When it comes to trusting your instinct, did you know that your gut speaks to you more than you might think? Just like the brain, the gut also possesses neurons – around 500 million of them – and these connect to your brain through nerves, notably the vagus nerve, which is one of the biggest in your nervous system.
What does this mean when it comes to living a true, authentic life? Well, you are probably familiar with having a ‘gut feeling ’ or have possibly heard about the ‘second brain’. I believe we actually have three brains – our thinking brain, our feeling brain and our gut brain.
Through working with the Chakras, the energy fields of the body, and my work with clients it’s incredible to watch them find the answers to what they have been searching for once they allow themselves to listen and feel the guidance from these three ‘brains’ already within them.
You don’t have to work everything out only in your mind. You have so much more guidance within you when you start to lean into the three brains, and listen to the guidance in your heart and gut in the same way you’d listen to what’s in your head.
The thinking brain
Let’s begin with the obvious one – the thinking brain. This brain is practical and solution-based, but also intuitive. When meditating , for example, we are able to go beyond the practical thinking and connect to guidance from our intuition. We can connect with that inner knowing that we can’t quite explain – some call it ‘the oneness’ or ‘the one mind’. However, in our thinking mind we can also talk ourselves in or out of something, if it doesn’t suit our preferred narrative. It is, therefore, quite common to believe that the intuition in your mind is not guiding you when it shows you not what you want to see but what you need to see.
The feeling brain
When it comes to our feeling brain, the heart, this works in a less practical way than the thinking brain. However, the answers in our heart can feel so aligned and helpful even more than the practical thinking mind.
A great example is when I ask clients about a decision they need to make such as if they are in love with their partner or how they feel about leaving a relationship or job. Their thinking brain often presents a very different answer to their feeling brain. In these situations, it can be helpful to ask yourself ‘How do I feel about this?’ then really feel and listen to the answer.
It’s usually quite clear how we feel. Equally, of course, if something feels loving and joyous, we can instinctively know the answer, too.
We may say things like ‘It just felt right’ or ‘That feels so comfortable’. It is this guidance I’m talking about, the feeling we can’t quite explain, yet we all know it when we feel it. Plus, as we get used to trusting our feelings and understanding that they are guiding us – even the not-so-pleasant ones – the more guided and connected to ourselves we feel.
The gut
Our third ‘brain’ – the gut – presents a feeling similar to that of the heart, but it can also feel a little more physical. For example, if something isn’t right or feels off, this may present itself as a feeling of heaviness or nervousness in the gut.
Conversely, if we feel immense happiness or intense excitement, we may experience a lightness in the stomach, like butterflies. Most of us, at one time or another, will have said things like ‘I had a gut feeling about this’ or ‘I wish I had listened’. Once we are tuned in, not listening to our feelings isn’t even an option.
Getting in tune with your three brains
Harnessing these three ‘brains’ can help steer us along our destined path, give us the confidence to make decisions aligned with our true beliefs and really understand what it means to trust our own instinct.
By only listening to the thinking brain we ignore the feelings and physical reactions we have to situations and the energy we feel.
Sometimes, when we block out certain feelings, we can start to feel disconnected and lost. We can also query or even pretend we don’t know the answers for ourselves.
Listening to all three of our ‘brains’ means living more harmoniously and embracing the human experience fully. We start to feel more in tune and connected, and know that we are always guided. We become more aligned with our true selves and the life we want.
How to train yourself to tune into your three brains – a step-by-step guide:
1. Sit somewhere comfortably where you can fully relax and close your eyes.
2. Think of a situation or something you would like clarity or guidance on. You might have a particular question you wish to ask.
3. Take a deep breath in and out. Repeat and let the breath flow in and out of your nose.
4. Place your hands on your head, or just imagine you are doing so, and ask ‘What do I think about this?’ and let the answers come to your thinking mind.
5. Now place your hands over your heart or chest and ask ‘How do I feel about this?’ allowing those feelings to be felt.
6. Next, move your hands down over your gut and ask ‘What am I aware of here and what is my gut feeling saying?’ and acknowledge any physical responses.
7. Take a breath and come back to the room you are in. Now write down the answers that came to mind during this exercise. You will probably notice that you get slightly different answers from each brain.
You can repeat this whenever you wish and once your thinking, feeling and gut ‘brains’ are in tune, you’ll find it is something you can simply do in the moment, and it will support you in living the life that is aligned with your true self. We always know the answers we are looking for within, if we are willing to listen.
© Kevin Sacre Want to learn how to meditate with ease? Download the Zenme app for guided meditations, self-discovery courses, enlightening podcasts and more – it’s your all-in-one wellness companion. For further information about coaching with Camilla, visit zenme.tv
