Disconnected From Our Embodied Wisdom

Ironically, we’re simultaneously more “connected” and “disconnected” than ever before. Video calls across continents. Instant messages. Global communities.

Yet, something fundamental is missing. And I think I know what it is: we’ve lost connection to our bodies.

I know. This might sound like a strange thing to say – after all, we take our bodies with us everywhere we go. However, our body is more than just a taxi for our “brain”, and herein lies part of the problem – we’re increasingly putting our thinking, logic and problem-solving on a pedestal.

Consider what tends to get valued in knowledge-based organisations? You guessed it – people who can think, think critically and problem-solve. While these are valuable skills, they under-value our embodied knowledge and wisdom.

When we become disconnected from our body, we ignore sensory inputs that can help us access intuition, empathise, connect and relate to others and the world around us. It’s a bit like having a high-definition colour TV and watching everything in black and white – you’re not utilising its full capability.

For example, you might be faced with a decision. Logically, you think through the pros and cons, weigh everything up, and conclude which way to decide. In doing so, you might ignore a heaviness in your heart and a tightness in your stomach. This is your embodied intelligence talking to you. It might be communicating a mismatch with your values, or sensing a familiar pattern where you’re going to end up being taken advantage of, or some other valuable piece of wisdom.

While past trauma can cause disconnection, for many of us, it is more likely due to distractions, overload and juggling too many things.

To connect with our embodied wisdom, we need to pause. When we pause, we become present. And when we’re present, we’re more open to experiencing our embodied wisdom.

Try this right now (seriously, it only takes 30 seconds!):

1. Bring to mind a decision you need to make, or an upcoming event that you need to prepare for.

2. Take 3–5 effortless breaths through your nose – a little slower and deeper than usual.

3. Invite your attention to drop from your head into your heart-space – imagine or sense this happening.

4. Now ask, what does my heart know that my head doesn’t?

What did you experience?

A sensation? A clarity? A resistance? A subtle knowing?

That’s your embodied wisdom. It’s always there. We’ve just forgotten how to listen to it. This isn’t about replacing thinking with feeling. It’s about reconnecting thinking WITH embodied knowing.

What’s your body telling you right now?

Feel free to join in the conversation on LinkedIn, and if you're willing, share what you noticed.