One of the characteristics of intuition is that it often arises whole into our experience. Whether your style is to hear a voice, experience a thought bursting into your mind, get an emotional reaction, or have a physical feeling—intuition comes with no explanation, no apology and no strings attached. It can seem sometimes that a full blown knowing, or truth has been inserted into your awareness or has arrived into your heart carried by the wind. If you dismiss the knowing, it will go away briefly, but then return again, very much in the original form. It is like a signal or a sign—almost like a flashcard from the Universe. Intuitive signals tend to be complete, whole, and get to the point.
Worry, on the other hand, leaks all over the place in our thoughts, moving in a circle, triggering inner arguments and fantasies. Worry triggers anxiety and moves like a fast growing vine in the wilds of the imagination. It has favorite stopping points: our worst fears, and our “what if…” scenarios. The quality of worry is circular, spreading, irrational; fueled by catastrophic examples that represent melodramatic improbabilities.
Intuition validation: If you get what you believe is an intuitive impression (which is not about emergency safety) then get quiet and clear your thoughts briefly. Address the topic in question again. If you are receiving an intuitive signal, you should notice that the same knowing pops into your experience yet again, whole, complete and without doubt. Make note of the quality of your signal, the date and time. If it is practical and benign (harming no one), act on your signal and accept it.
Intuitive signals return to your awareness when you contemplate the topic in question, and they contain their conclusions when they come to you. Worry hijacks your energy and takes you on a wild roller-coaster ride that never arrives at any destination. Keep this simple distinction in mind for future reference and it may help you to claim the nuggets of wisdom when they pop in!