The Information Your Body Holds (And Why It Matters More Than You Might Think)
Your shoulders have been trying to tell you something. So has that knot in your stomach when you walk into certain rooms, or the way your breathing shifts when someone's tone changes. We're so used to living in our heads—analyzing, planning, problem-solving—that we can miss the immediate intelligence our bodies offer moment to moment. While your mind is busy constructing stories about what's happening, your body has already taken in the information and formed its own knowing.
When We Live Only in Our Heads
Our analytical minds serve us well. They help us strategize, weigh options, and make sound decisions. But most of us have been conditioned to live exclusively in our heads, often because the world around us rewards this approach. We're subtly, and not so subtly, pressured to ignore other sources of intelligence—even when they might serve us better.
Here's what we miss: our bodies process experiences before our minds begin analyzing or storytelling. They're the first responders, offering insight before information gets filtered through old patterns or inner criticism. Your body often knows what's really happening before your mind catches up. When we ignore these signals, we miss our body's early warning system and can find ourselves reacting from old habits rather than responding to what's actually present.
Learning Your Body's Language
Your body speaks in sensations, and everyone's language is unique. Fear might show up as a tight chest or shallow breathing. Comfort often brings expansion or warmth. Anger frequently feels hot and constricted.
Common body signals to notice:
Anxiety/Fear: Tight chest, stiff shoulders, shallow or rapid breathing (or holding breath), stomach knots, sleep disruption
Comfort/Peace: Softened shoulders, relaxation, deeper breathing, warmth
Anger: Jaw tension, heat, clenching, constriction, eyes narrowing
Sadness: Heaviness, throat constriction, body aches, fatigue, appetite changes, under or over-sleeping
Joy: Brightness, expansion, energized feeling, lightness in step
These are starting points—your body's signals may be different. The key is getting curious about the signals your body speaks.
While thoughts often follow well-worn, reactive pathways, body sensations give you a more accurate read on what's truly happening in the moment. This awareness creates space between trigger and response—space that allows you to choose how to engage rather than react automatically.
Simple Ways to Start Listening
Research on mindfulness-based practices shows that developing "interoceptive awareness"—the ability to sense internal bodily signals—can play an important role in emotional regulation. Through two decades of supporting people in reconnecting with their body's intelligence, I've witnessed how this awareness becomes a powerful foundation for genuine healing and self-understanding.
Quick Daily Practices:
Mindful Check-ins: During routine activities (washing hands, brushing teeth, walking), pause and scan your body for sensations
Emotion Tracking: When feelings arise, tune into the physical responses they create and where you experience them
Inner Critic Alerts: Observe how and where your inner judges create sensations in your body
Deeper Practices:
Body Scan Meditation: Systematically notice sensations throughout your body without trying to change anything
Mindful Movement: Whether through yoga, walking, dancing, or other movement, pay attention to how your body feels during and after
Sensory Exploration: Engage textures, temperatures, or tastes while tracking your body’s internal response
Once you begin listening, you can then begin responding in kind. When you notice what's present in your body, ask: "What would be a caring response to this sensation?" Sometimes it's taking a deep breath, sometimes gentle movement, sometimes placing a hand on your heart. The body often knows what it needs.
Your Body Is Already Wise
Mindfulness isn't about figuring something out—it's about tuning into wisdom that's already there. Your body has been collecting information about your experiences all along. The invitation is simply to listen.
This kind of awareness takes practice and patience. If connecting with internal signals feels challenging, you might find it helpful to work with a therapist or healthcare practitioner who understands the body-mind connection. Sometimes we benefit from support in learning to trust what we feel, especially when past experiences have taught us to disconnect from our bodies.
Ready to deepen your relationship with your body's wisdom? As a mindfulness-based therapist, I support people in developing this kind of embodied awareness—learning to trust what they feel and respond with compassion. If you're curious about how therapy might support you, you can learn more on my services page or reach out to schedule an initial consultation.