Intuition vs. Impulse
We have all been there — this is human nature.
There’s a moment many of us know well — the rush of needing to choose, act, or decide now, paired with a quieter voice wondering if that urgency is truly wisdom.
Perhaps you’ve found yourself torn between two inner signals: one loud and insistent, the other subtle and still.
You’re not alone in this.
Discerning between what’s intuitive and what’s impulsive is a practice — one that asks us to slow down, listen differently, and reconnect with ourselves in a new way.
Discovering the Difference
Often, the loudest voice inside us feels urgent and commanding — Do something now. Fix it. Choose quickly. That voice is impulse. It arrives from a place shaped by past adversity and the nervous system’s need for resolution, often disguised as decisiveness. It seeks safety through speed.
But intuition doesn’t shout.
Intuition is a whisper. A quiet knowing that lives beneath the surface, requiring stillness to be heard. It doesn’t demand urgency — it asks for space.
Though each of us has different experiences that shape our lives, our perspectives, our responses — these signs below can support us in delineating between intuition and impulse:
Intuition is responsive, where impulse is reactive
Intuition desires to guide you though intentional reflection, where impulse desires to immediately escape discomfort
Note: While immediately escaping discomfort sounds preferable — often times, withstanding painful or uncertain moments with impactful support can create a space where insights can arise, insights that only show themselves when we are operating outside of our comfort zone
Intuition is the compass offering guidance, where impulse is the fire alarm encouraging rapid action without intentional thought
Impulse is often shaped by our past—especially by moments of trauma, where the nervous system learned to prioritize speed and survival over reflection. These reactions may feel urgent or familiar, not because they’re true, but because they once protected us. Intuition, by contrast, arises from presence. It emerges when we feel safe enough to slow down, breathe, and listen inwardly. While impulse feeds on urgency and unresolved stories, intuition offers a quiet clarity — inviting us to choose not from fear, but from alignment. In this way, intuition becomes a practice of healing and new habit-making.
Off The Page: Actioning The Insights
Practices that support the discovery of your internal compass
Wayfinding in the midst of challenge
With practice, learning to discern between intuition and impulse becomes less about getting it “right” in the moment and more about building trust in yourself over time. These small, intentional pauses allow you to shift from reacting out of fear, pressure, or expectation to responding with clarity, alignment, and confidence.
As you strengthen your connection to intuition, your decisions begin to reflect not just what feels urgent — but what feels true.
Pause before you choose
Build in a simple 60-second pause (or longer) before making quick decisions — especially in moments of stress, urgency, or emotional charge. This allows space for your nervous system to settle and your intuition to speak beneath the noise.
For Example: Before committing to another meeting on an already packed calendar or responding impulsively to a text, step away. Take a breath. Ask: Am I acting out of pressure or alignment?
Check the Felt Sense
Ask yourself: Does this feel like grasping or grounding? Impulse often feels like a tightening or anxious push. Intuition feels spacious, calm, and rooted — even when it suggests something uncomfortable. Learning to recognize these sensations builds embodied awareness.
For Example: You receive a last-minute invitation to an event after a long, exhausting day. Your mind says, “You should go — it’s a good opportunity,” but your body feels drained and tight. Pause and ask: Is this a grounded yes, or am I grasping out of fear of missing out or disappointing someone? Let the body lead the check-in before the calendar does.
Reflect without Rushing
At the end of your day, take 5 minutes to journal one decision you made quickly and one you made with intention. What drove each choice? Over time, this reflection trains the mind to notice your patterns and make room for wiser, value-aligned responses.
For example: Did you agree to a social plan just to avoid guilt? Or choose to cook a nourishing meal instead of scrolling through delivery apps out of habit? Reflect on what helped you choose from clarity — and what pulled you away from it.
Thank You
Thank you for joining me this week! I’m excited to keep sharing insights from my work, research, and personal journey with you.
Did something resonate with you? Curious about applying these strategies in your life? Or know someone who might benefit?
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