The Disconnect of the Human Experience
One of my close friends, a psychotherapist, and I have had many long conversations about what we’re noticing in humanity – in our shared human experience. The more life becomes automated and machine-oriented, the faster everything moves, and the less connected we become.
Not just to our natural environment – the Earth, our only home – but also to what two of my mentors, Ya’Acov and Susannah Darling Kahn call, “the earth of our body.”
When we interact with actual humans, even through something as small as an email, the disconnection shows. A client asks a question, the therapist – a human being – takes the time to craft a thoughtful response, sends it off…and receives nothing back. Not even a simple “thank you.” It’s as if the care and attention given mean nothing.
That’s the impact of automation and speed – they’ve taken over our lives to the point that even our communication has lost its humanity.
“Our bodies are communicating with us all the time.”
Listening to the Body’s Whispers
So what does all of this mean for your healing? It begins with ignoring your body’s signals – those little whispers that are always trying to get your attention.
Your body speaks constantly. It might be gently nudging you to get more sleep, to roll out on your foam roller, or to scale back the intensity of your workouts. But when we rush through life at warp speed, treating our world like a machine built to serve us, we start treating ourselves the same way.
We stop listening. We dismiss the messages until the body starts screaming – and even then, we see it as an inconvenience.
When we view our bodies as inconveniences, our brains are clearly running the show. But here’s the thing: the brain makes up only 20% of the nervous system’s communication – brain to body – via efferent nerves. That means you’re relying on just 20% of your nervous system’s potential.
The Wisdom Within
When you slow down enough to feel your body and respond to what it’s saying, you unlock access to the other 80% of your communication network – the body-to-brain flow through afferent nerves.
Can you imagine what it would feel like to live from that place? To move through the world connected to 80% of your body’s intelligence and wisdom?
That’s what people mean when they say, “I trusted my gut,” or, “I followed my heart.” When we’re trapped in our heads and forget about the body – that 80% of communication constantly guiding us – it’s no wonder so many people look around one day and think, “Where did I go wrong?” Or in the words of Talking Heads and their song Once In A Lifetime: “My God, what have I done?”
They didn’t listen to their heart. They didn’t trust their gut. They tuned out what their body had been trying to say all along.
“When you’re in alignment, you don’t have to chase your purpose – because you’re already living it.”
Reconnecting Through Somatic Coaching
That’s part of why I shifted into somatic coaching. This work helps you reconnect your brain and body. It helps you remember your body’s innate wisdom – how to follow your heart, how to trust your instincts, how to move through life in alignment.
Living from that place feels fulfilling. It’s grounded. It’s real. And when you’re in alignment, you don’t have to think about living your purpose – because you’re already living it.
An Invitation
If you’ve been feeling disconnected and you’re ready to reconnect, I’m offering three free 30-minute coaching exploration calls this month. Think of it as a space to pause, breathe, and rediscover that internal conversation between your body and your mind.
And if group work feels more your rhythm, I’m hosting a day-long retreat on Saturday, April 18th at InTouch & Motion in Chicago – an opportunity to realign with the energy of spring, connect with your body’s needs, and step into the coming months feeling more alive and attuned.
If exploring 1:1 coaching resonates with you, click the link below. If the retreat feels more like your speed, check out the details and registration link below the flier to follow this blog. Either way, I’d love to connect with you.
Until next time – be well, and take good care of you.