You have 4 Brains & arn't using them
She couldn’t have said that…
I was sitting in a group of 100 women, surrounded by palm trees swaying gently in the wind.
Dry desert air kissed our skin—warm from the sun, but softened by the cool breeze.
We were scattered about. Some on pillows others in chairs. All with journals in hand.
My mind was fully engaged.
I was at a wellness and leadership retreat, where Shadi—a high-performance coach known for working with celebrities, musicians, executives, and unicorn founders—was guiding us through a heart-centered leadership session.
But this wasn’t your typical conference workshop.
She didn’t launch into productivity hacks or goal-setting strategies. Instead, she said something that stopped me cold:
“The body never lies.”
Wait—what?
I tilted my head. My pen froze above the page.
Now let me explain.
Most people think we only have one brain—the one in our head. But actually, we have four:
- The gut: Known as the “second brain,” it holds over 100 million neurons and helps you sense safety, hunger, and emotional cues from birth
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- The autonomic nervous system: Your body’s built-in surveillance system, constantly scanning for danger and controlling stress responses like fight, flight, or freeze
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- The heart: Home to 40,000 neurons, it sends signals to the brain and acts as your emotional and intuitive compass
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- The brain: Your center for logic, planning, and problem-solving—but it often drowns out the quieter signals from the body
Here’s the thing:
Emotions are felt in the body—long before the brain catches up.
Your body might be screaming “no,” while your brain keeps saying “yes”—to keep the peace, keep the job, keep up appearances.
But it gets deeper.
If your body is stuck in fight-or-flight, it can’t calm down.
It literally can’t access the other three “brains.”
And when that happens, your decisions are misaligned.
You might say yes when you meant no. You might push forward on something that’s totally wrong for you. You might miss the whisper of intuition that’s trying to steer you in a better direction.
The result? You feel more frazzled. More disconnected.
And even though you’re “doing all the things,” something still feels off. You’re not in flow.
Accessing your intuition is the only way to unlock that gift.
And here’s the wild part:
Even Einstein knew this. “The only real valuable thing is intuition.”
It’s the way back to yourself.
And it changes everything.
Because here’s the secret Shadi reminded us of:
The more aligned you are—with your body, your intuition, your purpose—the more magnetic you become.
People are drawn to you.
Opportunities seem to appear.
You speak, and others lean in.
Whether you're a founder, a leader, a full-time parent, or somewhere in between—this matters.
So, how do you know if you are in your head and out of your body?
Here are a few signs your body might be in a state of fight-or-flight:
- Racing thoughts you can’t slow down
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- Scrolling your phone while watching TV (aka can’t be still)
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- Irritability, feeling snappy or reactive
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- Waking up at 3 a.m. with a racing mind
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- Holding your breath or shallow breathing
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- Digestive issues like bloating or loss of appetite
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- Feeling exhausted but wired
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- Always needing to “do something” to feel okay
Sound familiar?
Don’t worry—it’s not your fault.
This world is overstimulating and constantly on. But there are ways to shift.
So, how do you access all 4 brains?
It starts with managing stress and regulating cortisol.
Shadi reminded us that one of the cheapest, fastest, and most effective ways to do that is with your breath.
That’s right.
Your breath is a signal to your body that you’re safe.
And when your body feels safe, you regain access to all parts of your intelligence—not just the analytical brain.
Here are a few of my personal favorite ways to reset stress and tap into alignment:
- Morning sunlight and evening routines for circadian rhythm alignment
- Blood sugar balancing meals to avoid spikes and energy crashes
- Daily meditation
- Taking herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola (my favorite cortisol supplement)
- Fostering healthy relationships and community
Your Challenge This Week
I’m passing on the same challenge Shadi gave us:
Pick one window of time—a day, a morning, even just an hour—and try this.
- Be still. Breathe.
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- Ask your gut: What do I need right now?
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- Ask your heart: What would feel good next?
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- Follow the answers—even if they don’t make logical sense.
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- Record what you did and how you felt after.
You might be surprised by how clear, peaceful, and creative you feel.
You may even start making different decisions—ones that feel easier, lighter, more you.
That’s the power of alignment.
And it’s not just about feeling better—it’s about finally feeling like yourself.
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🤍 Social Edit
What I've been sharing & talking about on social this week:
🌱 Wellness News & Hot Takes
Hinge Health is considering delaying its IPO - This isn’t surprising as the markets have been in freefall the past few weeks with the constant tariff changes. I wouldn’t be surprised if funding from pre-seed through public markets in wellness drops until we see more stability in the markets. That said, wellness and longevity spending is proving to be more recession-proof than previously expected. (source: business insider)
MoldCo expanded mold toxicity biomarker testing to 47 states - this is a clear signal that another wellness focus once considered woo woo is becoming more mainstream. Consumers are waking up to the dangers of toxins, like mold, and actually taking matters into their own hands as the healthcare system fails them time and time again. (source: Fitt Insider)
Brain health is the new frontier in wellness travel — from HBOT to neurofeedback, we’re finally seeing retreats go beyond rest to actually rebuild the nervous system through the brain. I see this as the next evolution in wellness - adding to a focus on hormone health, longevity, and performance. (source: vogue)
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