Years ago, I worked with a man who suffered some serious anxiety. It absolutely ruined his life. As I got to know him, I realised that he couldn’t quite discern the warnings his body was giving him. We worked together for some time to help him to learn to identify the feelings in his body and what they meant. Once he started to be able to identify what was happening where in his body, he started to be able to interpret it. It made a difference to his anxiety. He started to make better decisions. He started to be able to make choices that were good for him, choices that brought more of the things he wanted into his life. Things like joy, friends, and calmness.

There’s a reason it’s called a “gut feeling”. If you pay attention, I bet there are times when you feel something in your stomach, or in your body somewhere and you feel something negative, something you just can’t put your finger on. Then, when things don’t o so great, you say “I knew that was going to happen”. This is it. This is your intuition.

It’s backed up by research, you know. Researchers have shown that we have functional and complex ‘brains’ in both our heart and our gut. These ‘brains’ have memory and intelligence.

Your gut and heart brains know when something isn’t right and will tell you through feelings, hunches and messages. When you listen and pay attention, you can start to communicate with your body through language, imagery or visions, and even touch.

It’s true, you know. Your body knows everything you need. Trust what she tells you.

So spend a moment in the quiet, listening to your body.

Think about something that really frightens you?

What are the feelings you are experiencing – emotionally and physically?

Where are your feelings located? In your head, or your stomach? Your legs?

Is there a deep groan in the bottom of your belly?

Do you feel something fluttering like butterflies, does it make you flighty, or does it make you nauseous?

Do you feel dizzy?

Now think of something that excites you, where do you feel that in your body?

Do you notice feelings in your head, or your heart, or in your stomach?

Do you feel like jelly, or do you feel like you’re focusing, zoning in?

Does your body tingle anywhere?

What you want to practice doing is differentiating where you’re feeling different things in your body. As you move through the world, and talk to people, and have various experiences, start to take notice where in your body you are responding.

When someone around me is not feeling well, or they are low of mood or physically unwell, my hands throb and tingle. Every time.

When you notice, don’t try to change it or make it go away – just become conscious. Be curious and compassionate to your body, talk to her, and ask her what she is telling you – she will answer you.

Practice this regularly. You’ll get to know what your body is telling you, Getting connected with these subtle forces will help you to be guided by your intuition. Your inner knowing.