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The Mind-Body-Soul exercise

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.

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I'm Desi Jagger

I'm Desi Jagger

 I help teams and leaders to sustain performance in times of complex change, such as post-merger integration and organizational restructuring

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