Recently a client asked me "Jackie, how can I tell the difference between fear and my intuition? I know what I really want but I'm confused and afraid. I just don't know what part to listen to. What do I do?"

This comes up A LOT! How many times have you found yourself in a situation where you REALLY wanted to do something but resisted because of fear? Fear of what others may think, fear of not knowing the outcome, fear of not wanting to upset someone. Perhaps you have a fear of being a bag lady (one of my old ones!). And, despite all these fears and anxiety, the longing to do that one scary thing still stayed with you...crazy isn't it!

To start let me just say congratulations! You've officially woken up and are primed for big time change. Once you reach the point where the longing is more powerful than the fear, action comes. Read on!

To get you started on your journey to understanding your ID - Internal Dummy (the fear person) and your intuitive side, you will need to decipher between both.

First, let's define a few types of fear. It's natural for all of us to feel fear. We can't help it; fear is part of our human experience. With that said, fear originates for different reasons:

• Instinctual fear: this is the fear that kicks into place when we're being chased by a bear. It's a good, healthy fear to have, it heightens our awareness and helps keep us safe. Once the "scaries" are over this fear subsides and then it's gone.
• Ego-based fear (ID - Internal Dummy): this is the fear that tells us the story, over and over again, of what will happen or could happen if we ______________. (ex: take that leap of faith) This fear isn't "in the moment" and often sounds like/feels like a broken record. It's a loop that plays over and over again in our heads and very often increases in intensity as time goes by, unless we deal with it. This fear often has deep roots and could be a sign of a deeper fear or old wound.

For example: There was a time when I had a deep fear of annihilation. That's right! I know, it sounds SO dramatic, doesn't it? (Thank goodness it was short lived!) This fear really had me in its grips and I couldn't shake it. The "loop" that was playing in my head had me believing that nothing good was going to happen and that I was doomed for failure! (I'm really fessing up here! Can you see how dramatic this is...I know you can relate!)

Finally, after working with my own coach I discovered this intense fear did have deep roots that could be traced back to my childhood. Once I saw, named and understood the "seed" of this fear I could heal it and release it! Guess what? No more fear of annihilation!

So, even though I was experiencing this intense fear and believed it to be connected to my current life and business circumstances, it really wasn't.

Something in the present moment did trigger this fear and did bring it to the surface but in the end, the fear I was feeling had nothing to do with the present moment, nor was it predicting what was to come. (In fact, once I released the fear I could see with clarity what was before me and make power-filled decisions that really served me.).

Now let's talk intuitive guidance. When my intuition kicks into gear it gets my attention in very subtle ways. It never screams at me, rather it usually whispers. I get these "intuitive hits" in several ways. Sometimes I experience a deep "knowing or inkling" about something. Other times I hear a voice in my head. Sometimes I'll experience a dream that offers me guidance.

Here's the thing, the guidance NEVER overwhelms me. Even if the guidance is warning me against something it doesn't necessarily scare me, it shows up as a mild "just thought you'd like to know" kind of voice and it causes me to increase my awareness and pay more attention.

Often my intuition speaks through my body. I have a "gut instinct or reaction" to something. My intuition will keep trying to get my attention until I take notice and I have experienced it as intense, especially if I haven't been paying attention to the more subtle signs. And if I don't listen at all, my body tends to manifest shoulder pain, colds and cold sores.

Each person experiences fear and intuition in unique ways. As you read my personal examples some things might resonate because you've had similar experiences, but don't think how I experience fear or intuition is how you will experience yours.

You can learn the difference between your fear and your intuition by paying close attention to how each shows up in your life. Over time you'll increase your confidence about which is which.

Your Success Assignment:

Pay attention to what parts of yourself are speaking. Your intuition won't have a different voice. Keep a journal and note moments when you thought you were paying attention to your intuition. Pay attention to when your body is giving you pain signals and check in to see what's happening in your mind. If you have Internal Dummy fears, journal about them, play them out in your head or seek out help. Which is worse living in fear and pain or really living it up? You chose!

Now, if you'd like to get a handle on your own Internal Dummy and start to feel good in your own skin, let's get a move on! Get ready for some definite long lasting changes in your life starting today. Don't wait for another year to pass you by. Finally tackle your overwhelm, procrastination, clean up your clutter and pave the way for a more focused, deliberate life.

About the Author: Jackie has been a successful entrepreneur since 2002. She completed more education hours than needed in massage therapy and filled her massage practice in less than a year. That same year she trained and became certified as a Stott Pilates Instructor and a faculty member of The Foothills College of Massage Therapy. Her keen curiosities for the mind body connection lead her to deepen her learning with Bowen Therapy, Neurolinguistic Programming and Co-active coaching.