The Mind-Body-Soul exercise

The Mind-Body-Soul exercise

9 Oct, 2024

Multiple intelligences

We have multiple intelligences in our body. The mind has the largest number of neurons, followed by the gut and then the heart.

Each of these sources of intelligence provides different kinds of information and insights to us when we are trying to make a decision or assess a situation. There is a tendency to over-rely on our mind,  especially if we are working in a corporate environment where we feel we need to be highly professional and rely more on logic than intuition and feelings.

The mind is the center of creativity, problem-solving and rational thought. The gut is the seat of our intuition and the center of courage. You may have heard the expression, “He doesn’t have the guts to do it,” referring to the gut being linked to having the courage to take bold action and move forward. The heart is the center of feelings and values and holds that which is most important for us.

 

The importance of alignment

When we combine the intelligence of the mind, the gut, and the heart, we are able to make more holistic decisions. When we are aligned in our mind, gut, and heart, we’re able to move forward with peace of mind and feel more certain about our decision and our choice. On the other hand, when our multiple intelligences are not aligned, we experience increased stress and constant back-and-forth, second-guessing our decision and not finding peace within.

What is the Mind-Body-Soul exercise?

The mind-body-soul exercise is a quick 3-minute exercise that helps you tap into the different intelligences inside your body. This exercise is particularly helpful when you are trying to make a difficult or complex decision, especially where a simple pros and cons list has not been effective.

How to do the Mind-Body-Soul exercise

Sit down in a quiet space. Sit comfortably with your back straight and take a few deep breaths. When you feel calm and balanced:

1. Connect with your mind. Ask your mind: “Mind, what do I need to know about this topic?” Wait for 15 to 30 seconds and then take a deep breath and let go of your mind. Imagine that there is a dimmer switch on the light of your mind, and you are now turning down that dimmer switch until it is almost off, allowing the mind to rest for a while.

 2. Connect with your gut. You can put your hand on your gut if you feel comfortable. Ask it, “Gut, what do I need to know about this topic?” Wait for 15 to 30 seconds and then let go of your gut.

3. Connect with your heart. You can put your hand on your heart if you feel comfortable. Ask it, “Heart, what do I need to know about this topic?” Wait for 15 to 30 seconds and then let go of your heart.

Take a deep breath. Thank your mind, your gut, and your heart for their wisdom. Open your eyes. Make a note of your experience and any key messages that came through your mind, your gut, and your heart. Don’t make assessments or judge just yet. Allow yourself a little bit of time to digest the information.

Now, as a whole individual, look at the insights provided by each of the intelligences and ask yourself:

  • Are my mind, gut, and heart in agreement on this topic?
  • What are the misalignments?
  • What conversations do my mind, gut, and heart need to have in order to reconcile their differences and align on the way forward?

Best practices

  • Ask open-ended questions, such as:
    • What do I need to know about this topic?
    • What is important for me to know here?
    • What light can you shed on this?
    • What would be a good way to move forward?
  • Avoid asking  ‘yes or no’ questions. The objective of this exercise is to gain insight rather than to make a decision on the spot. You can make the decision once you have reviewed all of the information holistically.
  • Keep it short. Don’t spend more than 15 to 30 seconds on each intelligence; otherwise, what tends to happen is that the mind jumps in and starts an endless train of thoughts, keeping you stuck.
  • Breathe in between the different stages of the exercise to ensure that you remain calm and balanced.
  • Repeat this exercise multiple times every day or every week to continue getting new insights.
  • You may not get any insights from one of the intelligences, and that’s okay. Don’t force it. Move on and repeat the exercise the next day or later on.

Which one should I follow?

One of the most common questions I get is, “Should I follow my gut, heart, or mind when they are in disagreement?” I invite you to take a holistic approach, thinking of yourself as a whole individual looking at your mind, your gut, and your heart, and combining that information in order to make the best possible decision.

When our mind, gut, and heart are aligned, we feel at ease and confident about our decision. When our mind, gut, and heart are in disagreement, we feel that we are stuck in limbo and constantly second-guessing ourselves.

