How to Trust Your Intuition When Self-Doubt Creeps In

Ever had a gut feeling so strong that you knew it was right—only to immediately second-guess yourself? Yeah, welcome to the frustratingly common experience of self-doubt creeping in just when your intuition is trying to do its thing. It’s like your inner wisdom and your logical brain are constantly arguing, and logic is waving spreadsheets while intuition is calmly sipping tea, waiting for you to listen.

So how do you actually trust your intuition when self-doubt insists on tagging along? Let’s dive in.

1. Recognise That Intuition and Fear Feel Different

First things first—intuition and fear aren’t the same thing. Fear screams, “WHAT IF EVERYTHING GOES WRONG?!” while intuition whispers, “This way.”

• Intuition feels calm and clear, even if it doesn’t make sense.

• Fear feels panicky, loud, and full of worst-case scenarios.

Next time you get an intuitive hit, pause. Does it feel like quiet knowing or full-blown anxiety? That’s your clue.

2. Stop Waiting for a Neon Sign

We all secretly wish intuition worked like a giant blinking sign saying, THIS IS THE RIGHT CHOICE. But intuition is subtle. It’s the gentle nudge, the gut feeling, the thought that won’t go away. It won’t always make logical sense, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

3. Notice the “Should” vs. “Feels Right” Dilemma

Self-doubt loves the word should:

• I should take this job even though it feels off.

• I should stay in this friendship even though it drains me.

• I should follow logic instead of my gut.

If a decision is based on a sense of external obligation rather than inner alignment, your intuition might be waving red flags while self-doubt keeps throwing shoulds at you.

4. Look at Your Track Record

Think back to times when you did trust your intuition. How did it turn out? Probably better than when you ignored it, right? The more you notice when your intuition was right (even in small ways), the more you build trust in it.

5. Quiet the Noise

Self-doubt gets louder when your mind is cluttered. Too much social media, too many opinions, too much overthinking—it all drowns out your inner voice. Meditation, time in nature, or even just five deep breaths can help you reconnect with that inner wisdom.

6. Ask Yourself, “What Would I Tell a Friend?”

It’s funny how we can give amazing advice to others but struggle to apply it to ourselves. If a friend was facing your exact situation, what would you tell them? Chances are, that’s your intuition speaking.

7. Test It Out

If trusting your intuition feels risky, start small:

• Pick an outfit based purely on gut feeling.

• Follow an intuitive nudge in your daily routine.

• See where your instincts take you in conversations.

The more you practise, the more confident you’ll get.

Final Thoughts (Because Intuition Likes a Good Wrap-Up, Too)

Your intuition is never wrong—it’s just that self-doubt is really good at making you think it is. The key is learning to tell the difference between fear and inner knowing, and giving yourself permission to trust those quiet nudges.

So the next time your intuition whispers, listen. Even if self-doubt knocks on the door, you don’t have to let it in.