I was facilitating a group in learning end of last week and noticed some of them feeling stuck in thought loops. So I asked: what does your heart feel about this? They shared openly. Then I asked: what does your gut have to say, in other words, the knowledge, wisdom, and perspective you already carry? Suddenly, the room lit up with clarity.

These are channels of wisdom always available if we slow down to listen. They’re incredibly illuminating and further, enable us to find alignment or misalignment, which in either case offer us information, especially when faced with tough decisions.

From my Trauma Informed Coaching Certification with Moving the Human Spirit, I learned more about the heart brain axis and the gut brain axis. Science now shows what wisdom traditions have long held true: we’re not just brains on skin suit bodies. Cognitive knowing is only about 10%. The other 90% sits in our hearts and guts.

The pressure is so often on that 10%. This makes sense because we’ve been groomed and rewarded to use it. Yet when we bring all three channels into alignment, something magical happens. And when we can’t bring them into alignment, that is information worth exploring.

There’s more to this than is reasonable for a post, so I’ll leave it as an invitation to consider the magic in your channels of wisdom: head, heart, and gut.

Next time you’re wavering on a decision, try this:

• Pause, reduce noise and distractions, close your eyes if you like, and take a few deep, nourishing belly breaths.
• Ask what your head (logic/analysis), heart (feelings/emotions), and gut (past knowledge, wisdom, perspective) each have to say.
• If one says “yes” and the other two say “no”, or any combination that doesn’t align, take it as information. What is this reflection trying to tell you?

Inquiring, reflecting and listening in this way helps us in tough moments, decisions, and enables more aligned life and leadership. What decision in your life right now could use the wisdom of all three?