Fear vs Intuition: Listening to Your Inner Guide with Confidence
- Terri DeVore
- May 15
- 3 min read
Have you ever had a gut feeling that told you not to do something… but then you second-guessed it, talked yourself out of it, and later thought, “Ugh, I knew it”? Or maybe you’ve felt a strong pull toward a bold new idea, but fear creeped in whispering, What if it doesn’t work out? What if you fail? Yeah—same.
One of the trickiest parts of personal growth, especially when you’re manifesting something new or turning inward for clarity, is learning how to tell the difference between fear and intuition. Both show up quietly, often in similar moments. Both can be intense. But they come from totally different places—and lead you in totally different directions.
So how do you tell them apart?
What Is the Difference Between Fear and Intuition?
Let’s start with fear. Fear can be furious. It rushes in like a siren, all panic and drama. It’s the voice that fixates on the worst-case scenario and wants you to stay small, comfortable, and “safe.”
Fear is rooted in past pain, conditioning, and a desire to control outcomes. It’s the part of your mind that says, Don’t launch the business. You don’t know what you’re doing. Don’t end the relationship—you’ll regret it. Don’t speak up—people will judge you.
Sound familiar?
Now let’s talk about intuition. Intuition is quieter. It feels like a soft knowing, a gentle nudge, a deep yes or no that doesn’t always come with logic attached. It’s not always loud or dramatic—it’s just there, underneath the noise, often whispering when fear is screaming. Intuition comes from your deeper self, the part of you connected to your truth, your soul, your vision.
Why Fear vs Intuition Matters When Manifesting
When you’re manifesting a new chapter—whether it’s a dream job, more peace, a relationship, or a lifestyle shift—both fear and intuition will show up. That’s normal. But if you let fear drive the bus, you’ll stay in the same loop you’ve always been in. You’ll doubt yourself, stall your momentum, and end up frustrated. Trust me—I’ve been there.
The magic happens when you start listening to your inner guide with confidence. Not because you have it all figured out. Not because the path is perfectly lit. But because you’re willing to trust yourself more than your fear.
How to Trust Your Inner Guide (Even When You’re Scared)
One of the best ways to tune into your intuition is to pause and feel into your body. Ask yourself: Is This Fear or Intuition?
Fear feels tight, anxious, and urgent. It’s reactive.
Intuition feels grounded, even when it says “no.” When it says “yes,” it feels expansive and quietly certain.
Intuition doesn’t always feel “safe” in the way fear wants you to believe. It might tell you to leap before you have a full plan. It might lead you down a path that others don’t understand. But when you listen and trust it, life opens in ways that fear could never deliver.
Practical Tips to Strengthen Intuition and Quiet Fear
Here are a few practices to help you connect to your inner wisdom:
Journal daily and ask: “What does my intuition want me to know today?”
Take quiet walks without distractions. Let your thoughts settle.
Breathe into your body when making decisions. Where does it feel light? Where does it feel tense?
Meditate or visualize your desired outcome—and see how it feels in your body.
Create space in your day to listen to your own voice above the noise.
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