to distinguish between the calm voice of intuition and the loud voice of insecurity.
Remember, you’ve been conditioned to doubt yourself, but you can unlearn that. Each time you listen to your intuition and it guides you well, you build self-trust.
Your intuition is a powerful tool that’s always there to guide you. It’s not about being perfect or always making the right decision—it’s about learning to listen to yourself with compassion and curiosity.
Insecurity may try to shout over your intuition, but with practice, you’ll learn to recognize the calm, steady voice that’s been there all along.
So the next time you get a feeling—pause, listen, and trust. Your intuition knows the way.
Ready to trust yourself more? Leave a comment below and share how you’re learning to distinguish between insecurity and intuition!
