Why We Continuously Override Our Intuition, and Why It’s So Costly

Are You Brave Enough To Answer The Calls Of Your Soul?

Today I woke up sick — and it was very annoying.

I had a full day planned. I wanted to do some writing, take a walk, think over podcast ideas, and see some friends but instead, I’m lying on the couch with a blanket. Though, as you can tell by the fact there is an article here, I did muster up the energy to do some writing — albeit abandoning a more complex article on serotonin and relationships because my energy is too fragile for scientific research—.

In sum, today my body is telling me to rest and despite my grievances at not being able to do what I’d planned, I am resting. I’ll finish writing this, I’ll get some yummy food and make myself as comfortable as I can.

Because that’s what my body wants, and I’ll give it that.

In my immune system's current battle with a sore throat and headache, I couldn’t help but think about our intuition and how many of us — myself included — find it incredibly difficult to give ourselves what we truly feel we want and need. Part of me wanted to reject the cold I have and push through all the tasks I originally had planned, but what could would that have done?

Unfortunately, I’m not an expert in following my intuition in other areas of my life.

And I’m betting you have some struggles with doing this, too.

So why are we so comfortable overriding our intuition? Even when our internal world is screaming at us to slow down, re-think, and change paths, we continuously push this knowing down— oftentimes to less-than-desirable outcomes.

As Melanie Beadie, writing of Codependent No More says,

“There is no one as good at gaslighting us than we are.”

And we have to stop.

So with all that being said, here are 3 reasons we override our intuition, and why it’s catastrophically bad.

1. You’re Afraid Of What Truth Your Intuition Might Say

I spent the entirety of my teenage years ignoring the intuitive knowing I had that I was gay. I didn’t turn 21 to suddenly realize I liked guys, I knew it all along. I knew this in the feelings I had for some and the feelings I DIDN’T have for others; I also knew it in the internal voice that would frequently bring the truth to my mind’s eye. Instead of listening to that voice, however, I pushed it down and not-so-blissfully lived in denial.

In this, I refused to listen to my intuition because I was afraid of what truths it might say. I was afraid of being judged by others and was also judgemental of myself. Now that I’ve grown and accepted this part of myself, I care little for what others think because I’m happy in myself. It’s now easier for me to listen to my intuition because I’m less afraid of what people think.

When we’re ignoring a truth within us, we’re likely protecting ourselves from harm — be it from the opinions of others, or our own. It’s only natural under these circumstances that we’d then feel fear around expressing an intuitive truth. If we were to express it, we’d potentially be in danger — be it a real danger or our own idea of supposed danger.

2. You Don’t Trust Yourself

When we don’t trust ourselves, we’re less likely to listen to our intuition. It’s no different than a friend trying to tell us something important about their life. If we don’t trust them, we’re unlikely to listen or believe what they have to say.

But why is it we don’t trust ourselves?

There can be a multitude of reasons for this, some down to societal conditioning and others, personal.

For example, we may have tried sharing an authentic part of ourselves in the past to be told this part of us was wrong. This rejection externally will have then turned to internalized rejection, leading to the build-up of walls that keeps us from accessing and listening to our intuitive knowing.

It’s also worth noting how society is built on masculine logic rather than feminine knowing. The entire working system is based on this premise. Do what you need to do, and override whatever inside you tells otherwise. It’s safe to follow the crowd and do anything that places you in danger.

It’s no wonder then why we can’t trust ourselves.

It’s critical we have trust in our own knowing, save us being susceptible to the opinions and judgments of others. Those who trust themselves the least are less likely to do what they feel called to do, and as a result, are more likely to be dissatisfied and unhappy with their lives.

3. Listening To Your Intuition Opens A Can Of Worms

When we’ve spent a large part of our life overriding our intuition, it’s likely there will be several areas where we’ll feel misaligned. This could manifest in a career we dislike, but pursue because it’s what we think we need to be doing, or a relationship that doesn’t satisfy us but we continue in as we believe it’s what we must do.

Listening to our intuition requires awareness but once your awareness has been built, it’s very difficult to switch off. When we choose to listen to our intuition, it doesn’t get quieter, it gets louder until we take action. Further, when we’ve spent our lives living a particular way, sometimes it’s easier to remain in that pattern than choose another path.

In fact, it’s MUCH easier because your inability to trust your gut is likely shrouded in uncomfortable feelings such as fear, shame, anger, frustration, or sadness. If this weren’t the case, we’d have no issue listening to our intuition.

But just because you feel a certain way around an intuitive knowing you have, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t listen to it. As Ken Page writes in Deeper Dating, it’s in these areas where we feel the most pain where our core gifts lie. It’s also in the acceptance of these gifts that we can truly shine as our authentic selves.

So open the can of worms, or do so in a supportive environment with a therapist or a coach, and work to understand why you insist on rejecting the calls of your soul. Because your soul isn’t lying to you, it’s inviting you to greater things. The sooner you can trust this, the better your life will become.

Thanks for reading this article. If you enjoyed it, I’d be very happy if you could leave a few *claps*. In the meantime, feel free to check out similar articles below.