Intuition vs Instinct: How to Trust Your True Inner Guidance

You know that feeling when you’re torn between a decision that feels right and one that feels safe? Maybe you’re trying to decide whether to follow your passion or stick with what’s expected of you. Or you feel drawn to a new path that lights you up, but your mind keeps pulling you back to what’s familiar and secure.

I find myself with this feeling A-LOT!

And it has given me the opportunity to reflect on the difference between intuition and instinct. Which feeling do I follow?

It’s allowed me to drop deeper into my inner guidance and live with more clarity and purpose. The more I’ve learned to trust my intuition, the more I’ve found myself moving toward the life I truly want to create—one that feels expansive, authentic, and aligned with who I am at my core.

Even though the actual moving towards it can be frought with discomfort and insecurity.

One of the most profound experiences I had with this was when I left a job that was considered safe and stable. So many people I knew had worked for the same organization for years, even decades, because it was comfortable. But I hated it. I felt stifled, drained, and completely out of alignment with who I wanted to be.

An opportunity came to leave—and I took it. I thought I would feel free, that the world would open up to me the moment I walked away. But then reality set in. I had just separated from my long-term partner and now, suddenly, I was an unemployed single mum. The safety net I had always relied on was gone, and I was plunged into a hole of despair.

In that fear and uncertainty, my instinct took over. I did everything I could to try to get that job back—taking desperate actions that felt chaotic and frantic. It was pure survival mode.

And it took a long time before I could see that even though I was struggling, leaving that job was one of the smartest decisions I ever made. It was the beginning of a journey I’m still on—learning about myself from what makes me uncomfortable, from the things that challenge me, and from the parts of myself that rise to meet those challenges.

Looking back, I can see so clearly now that it was my intuition guiding me away from a life that felt empty and toward something far more aligned.

But my instinct—that primal urge to find safety and certainty—kicked in hard when things became difficult. Understanding this difference has been so empowering for me, and it’s something I’ve continued to explore and strengthen over the years.

What Are Intuition and Instinct?

People often use intuition and instinct interchangeably, but they’re actually very different. Understanding these differences can help you tap into your higher guidance and make decisions that feel deeply aligned with who you are.

What Is Intuition?

Intuition is that deep, quiet knowing that seems to rise from within you—not from your mind, but from something deeper, more expansive. It feels like clarity, like something falling into place without you needing to force it. It’s calm, almost gentle, and rarely tied to urgency or fear.

I’ve come to see intuition as a direct line to your highest self. It guides you toward what feels right on a soul level, even if it doesn’t always make logical sense. It speaks to you through feelings, images, dreams, or just a sense of knowing that you can’t quite explain.

Reflecting on my decision to leave that safe, stable job, I can see now that it was my intuition guiding me away from something that was draining my energy. Even though the process was uncomfortable and messy, that deep sense of this isn’t right for me was always there, like a quiet nudge urging me to move forward.

Years later, I can see how that choice was the spark that led me to create Now Intentional and to explore what it truly means to live with intention. Intuition isn’t always about making perfect, smooth decisions. Sometimes it’s about leaping into the unknown, trusting that there’s something better on the other side, even when it feels terrifying.

Energetic Feel of Intuition:

• Calm, grounded, expansive.
  
• Feels like a gentle pull rather than a push.
  
• Often accompanied by a feeling of alignment or peace.
  

What Is Instinct?

Instinct, on the other hand, is rooted in survival. It’s immediate, sharp, and designed to keep you safe. It’s like a reflex—quick, reactive, and often tied to fear or protection.

Where intuition feels expansive, instinct can feel constrictive. It’s not necessarily bad—it serves a purpose. But if you’re trying to tap into your higher guidance and make decisions from a place of alignment, it helps to understand when you’re reacting from instinct versus responding from intuition.

After leaving my job, instinct kicked in with full force. I was in unfamiliar territory—unemployed, single, and suddenly faced with overwhelming uncertainty. The part of me that wanted to feel safe tried to drag me back to what I knew. It was pure survival mode, and I felt it in my body like a tightness, a frantic desperation to get back to what was familiar.

Energetic Feel of Instinct:

• Urgent, sharp, reactive.
  
• Often feels tight or heavy.
  
• Driven by fear or a desire to avoid discomfort.
  

How to Strengthen Your Intuition

Developing your intuition is a process of tuning into your own inner guidance and learning to trust it. Here are some practices that can help:

• Grounding Practices: Spending time in nature, feeling your feet on the earth, or visualizing roots growing from your body into the ground. RELATED: How to Ground Yourself Spiritually
  
• Meditation and Breathwork: Creating stillness within your mind helps your intuition come through more clearly.
  
• Journaling and Free Writing: Ask yourself, “What is my intuition guiding me toward right now?” and write freely.
  
• Visualization and Intentional Living: Imagining your ideal life or future self can tap you into your intuition’s guidance.

RELATED: How to Tell If It’s Your Intuition or Fear

Intuition vs. Instinct: Key Differences

FAQ

What is an example of instinct?

An example of instinct is a mother’s protective response when she senses her child is in danger. It’s immediate, reactive, and aimed at ensuring safety. Another common example is pulling your hand away from a hot surface before you even realize it’s burning you. These responses are automatic and rooted in survival.

Is it overthinking or intuition?

Overthinking is rooted in fear, doubt, and mental chatter—often analyzing a situation from every angle to the point of paralysis. Intuition, on the other hand, feels calm, clear, and direct. It’s often the first feeling or thought that comes to you before your mind begins to analyze or question it. If you’re feeling anxious or uncertain, it’s likely overthinking rather than intuition.

Is intuition our sixth sense?

Yes, intuition is often referred to as a “sixth sense.” It’s a way of perceiving information beyond the five physical senses, tapping into inner knowing, insight, or awareness that isn’t always explainable through logic. While it’s often described as a gut feeling, it’s actually a deeper form of guidance that feels expansive and calm.

Is it trust your gut or instinct?

Trusting your gut can refer to both intuition and instinct, but they feel very different. When it’s instinct, it’s usually tied to a survival response or something that feels urgent or fear-based. When it’s intuition, it feels calm, clear, and aligned with your higher self. Trusting your gut in the context of intuition means honoring your inner guidance even when it doesn’t seem logical.

Final Thoughts

Learning to distinguish between intuition and instinct is a journey. Your intuition will speak to you in ways that feel natural to you, and the more you listen, the stronger that connection becomes.

If you’re ready to deepen your connection with your intuition and start living with more clarity and purpose, I’d love for you to download my Intentional Living Starter Guide. It’s designed to help you tap into your highest self and start creating the life you truly want.