The Belly-Brain Barometer – Three reasons why going with your gut can bring back balance

Three reasons why going with your gut can bring back balance

Thursday 17 February 2022

Poet John Donne famously wrote, ‘no man is an island’. Well, neither is any woman. No matter what our situation or circumstance, we have all shared and been affected as a direct result of decisions and events far beyond our control. Feelings of uncertainty and lack of direction has made everyone at times feel slightly lost. I must admit, I am sick of it.
It is easy to be caught up and swept away amidst all the drama. It can feel overwhelming. While we all have own thoughts, now; everyone feels the need to share their views, their opinions, and their beliefs. We are in danger of losing connection, not with others but instead, with ourselves.

Turning down the noise from the external and tuning back into our own body and mind can pay huge dividends for not only our decision-making abilities but also our creativity and health. This is where the science comes in. We can, at any time tap into that sense of self. By initiating, the parasympathetic nervous system we can move from fight or flight response to the more balanced rest and digest conditions. How? By activating the Vagus nerve. It is no coincidence Vaga in Latin means, “to wander” describing how the nerve meanders through the body, it reflects the journey we take to connect with ourselves.

The longest and most complex of the twelve cranial nerves, the Vagus nerve runs from the brain through the body finishing in the abdomen. It controls all involuntary body processes such as breathing, speech and digestion. When stimulated it helps the heart rate to slow however when it overreacts, it can cause a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. What then does it mean to find balance and how can you initiate the Vagus nerve to benefit your body and mind?

Moving from anxious to authentic

All of us at some time or another has experienced anxiety. On a scale of impact, it can range from unsettling to at worst debilitating. For many women, work and career plays a huge role in defining who they are. If this area of life does not meet what they think should be their expectations or those of others, it causes real anxiety. A sense that they simply cannot be themselves.

I had insight into this recently. A job role was advertised I was interested in. I read the description and downloaded the specification. I then spent the next month deliberating whether I should or could apply. I asked trusted contacts for their advice. Reflecting back, I paid so much attention to what others were telling me I forgot to actually listen to my own reasoning.

Well I did until the application due date. You see, when you procrastinate and find every excuse possible as to why you do not have time to do something, your gut is talking directly to your brain. Put quite simply, I was trying to ignore what I already knew. I knew I would love to apply for the role and I knew that at some point it would be the type of role I would find a real challenge but the truth was, I also knew in my gut that now was not the right time.

Moving from anxious to authentic is becoming comfortable with who you are and the choices you make. Not everyone will become a CEO. Why? Because not everyone wants to. A great way to work on developing and understanding your authentic self is through journaling. It sounds more difficult than it is. In essence, taking time to note down each day a few points about how you are feeling helps to understand better what you enjoy doing and types of tasks that are less aspirational and more necessity driven. Taking time to focus with deep and slow breathing will trigger the vagus nerve to calm the mind allowing clarity of thought and reflection. Accepting that what you enjoy and find interesting may not be the same for others can bring a sense of freedom. Take time to think about where you are right now and what you choose for yourself instead of for others.

Balance within the body

When you ignore those gut feelings and make decisions not aligned with your values or needs then ultimately it can affect your physical health. Gut health is key for women to support and maintain a strong immune system. I have recently discovered the genius that are audio books and have enjoyed a few titles to date. My latest listen was from Kris Hallenga, ‘Glittering a Turd’. If you do not know who Kris is, you really should have a listen or a read. A normal 23 year old, she found out that a lump in her breast that she had ignored, despite having a gut feeling that something wasn’t quite right, had developed in to Stage Four terminal cancer. She began focusing on learning to live by establishing the CoppaFeel! Charity that promotes and encourages in particular women under 30 to check their breasts.

In the book, she details her journey to date. I found her description of how her past experiences had in some way she believes, contributed to her current prognosis really interesting but also how the same experiences had helped to develop a resilience to deal with events as they unfolded. As she, notes quoting Gabor Maté’s long held belief, if you have never been taught how to say no, your body will do it for you.
Tapping into the parasympathetic nervous system plays a key part in physical health, take time to understand and know your own body and its physical quirks but more importantly take time to notice if something is not quite right. As women we look after everyone else and their health first as a priority and often forget about ourselves when really, in order to help everyone else we need to put our health first. So here is your reminder, if you haven’t checked out that niggle or haven’t taken time to book that appointment for your breast check-up or smear. Do. It. Now.

Comparison Culture: Creating your own confidence

During a recent conversation with a colleague, I was reminded just how much confidence plays a part in how we present ourselves every day. We are all guilty of comparison but with instant access via social media, now more than ever you can lose touch and a sense of what real is for you. My colleague admitted that she feels she is failing as a Mum, wife and colleague when she compares herself to those she follows on her Instagram grid. How? Because what she sees, is picture perfect reality of always-happy houses, which are clean and tidy, and faces of children, always smiling with not a drop of snot in sight. Coupled with classy, professional regular LinkedIn updates, as a woman in business it is difficult not to feel less when everyone else it would appear is so much more.

Connecting with your gut helps develop a different kind of confidence. A healthy vagus nerve allows access to parts of the brain responsible for creativity and is essential for decision-making. Understanding your decision making process becomes key to supporting a self-confidence built on what is right for you without comparison. I have a screen saver on my phone that reads, don’t be afraid of being different, be more afraid of being the same as everyone else! When you change your perspective from comparing, it is amazing how much opportunity exists to learn. If you want to change up your confidence, start by doing something different. Instead of scrolling, switch it up and instead listen to a Podcast (there are Podcasts out there on almost every topic possible!), read a book on something you are interested in finding out more about, check out what’s on my bedside table this month at the end of the blog.

So next time you have a decision to make or you find yourself questioning your confidence. Turn down the external noise to tap into your barometer and take time to digest. What is your gut is telling you?

Bedside Books – What I am reading right now. I would love to hear what you are reading, why not connect to start a conversation?

Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart
Be Less Zombie, Elvin Turner
You Coach You, Helen Tupper & Sarah Ellis
Bigger Than Us, Fearne Cotton
Surrounded by Idiots, Thomas Erikson

Janet is a Mum of four boys, who in her spare time is Operations Manager for Innovation Programmes at InterTradeIreland. A qualified yoga teacher, she is currently working on Project Me, which really means learning how to not only survive but also boss it as a woman in business.
Like to connect? Find her at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janettoal/