This Isn’t Fear—It’s Something Deeper: How I Learned to Tell the Difference Between Anxiety and Intuition
Not long ago, I called and canceled a job interview I had already accepted.
It wasn’t an easy decision. The opportunity looked good on paper—stable, respectable, something I was qualified for. But from the moment I scheduled the interview, something inside me hesitated. I kept brushing it off: *It’s just nerves. Everyone gets anxious before interviews. It’s totally normal.*
But each day that passed, instead of getting more comfortable, I felt worse. Not outwardly panicked—just heavy. Out of sync. Uneasy in a way I couldn’t explain. I went through the motions of preparing, but it felt hollow, like I was rehearsing for a role I didn’t want.
Then one morning I woke up and knew. My body felt tight, my energy drained. The thought of showing up for that interview made me feel queasy—not out of fear I’d mess up, but because I *knew*, deep in my bones, that this path wasn’t right for me. I wasn’t afraid of failing—I just didn’t want to say yes to something that felt like a “no.”
So I picked up the phone, called, and canceled.
And immediately… I felt lighter. Clearer. Like my energy was finally flowing again.
Fear vs. Intuition: What My Body Was Trying to Tell Me
It would’ve been easy to call that experience “anxiety.” After all, interviews can be intimidating. They put us in a vulnerable position, stir up questions about worth, capability, direction. But this wasn’t that. This wasn’t a fear of being judged or a fear of the unknown.
This was my intuition saying: *Not this.*
Fear is reactive. It’s loud, circular, full of “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios. It spins stories, catastrophizes, plays out scenes of rejection or failure. It’s often rooted in the past or imagined futures.
But intuition? Intuition is quiet. It doesn’t argue. It doesn’t need to justify itself. It just *knows*.
When I imagined going to that interview, fear wasn’t telling me, “You’re going to mess this up.” It was intuition telling me, “This isn’t your path.”
How I Could Tell the Difference
✨ Fear felt like static. Intuition felt like stillness.
✨ Fear made me overthink. Intuition made me feel.
✨ Fear resisted discomfort. Intuition invited alignment.
A Practice in Self-Trust
Canceling that interview wasn’t about giving up. It was about trusting myself. Trusting that I don’t need to take every opportunity that presents itself. Trusting that my inner compass, when I pause long enough to listen, *knows* the way forward.
So often we ignore these gut-level truths because they don’t come with explanations. We wait for proof. We want to *be sure.*
But sometimes, all the clarity you need is in your body’s quiet *no.*
If you’re in a “Should I or Shouldn’t I” Season (see what I did there?), here’s a gentle invitation:
When you’re caught between a decision, try this—
1. Get still. Drop into your breath.
2. Imagine saying yes. How does your body respond?
3. Now imagine saying no. What shifts?
4. Ask: Does this feel like fear… or does it feel like truth?
Let yourself follow the energy that feels true—even if it’s not loud. Even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Even if it leads you into the unknown.
Your intuition isn’t trying to scare you.
It’s trying to *guide* you. It’s up to you to listen.