What is the difference between anxiety and intuition?

Anxiety and intuition are easy to confuse. After all, both are based on a strong sensitivity and susceptibility to internal and external signals. However, it is absolutely necessary to learn to differentiate them because if we mistake fear for intuition, we can make wrong decisions and choose options that will significantly limit our lives and will not bring new opportunities.

Intuition is a little-studied phenomenon. It is also frequently called “a hunch”, “inspiration”, or “premonition”. There are many theories about what it is, where it comes from, and how to handle it. But one way or another – it is our inner compass.

On the other hand, anxiety is a negative emotion that expresses the feeling of uncertainty, the expectation of negative events, and hard-to-identify premonitions that something bad or even terrible is about to happen.

Intuition helps us to choose the right approach based on our experiences that are hiding in our subconsciousness. But anxiety is an oppressive and painful feeling. It may have no basis, especially if the person is predisposed to worrying in general. Can you see the difference? Anxiety works to prevent failures, while intuition is tuned “the right way” – it helps you achieve success.

Intuition helps you to choose a direction. It gives you options for further actions. This feeling has a positive sign. But anxiety has a different goal – it blocks your energy by sending you strong messages “Don’t do it!”, “Hide!”, “Run!”. It is easy to see that the effect of such messages is negative.

How to distinguish anxiety and fear from intuition?

• Listen to yourself: is the voice worried and anxious or even and calm? Is it guiding or trying to scare you?

If your inner voice is telling you “You will fail”, “This is not for you but more successful people”, “You are useless – look what others have achieved…”, “Just give up – no need to embarrass yourself” – this is definitely not intuition, but favorite monologues of Her Majesty Anxiety.

Intuition is on your side. Therefore, if you follow its guidance you will always feel comfortable. But anxiety whispers negative prophecies and makes you feel as if you don’t have solid ground under your feet. It makes you feel unsure of yourself. If you feel a premonition that “something is about to happen” – most likely this is coming from anxiety, not from intuition. 

If this feeling is based on subjective fears and concerns – this is anxiety, not intuition.

For example, last week I got into a car accident. Today, I will not drive because I feel that an accident may happen again.
This type of fixation on traumatic experience has nothing to do with intuition.

• Intuition doesn’t send you signals based on emotions. In other words, when you listen to it you feel like an observer rather than a participant.

Sometimes, anxiety gets disguised as intuition and dresses up into its cute raincoat. But now, you can distinguish one from the other and this will help you have a broader range of behaviors!