Intuition vs. Fear
How to Tell the Difference
As women over 50, we often find ourselves standing at the crossroads of change—whether it’s navigating an unexpected life transition, deciding on a career change, or contemplating a new relationship. With so many possibilities and emotions swirling around, it can be difficult to know which path to take. Our intuition is a powerful tool—one that has been honed by years of experience and self-awareness—but fear can often cloud our judgment. So how do we differentiate between the two? How do we know when that gut feeling is intuition guiding us, or fear trying to hold us back?
Learning to recognize the difference is crucial, especially as we step into this new chapter of life with confidence and clarity. Let’s explore how we can identify the voice of intuition and how to trust it when making life decisions.
Signs That You’re Ignoring Your Intuition
Sometimes, even when we know that our intuition is there to guide us, we still struggle to listen to it. Often, the reason is that we’re unknowingly ignoring its subtle nudges in favor of fear, doubt, or external pressures. If you're unsure whether you’re truly hearing your inner voice, look for these signs that may indicate you're bypassing your intuition:
1. You Overthink Everything
Have you ever found yourself trapped in a cycle of analysis paralysis? When you're ignoring your intuition, it often leads to overthinking. You analyze every decision from every possible angle, creating endless "what-ifs" that only bring confusion and stress. It’s like your mind becomes a cluttered maze, and your inner voice struggles to be heard amidst all the noise. When intuition speaks, it’s often clear and simple, but fear leads to endless rumination.
2. You Feel Physically Tense or Anxious
Our bodies are incredible guides. When we ignore our intuition, it often manifests physically as tension, anxiety, or a sense of unease. You might feel your stomach tighten or a knot in your chest when faced with a decision. That’s your body signaling that something isn’t aligned with your true desires. On the other hand, intuition tends to feel more calm and grounded, even if the decision ahead is uncertain. Pay attention to how your body responds—it can be one of the clearest indicators of whether you’re in tune with your intuition or being led by fear.
3. You Keep Seeking External Validation
When you’re not trusting your inner voice, you may turn to others for constant reassurance. Whether it’s asking friends and family for advice or browsing the internet for answers, you might find yourself seeking validation rather than listening to yourself. While feedback from others is important, relying too heavily on it can drown out the wisdom of your own intuition. Remember, your intuition is uniquely yours, and while others’ input may be helpful, it shouldn’t be your primary source of decision-making.
4. You Have a Persistent Feeling of “Should”
Intuition speaks with clarity and confidence. Fear, on the other hand, often brings with it a sense of “should”—a feeling that you’re making decisions based on what others expect or what society deems as “right.” If your decisions are filled with “I should stay in this job,” “I should keep this relationship,” or “I should take on this responsibility,” it’s likely not your intuition at work. When you follow your intuition, it feels like a natural choice, not something forced or imposed upon you.
By recognizing these signs, you can start to understand when fear is overshadowing your intuition. Awareness is the first step toward reclaiming your ability to trust yourself.
How to Trust Your Inner Voice When Making Life Decisions
Now that you know what to look for when you're ignoring your intuition, the next step is learning how to cultivate a stronger connection to it. Trusting your inner voice isn’t always easy, but with practice, you can begin to make decisions that align more deeply with your true self. Here’s how to foster that trust and confidently move forward in your life:
1. Create Space for Silence
Life can get loud, especially when you’re managing relationships, work, and the day-to-day. But to truly hear your intuition, you need to create space for it to emerge. This means intentionally stepping away from the noise and distractions. Whether it’s through meditation, a quiet walk, or simply taking five minutes to sit in stillness, giving yourself time to reconnect with your inner self is essential. The more you practice quieting the mind, the clearer your intuition will become.
2. Notice How It Feels in Your Body
Our intuition speaks to us in many ways, but one of the most powerful ways it communicates is through our bodies. Pay attention to how you physically feel when faced with a decision. Does it feel light and expansive, or does it make you tense up and feel confined? Intuition often brings a sense of ease, even in uncertain situations. Fear, on the other hand, feels heavy and fraught with worry. By tuning into these physical sensations, you’ll learn to distinguish between the two voices more clearly.
3. Practice Mindful Decision-Making
Often, we feel pressured to make quick decisions, especially when fear is leading the charge. But taking a moment to pause and check in with yourself can make all the difference. When you create space between the decision and your response, you can more easily hear your intuition. Ask yourself, “How does this decision feel in my gut?” “What’s my first instinct about this situation?” By practicing mindful decision-making, you allow your intuition the space to speak, rather than rushing into a decision out of fear.
4. Trust the Feeling of Ease
Intuition often feels like a gentle pull in the right direction. It’s not dramatic, but it brings a sense of alignment and peace. Fear, on the other hand, feels heavy and fraught with worry. When making decisions, ask yourself: Does this choice feel natural, even if there’s uncertainty? Does it resonate with me, even if it’s not the easiest option? If the decision feels right in a calm and quiet way, it’s likely your intuition guiding you forward.
5. Reflect on Past Experiences
Think back to moments when you’ve followed your intuition—and when you didn’t. What were the results? How did you feel after the fact? By reflecting on these experiences, you can gain more insight into how your intuition communicates with you and learn to trust it more in the future. It’s also helpful to remember that intuition isn’t always loud and obvious. Sometimes it speaks through a quiet knowing that doesn’t need to explain itself, but rather, just feels true.
6. Release the Need for Perfection
Fear often drives us to seek perfection—fear of failure, judgment, or making the wrong choice. Intuition, on the other hand, doesn’t require perfection. It’s about listening to your inner wisdom and trusting that you’re making the best decision for you in the moment. The perfect choice doesn’t exist, and sometimes the most important part is simply choosing and moving forward with confidence. Trust that your intuition will guide you in the right direction, even if the path isn’t perfect.
By embracing these practices, you can develop a stronger connection to your intuition, allowing it to guide you with clarity and confidence in all your life decisions.
Trusting Your Inner Wisdom
As women over 50, we carry a wealth of wisdom, resilience, and life experience. Our intuition is one of our most powerful allies as we navigate this stage of life. It’s always been there, quietly guiding us through the ups and downs, and the more we listen to it, the stronger it becomes.
Distinguishing between intuition and fear is an ongoing practice. But as you reconnect with your inner voice, you’ll become more attuned to the subtle, calm knowing of intuition, and better able to recognize when fear is trying to steer you away from your truth. Trusting your intuition is not only about making better decisions; it’s about honoring yourself and embracing the possibilities that lie ahead with confidence and grace. You have the wisdom within you to trust your own voice and move forward with clarity—no matter what life throws your way.
Ready to start trusting your intuition more fully?
If you're ready to navigate your next life decision with more confidence and clarity, I invite you to book a Connect & Elevate call with me. During our 45-minute session, we’ll dive deep into your unique challenges and explore how coaching can help you tap into your inner wisdom to make empowered decisions. Click [here] to schedule your call today: Connect & Elevate
Let’s take this next step together!
© Laureen Quick, 2025
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