In the years I have spent learning to listen to and follow my intuition I have found sometimes it seems like there is a fine line between intuition and fear. As I have patiently worked with my intuition, noticing and practicing, I have found actually there is a pretty broad distinction and it is easier to distinguish than I had once thought.
Fear is not the only thing I have confused with intuition. I have also confused it with intellect, and emotion. Intellect tells me, "This is the reasonable thing to do, and I respond, "Ah, that must be my intuition." Emotion tells me "I feel this way about that," and I respond again, "Ah that must be my intuition." Fear speaks out the loudest, "Don't do that OR ELSE!" And I recoil, cowering in the corner saying to myself, "Ah that must be my intuition protecting me."
Or is it?
I have learned intuition is none of these things. I have dispelled my mythical thinking that it is even a close cousin. Can we learn from our fear? Yes, absolutely. Do our intellect and emotion provide valuable information? Yes, and saying intellect is a close cousin to these things is like saying an organic carrot is like an orange popsicle. Actually, eating lots of popsicles has taught me something. I get sick when I do that. Oh sure, eating just one hasn't killed me. It has taken a lot of introspection to see the yummy lure of the popsicle is not unlike fear as well!
What!?! Fear is yummy! I retort, "That is absurd! I don't want to be in fear!" What I have learned is that response is fear itself holding me in its grip. Keeping me in denial. Actually if it weren't so yummy, why would I keep partaking? There is something I crave about fear. I crave the comfort of an old companion. I crave the denial it provides, allowing me to continue wrapped up in the drama feeling, just enough pain to know it is there but not so much I actually face, walk through it and overcome it!
Intuition is the still small voice. It can seem small and quiet compared to fear. In reality, it is big, consistent and although it is gentle it is quite strong. As I listen more consistently (and that is the key), I find I hear it easily. I find the distinction becomes more and more clear.
Intuition re-minds me it dwells in the center of the three concentric circles and all the others, intellect, emotion and fear dwell in the outer two. Intellect does use reason and often presents facts in its argument. "The fact is this particular thing has happened and if you look at these experiences you can see these results." Emotion works with our feelings, "I feel happy or sad." Intuition is Truth. "I am Love, Wisdom and Good Judgement." Holistically we are masterfully created to work with all of these together. We master our world as we master the incredible synergistic art of working with them together.
Working together, intellect, emotion and intuition give us the tools to create powerfully. Distinguishing the tools gives us the direction and mastery to choose which tool to use in each situation and which tools to use in conjunction with one another. As with so many things, practice and patience go a long way in developing these tools. Become aware. Learn from mistakes. Keep moving forward.
