We’ve all heard the phrase “let your intuition be your guide”, but how do you learn to discern what is your intuition and what is your ego? According to Etymoline.com, "intuition is insight, direct or immediate cognition or spiritual perception that is perceived directly and immediately." The definition of intuition according to Wikipedia, "is the ability to acquire knowledge without recourse to conscious reasoning or needing an explanation." Simply put, intuition is an “inner knowing”.
Your intuition originates from your soul, and it emanates from your heart. It presents as a gentle, loving tone that nudges you towards living life to its full potential. Your intuition can reveal itself in many different ways such as a “gut feeling”, an audible “inner voice”, tingling sensation, etc. It makes itself known immediately and comes in with a sense of strength and calm. It’s rooted in self-love and acceptance.
Your ego, however, is self-centered, originates from the brain and often a space of fear. It comes in loud, overbearing, and with a “bossy” tone. It has a tendency to make you feel “small” and for many produces stress and anxiety as it can be obsessive and cause one to do a lot of “second guessing”. The ego is rooted in fight or flight and has a way of making us worry about things that haven’t even happened. It's rooted in judgment and criticism.
Learning to discern your intuition from your ego is a pivotal part of learning to trust and love yourself. It requires the courage and strength to confront your shadow, or the pieces of yourself that you have buried, repressed, and locked away from the world and reintegrate them through the healing process. The ability to silence that “negative voice” in your head once and for all is one of the most liberating things you can do.
Be sure to take time to learn the difference for yourself, of intuition vs ego.