“The only real valuable thing is intuition.” – Albert Einstein

I always listen to my gut.  It helps me make important decisions regarding relationships, life choices, and health questions.  It prompts me when I’m unsure of what to do, or gives me that queasy feeling when something is wrong.  The reason we have “butterflies in our stomach” and go with our “gut reaction” is because our gut is our second brain.  After many years of research we discovered the stomach is the enteric nervous system / ENS which sends signals to the brain affecting emotions, influencing memory, learning, and decision making.  Over 95 percent of the body’s serotonin is made there – which accounts for why we crave comfort food.

You can find lots of interesting information on the internet about this topic and books like The Second Brain by Michael Gershon, one of the first neurobiologists who discovered ENS.  Personally, I find it fascinating to know what I feel to be true is proven scientifically!  Listening to our heart and gut go hand-in-hand. Tuning in to their signals not only helps us make the right decision, it can actually save our life.  Critical times to pay attention to what they’re trying to tell us are:

• Health issues – See a doctor if you feel something is wrong. Pursue a second opinion if you think a diagnosis isn’t in line with how you feel.
• Stress / danger – Think about why your stomach is upset around certain people or situations. What is it telling you to do – Stop? Run?
• Values, dreams, goals – what do you feel in your heart is the right thing to do? What makes you happy? I saw a great exercise on Facebook from Healing Light: “Make a list of things that make you happy. Make a list of things you do every day. Compare the lists. Adjust accordingly.”

Listen to your gut and follow your heart. Here are more tips for how to use your intuition to make decisions.