The Body-Mind Connection
Working with, not against our Gut Feelings
Ralph Waldo Emerson said: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment". Part of trusting ourselves is listening to our intuition, or "the power of knowing things without conscious reasoning" according to Webster's Dictionary.
We can choose whether to ignore the messages we are constantly receiving, or increasingly tune into them and raise our ‘gut feeling quotient’.
We all experience both positive and negative intuitive or gut feelings. These body-mind messages come as hunches, thoughts, voices, restlessness or feelings of relief. Trusting rather than stifling them gives us more information to work with. This helps us communicate clearly and allows us to be more honest with ourselves and others. Then we operate in a way that's congruent…that is, our words, feelings, thoughts and non-verbal messages are in sync. We feel and act in a way that's closer to our authentic selves. Martha Beck calls this the 'Essential Self'. It's the part of us that dreams, feels joyful, creative and childlike. It's our spirit.
Many researchers have agreed that there is a strong body-mind link. Even though many studies point to the connection, the formal structures of our culture (i.e. corporations, schools and government) don't acknowledge it much. So it's usually not part of our daily lives. Candice Pert's studies show that neuropeptides throughout the body and brain biochemically link to emotion. The subtle energy system of the chakras is believed to produce odd sensations and intuitions. The Enteric Nervous System or 'the brain in the gut', helps us evaluate situations based on sensory input. Trusting rather than stifling them gives us more information to work with.All these theories and studies suggest that our 'gut feelings' or 'intuition' provide us with information that shows the body-mind connection.
How do you do personally deal with your gut feelings? Would you like to be more aware of them and use them in your communication with others? The body-mind never lies. We can choose to ignore the messages we are constantly receiving, or to increasingly tune into them and raise our 'Gut Feeling Quotient'.
The following exercise may help you tune into your body-mind on an ongoing basis:
- Begin with 3 slow, deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Make sure you push out as much air as possible on the outbreaths.
- Think about something somewhat unpleasant that happened recently (e.g. a conversation, a small accident, a missed deadline). Notice the sounds, smells and sights associated with this memory. Notice the sensations your are experiencing in your body. Where in your body are they? Rate the negative feeling on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst possible.
- Take 2 or 3 deep inhalations and exhalations to release the memory from your body. Move around if you want, to shake off the feelings. Now think about something great that happened recently. Again notice the associated sensory input and where in your body you feel the feelings. Rate this positive feeling from +1 to +10 with +10 being the best possible rating.
- You can, if you choose, apply this tool to any daily situation. It will give you information about your body-mind. By paying attention in this way you will be training yourself to be more aware of your ‘gut feelings’.
- Adapted from Dr. Martha Beck's 'Body Compass'
Sign up today to receive Ellen's inspirational newsletter! Let Ellen help you navigate your midlife maze.
