Trusting Your Intuition: The Moment I Started Listening to Myself

There were so many times I knew.

Not because of what someone said or did—but because of what I felt.

A quiet knowing in my chest. A heaviness in my gut. A whisper that said, “Something’s off.”

But I silenced it. Over and over again.

Eventually, I realized I was abandoning myself to keep the peace.

That voice inside me? It was never wrong—it was just inconvenient to what I wanted to believe.

That’s when I began learning the true meaning of intuition—and why it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for protecting our peace and staying in alignment with who we are.

What Intuition Really Is (And What It’s Not)

My story:

Intuition used to feel like a gut punch I didn’t want to acknowledge. It would show up in my body before my mind could even explain what was wrong. But every time I ignored it, I felt more lost.

Practical insight:

Intuition is often described as a deep inner knowing that doesn’t rely on logic or external validation. It’s the subconscious part of your mind picking up on subtle cues—body language, tone, energy shifts—and delivering a message through feeling, not facts.

Ways to recognize intuition:

• A sudden “tightness” or unease around someone or something

• A recurring thought or nudge that you can’t shake

• Feeling calm but clear when thinking about a certain decision

• Peace when you’re aligned, tension when you’re not

Tip: Start small—notice how you feel after saying “yes” to things. Was it relief or resentment? That’s intuition giving feedback.

Why We Ignore It (And What It Costs Us)

My story:

I ignored my intuition because I was scared of the consequences—being alone, being wrong, being too much. I wanted to believe people’s words more than their actions. But each time I did that, I betrayed myself a little more.

Practical insight:

Most people ignore their intuition due to fear, social conditioning, or self-doubt. We’re taught to seek evidence or wait for confirmation. But the cost of ignoring intuition is often regret, emotional exhaustion, and repeated patterns.

Common reasons people silence intuition:

• Fear of judgment or conflict

• Overthinking and rationalizing red flags

• People-pleasing tendencies

• Trauma or codependent patterns that teach you to doubt yourself

Tip: Ask yourself: “Am I avoiding this feeling because it’s uncomfortable—or because it’s untrue?” That distinction changes everything.

Rebuilding Trust With Yourself

My story:

Once I started tuning into my inner voice again, everything began to shift. I stopped outsourcing my truth. I asked myself what I needed—then honored it, even if it made others uncomfortable. And in doing so, I started to feel safe in my own body again.

Practical insight:

Rebuilding self-trust doesn’t happen overnight—it’s a process. If you’ve spent years suppressing your voice, you’ll need to practice hearing it again. But the more you act on your intuition, the stronger and clearer it becomes.

Ways to reconnect with your inner voice:

• Journaling prompts like “What feels off right now?” or “What do I really want?”

• Meditation or quiet time without distractions

• Practicing boundaries, even in small ways

• Noticing body reactions: lightness = alignment, tension = disconnection

Tip: When faced with a decision, try this: close your eyes and imagine saying yes. Then imagine saying no. Which one brings you peace? Which one feels heavy?

Intuition vs. Anxiety: How to Tell the Difference

My story:

I used to confuse anxiety with intuition all the time. Was I just being triggered? Or was something genuinely wrong? The answer came when I learned to sit with the feeling—not react to it.

Practical insight:

Anxiety and intuition often feel similar—but they operate differently.

• Anxiety is fear-driven, noisy, future-focused.

• Intuition is calm, steady, and present—even when it’s warning you.

How to tell the difference:

• Intuition says, “This isn’t right.” Anxiety says, “What if everything goes wrong?”

• Intuition comes and goes. Anxiety loops.

• Intuition feels grounded. Anxiety feels frantic.

Tip: Practice grounding techniques (like deep breathing, body scans, or writing your thoughts out) to get clarity on whether the feeling is intuitive or anxious.

Your Intuition Is a Form of Self-Respect

My story:

The moment I chose to listen to myself was the moment I began healing. Not because life suddenly got easier—but because I stopped abandoning myself for the sake of others.

I started living in truth, not just hope.

Practical insight:

Your intuition is there to protect and guide you. Trusting it isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present with yourself. The more you value your own feelings and signals, the less you need external validation to make decisions.

Final tips to build your intuitive muscle:

• Reflect on past times you ignored your gut—what did it teach you?

• Start saying yes or no without needing a “good enough” reason

• Choose peace over people-pleasing

• View your intuition as your internal GPS—always there, even if you’ve gone off route

Final Words

Your intuition has always been there. Maybe it got quiet. Maybe you stopped trusting it. Maybe other people convinced you to silence it.

But it’s never too late to come home to yourself.

And the more you listen, the louder it gets.

You are not crazy. You are not overthinking.

You’re just remembering how to trust the one person who’s been with you through everything: YOU!