Follow your Gut … by Lisa Jenkins
We often dismiss those“ gut feelings”. We can be getting a clear feeling that something is not right, or to do something that is so left field that we talk ourselves out of it.
Whether it be about ourselves, or our children – why don’ t we listen to it? Why do we brush it off so easily, only to realise later that it’ s exactly what we had thought of, and if we had followed it, we probably wouldn’ t be facing the dilemma or problem we have now – everything in hindsight, right!
Our gut has become a hot topic in the world of nutrition lately. Many are describing it as our‘ second brain’. The gut is no longer seen as only helping with digestion, it’ s also now known as a key factor in regulating inflammation and immunity. Our gut microbiome plays a vital role in our physical and psychological health via its own neural network: the enteric nervous system( ENS), a complex system of about 100 million nerves found in the lining of the gut.
The ENS is called the“ second brain,” because it has many structural and chemical parallels to the brain. Via a pathway of nerves, it can communicate with our brain.
Learning to listen to my gut and to follow my intuition has been a lifelong process. It has had to prove itself right many times for me to really trust it. Now that I do, I don’ t really question or second guess it anymore. That’ s not to say that
I don’ t make mistakes or make decisions that I later wish I hadn’ t – that’ s not what life is about – but I don’ t kick myself as much as I used to when I realised time and time again that I had had a loud and clear thought or a‘ gut feeling’ and dismissed it as being silly or irrelevant.
I use it a lot in my work now too as a therapist. I find it very powerful when I am listening to parents describing what their situation is either for themselves or their child. I still haven’ t been able to find the words to describe it but intuitively I am able to tune in to their story and naturally have insights, visions, gut feelings, all start to flow into my thoughts. Now that I can trust it without any doubt, I share these with parents to help them gain a new perspective or get answers to problems that they were not able to see before. Sometimes being an outsider looking in helps.
So when your gut is sending you a“ message” to your brain, take notice and maybe stop to ponder what the message is really about. Try following your instincts for a change just to see where
Our gut has become a hot topic in the world of nutrition lately. Many are describing it as our‘ second brain’.
it leads. Tune in to it and you will start to know what the different feelings or messages are about. Trust that whatever it is that you are being guided towards, or away from, just might be for your benefit in the long run!
Lisa Jenkins is a qualified Gestalt Psychotherapist, Sandtray Therapist, Intuitive and Spiritual Counsellor, Parenting Coach, Childcare Educator and Writer / Author. For further information you can contact Lisa on 0421 629 649 or lisa @ lisajenkins. net. au, visit www. lisajenkins. net. au or www. facebook. com / lisajenkins. au.
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Lisa Jenkins MIND- BODY- SPIRIT
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0421 629 649 lisa @ lisajenkins. net. au facebook. com / lisajenkins. au www. lisajenkins. net. au
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