Congratulations on your beautiful new site and your exciting new blog, Marlena. I am a real believer when it comes to ‘gut feel’ - good and bad - and I am looking forward to learning more about it.

Hi Marlena,

Yes, years ago I “knew” the exact direction I wanted to take my business BUT I ignored my body’s wisdom and did something else…long story short it didn’t end up well!

The entire time I was “off track” with my own guidance system I had deep rumblings of knowing something wasn’t right. This led to a painful “dark night of the soul” period of coming back to SELF, but once I did I could feel myself being set free.

What would have been different had I listened? On the surface I would have saved myself time and money. But under that I would have built self-trust sooner. I would have experienced the joy that goes along with following my divine path…sooner.

I don’t regret the past because everything in my past has been a great, if not fierce teacher. Every stumble has led me to a deeper understanding of SELF that may not have been possible without the stumble to begin. It’s all good!

Love & Joy,

Cari

Dear Marlena,

For years I had “gut” issues and didn’t understand what my body was trying to tell me.

It took becoming truly ill to finally realize that I wasn’t being true to myself. Once I started to connect the “sinking” feeling with knowing the real answer, I’ve become more confident in my decisions.

Thank you for this space to share our experiences.
Much success, Vicki

Hi Marlena,

I love the gut feeling example. Your work is extremely valuable. I’ve learned so much from you over the years about listening to the wisdom of my body and it’s messages.

I can’t wait to read more.

Love and Joy, Carol

Hi Marlena,

Thank you for writing about this. It gives me the opportunity to own that I do know that feeling of listening to my gut, my body’s knowing. When I listen, I feel in the flow. I spontaneously move to what needs to be done - it feels like a non-thinking place and, yet, a place that feels really good.

Jeannie

Now this is a blog that I could get into! To learn and exchange with like-minded people with Marlena’s wise and gentle insights at the helm.

As I thought about your question, I applied it to something right now. I had a gut feeling my client would not be calling me at the agreed upon time. I had a mild gut feeling 2 days ago that I should email and confirm - and didn’t. Felt it again tonight so when he did not call at 4 minutes after the call time, I called him and left a message to be proactive. Guess what? he just called in the middle of this email saying he was getting out a yoga class and having got my message, realized he screwed up so could we re-schedule?(!)

Then I thought about it. I realize that it is more than gut feeling - it is a whole body feeling of - “there is not energy there” - no movement forward. I get this as a warning early, and if not acknowledged gets stronger in the gut as a signal which I remember in one extreme incident in the past, locked me frozen, reluctant to move forward. Hmm-mmm- interesting. Question for now: ” I wonder what my earliest warning signal is?”

Looking forward to the insights that will emerge in this forum…

Joan

Hi Marlena,
I pretty much ignored my gut feelings most of my life. In fact, my whole body was screaming at me to get out of the corporate world and i still tried to ignore it. I can’t tell you how much healthier and happier I was once I made the decision to face my fears and do what my gut was telling me to do. As one of the other people said, I could have been happier longer and who knows what amazing things I could have done? On the other hand, I learned so much from doing the other things that I have no regrets. Everything we do in life has great learning in it, no matter which route we take.

Dear Marlena,
I have learned much about listening to the body from you my friend. I use this body wisdom you speak of as a bridge to better understanding of a situation at work or an event in my personal life. It provides information to speak to when what is being said doesn’t quite align with an action or an intuitive sense I’m experiencing.

Thank you for posing the question, it has inspired a new appreciation for this ability in me that is ripe for the picking.

With love and gratitude, Linda…

Hi, Marlena,

Trusting my ‘gut’ has always brought me what was right for me. As Fabienne has said, “Know thyself”.

Thank you for reminding of that.

Tracey

I’d like to consider your question in reverse. What has following my guy taught me….Everything.

When I consider peak positive moments in my life, being in synch and paying attention to my gut has let me to amazing experiences and opportunities. Its becoming more and more second nature to pay attention to my inner signals.

If I were to start a spiritual movement, it would be called the Church of Synchronicity and focus on how being awake, alert to our inner and outer surroundings….

Thanks for doing this and thanks for the other thoughtful comments

Oh yes, Once I took a job that my gut told me wasn’t right. Boy, did I pay the price. Every night I was in tears and really began to question everything I “knew” about myself. Now, I coach others to follow their gut too because I know how bad it can turn out when we don’t listen. It always amazes me how much I already “know” without needing to do the research or ask around. I used to feel very unsure of myself (not that I am so sure all the time now - but I was really unsure before) and would take “polls” before every decision I made. Once I began listening to my gut - I did realize how much easier life was! Who knew? I already had the answers and didn’t need to ask anyone else!
Thanks for reminding us all of this important factor! It can save a lot of headache and heartache!

Hi Marlena,
What a great blog. Isn’t it amazing to realize that there are more neurotransmitters in the gut than in the brain. The ‘gut’ has been way underrated. We should definitely pay more attention to what it tells us.
Thanks for getting the word out.
Deb

What a wonderful addition to cyberworld! And what a wonderful teacher you are. From a young age you encouraged me to the heed the wisdom of my body, to listen deeply, and to trust what I knew to be true, even when it didn’t align with what appeared to be “common sense”. The best part, is that you’ve always led by example — and even though this didn’t always suit me (smile) I always knew (in my gut of course) that you were right.
Here’s to you Mom. Keep following, keep leading.

Light,
Meghan

Marlena - it’s an honour to be part of your tribe. I know that you speak from your gut AND your heart… what a combination! You are a true mentor and inspiration. Congratulations on starting what is going to be a wonderful blog. I look forward to reading your posts.

Great post, Marlena! Improved intuition comes with taking a little time to slow down and pay attention to feelings and hunches, to get in touch with your inner self.
Several years ago, a colleague recommended the book “PowerHunch! Leading an Inutitive Life” by Marcia Emery. I recommend it now to anyone who wants to further develop this ability.

My Dear Marlena -

I miss you! However you are ever present in my life and in my relationships with my clients as they access their own bodies as a resource for change. I still struggle with actually hearing my gut when it is talking to me - although in coaching relationships I find this easy as I am more present then, than another time it seems!

Right now, my intuition (and my whole being) is telling me to stop what I am doing and get something to eat and to take a mental break from the day. So, thank you for reminding me how to notice on a moment by moment basis and to trust what I notice when it comes up. It is always right and always leads me to a new discovery.

With affection,

M

Hey Marlena - great to see you get this up and running. As another body-centered, mindfulness therapist, I can’t imagine not listening to my gut. Of course that does not mean that I always actually do that. The latest experience I clearly had of that, was that in spring I really felt strongly I wanted to pull some stocks out of the market, but I did I consulted my financial adviser and of course, she said stay, hold on. And as a result, I’ve lost money that I really did not want to. I now am taking more active control of my money and am listening to what feels right about the market, whether my adviser sees it that way or not. After all it is my money and my gut feeling! Here is to all of learning to listen to the wisdom of our own bodies. Love Beth