Managing saboteurs

Managing saboteurs

21 Sep, 2024

Managing internal saboteurs — those self-sabotaging thoughts or behaviors that undermine progress — can be crucial for personal growth and effectiveness. Here are five ways to manage them:

1. **Increase Awareness and Identify Saboteurs**

– Practice mindfulness or journaling to identify negative thought patterns or behaviors. Name your saboteurs, such as the “Perfectionist” or “People Pleaser,” so you can notice when they show up.
– *Action:* Keep a log of moments when self-doubt or sabotaging tendencies arise and reflect on the triggers.

2. **Challenge Negative Beliefs**
– Counter the limiting beliefs of your saboteurs with logic and evidence. When a saboteur tells you “you’re not good enough,” remind yourself of past successes and feedback that proves otherwise.
– *Action:* Reframe limiting beliefs by asking, “Is this true, or is it a perception?”

3. **Develop a Positive Inner Voice**
– Cultivate self-compassion by speaking to yourself with kindness and encouragement. Train your inner dialogue to focus on possibilities rather than limitations.
– *Action:* Replace self-critical thoughts with affirmations that are empowering and focus on strengths.

4. **Set Clear Boundaries and Take Small Steps**
– Saboteurs often thrive when you’re overwhelmed. Manage them by setting boundaries, breaking down tasks into manageable steps, and celebrating small wins.
– *Action:* Set realistic goals, delegate tasks, or break down a large project to prevent over-criticism or self-sabotage.

5. **Engage in Saboteur-Busting Practices**
– Develop regular practices such as meditation, mindfulness, or coaching to disrupt the flow of negative patterns. Practices like these help create mental space, build resilience, and stop sabotaging behaviors before they take root.
– *Action:* Use breathing techniques or short meditative pauses when saboteur thoughts arise to regain perspective and calm.

By practicing these steps regularly, you’ll weaken the influence of your saboteurs and strengthen your self-leadership skills.

The 3 levels of reality

The 3 levels of reality

21 Sep, 2024

The concept of the “three levels of reality” — essence, dreaming, and consensus reality — is most closely associated with Arnold Mindell, a physicist and psychotherapist who founded Process Oriented Psychology (or Process Work). Mindell introduced this framework as part of his work on exploring human consciousness, dreaming, and collective social experiences.

  • Essence reality refers to the deepest level, connected to formless energy, intuition, and a sense of oneness.
  • Dreaming reality represents the symbolic or non-material world, where emotions, metaphors, and images dominate (often connected with our dream experiences and deeper psyche).
  • Consensus reality is the agreed-upon “normal” shared by society, governed by physical laws, social norms, and common perceptions.

 

How to write your life purpose statement

How to write your life purpose statement

21 Sep, 2024

What is life purpose?

Your life purpose is about the impact you want to make and the legacy you want to leave in the world. Whilst you can apply your life purpose to create impact on your own life, it is important to also keep in mind how you are influencing others.  The latter is what makes it truly meaningful.

Like a north star, it is not a destination to arrive at, it is a direction to live your life towards. In this sense, you can be living on purpose right now and still moving towards a fuller version of your life purpose.

 

Format

Use this format to summarize your life purpose statement statement:

I am the __________ (metaphor) that __________ (impact)

 

Examples

I am the lighthouse that guides ships safely to shore.

I am the spark that re-ignites the engine.

I am the thunder that shakes people into reality.

 

Considerations

It is important that your life purpose statement is:

 

  • Both realistic and aspirational – i.e. it describes who you are and the impact you are already making, whilst leaving room for improvement and growth
  • Within your sphere of control – it is about what you can do now and who you choose to be. The impact or influece on others comes as a result of that, rather than you forcing or driving others or making their choices for them. For this to be true, pay attention to the verb you use to describe the impact (ex. ‘makes people better’ vs ‘inspired people to improve’)
  • Applicable to you, as well as towards others. For example, I am the spark that re-ignites my own engine, as well as that of others. I pick myself up every time I am down, I believe in the good and I build resilience. If I am unable to practice my life purpose on my own life, how can I create that impact on others?
What are values?

What are values?

21 Sep, 2024

Your values are the things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. Values are drivers, they motivate you to get out of bed and to do what you do every day. They determine your priorities, and, deep down, they are the measures you use to tell if your life is turning out the way you want it.

Examples

There are many different ways to bring your values to life. The key is to do it in a way that is memorable and easy for you to use.

Below are two real-life examples of how to depict your values.

Vaues board 1
Vaues board 2