While intuition can speak to us via our emotions (like feeling immediately relaxed around a new colleague because in time they will turn out to be a dear friend, or feeling suddenly anxious when making social plans because you need to rest), wishful thinking is a little different.

Wishful thinking is having the intense emotional desire for something, and then convincing yourself that your intuition is on board with the plan too by ignoring any red flags you receive.

It’s very normal to have intense emotions about stuff we really want—like starting a family, bringing in a loving romantic partner, pursuing a passion project, making money, or being of service to the world. Practice observing and witnessing your emotions, including reminding yourself that your emotions aren’t who you really are, but rather a temporary feeling you are experiencing—to create healthy space from them.

Instead of denying your emotions, validate and acknowledge them, which can actually help you feel calmer and put your emotions in perspective.