Have you ever had what you would call a gut feeling, a quiet knowing telling you something just isn’t right, or that you should take a different path even if it doesn’t make logical sense? That gentle inner voice is your intuition, and it’s one of the most powerful tools you have. But, if it’s so helpful then why don’t we know how to use it, and how to trust it? There are two main reasons people ignore their intuition. The first is that, in the busyness of family life, responsibilities, and constantly putting others first, we often start pushing it aside and ignoring it without realizing it. The second is, what we are told by society. We are told certain things are right, wrong, politically incorrect, or will hurt someone else’s feelings, so we override our gut feeling and put ourselves in situations that may be unsafe.

But your intuition hasn’t left you. It’s still there, whispering beneath the noise. Learning how to tune into it again can change everything, from how you make decisions, to how grounded and confident you feel in your everyday life.

What Is Intuition?
Intuition is an inner knowing you can’t always explain. It’s your subconscious mind gathering experiences, patterns, and feelings and translating them into a sense, a “yes,” “no,” or “this way instead.” It’s not about logic; it’s about trusting your subconscious ability to see a situation and know the best outcome for you.

How to Tell the Difference Between Intuition and Anxiety
One of the biggest challenges many of us face is knowing if our inner voice is truly intuition or anxiety in disguise.

Anxiety and overthinking often come from fear, from a need to control the outcome or avoid worst-case scenarios. It tends to feel loud, urgent, scattered, and exhausting. Your mind might race with “what ifs,” and your body may feel tense, jittery, or on edge.

Intuition is quiet. It’s calm and grounded. Even when it’s guiding you away from something or nudging you toward change, it doesn’t panic, it knows. It feels like a soft but firm “no” or a deep, inner “yes.”

Learning to recognize the difference between fear-based thinking and intuitive knowing is important for making choices that align with your true self. Not your fear. It’s not about being scared all the time; it’s about learning to discern what’s coming from anxiety… and what’s coming from your intuition.

Why Reconnecting With Your Intuition Matters
Trusting your intuition helps you:
– Make clear and confident decisions
– Set stronger boundaries
– Align with your values
– Feel more at peace and less overwhelmed
– It grounds you in the present moment

When you begin to trust yourself again, the need for external validation slowly fades. You stop outsourcing your worth and choices and your confidence in your decision-making grows.

5 Ways to Strengthen Your Intuition
If it’s been a while since you felt truly connected to your intuition, that’s okay. Like any relationship, rebuilding trust with your intuition takes time, curiosity, and intention. Here’s how to start:

1. Slow Down and Get Quiet: Intuition needs space to be heard. Even 5 minutes a day of quiet time can help you tune in. That might be sipping your tea in silence, going for a solo walk, or lying in bed before everyone else wakes up. Ask yourself, “What am I feeling?” or “What do I need right now?” and listen without judgment.

2. Practice Journaling: Writing things down is a beautiful way to access your inner wisdom.

Try using prompts like:
– When was a time I just “knew” something?
– What is my body trying to tell me?
– What decision feels heavy, and which one feels light?

Let the words flow. The more you write, the more you’ll learn to hear yourself.

3. Pay Attention to Your Body: Your body is full of intuitive signals, butterflies, tension, lightness, nausea, or a deep sense of calm. When faced with a choice, notice how your body reacts. Often, your intuition speaks through physical sensations before your brain catches up.

4. Reflect on Past Intuitive Moments: Think back to times you did trust your gut, or times you ignored it and later wished you hadn’t. What did it feel like? What signs were there? Building a mental file of those experiences reminds you that your inner voice has been right before and can be trusted again.

5. Create Space for Creative Flow: Intuition thrives when you’re in a state of flow. Try doing something that gets you out of your head, such as gardening, dancing, cooking, colouring, or writing for fun. These moments quiet your mind so you can hear your inner voice, making it easier to access later when life feels busy or stressful.

You Deserve to Trust Yourself
The main point I’m trying to make is that your intuition is not broken. It’s simply waiting for you to slow down and listen. You already have everything you need. You don’t need anyone’s permission to trust yourself again and be confident in your choices.

Take care of yourself,
Linda x