Our Rational Brain

The cognitive brain, located in our heads, forms the foundation of Western society. Scientific inquiry has extensively explored this rational brain, significantly influenced by René Descartes since the 17th century.

> “Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am.” — René Descartes.

Housing approximately 100 billion neurons, our brain's potential must be utilized wisely. Yet, the misconception that we are solely rational beings has led us astray. The views of bankers, economists, and marketers have reduced humanity to a mere economic entity, resulting in the creation of systems rooted in scarcity and control.

As humans, we often attempt to dominate the world, adopting reductionist viewpoints and striving to quantify everything. However, we must reconsider:

• Can we quantify love?
• Can we quantify health?
• Can we quantify life?

Heart-Brain

Significant advancements in science often arise from the collaboration of seemingly disparate fields. This is essential, as everything in our universe is interconnected. To uncover knowledge gems, we must merge different scientific disciplines and embody our findings to gain true understanding.

In the 1960s and 1970s, a collaboration between cardiologists and neurophysiologists led to the emergence of neurocardiology. They discovered that the heart functions as a complex neural network, often referred to as the heart-brain. Formally recognized as our intrinsic cardiac nervous system, the heart contains around 40,000 neurons.

Consider this: what thoughts does your heart hold? Stand firmly, place a finger on your heart area, and simply feel without overthinking. What wisdom does your heart wish to impart?

You can engage your heart in dialogue, allowing your body to respond. Start with simple yes-or-no questions, gradually learning to interpret your physical sensations, like tingles or aches. If you're a writer, prompt yourself with "my heart tells me..."

Though not as large as our head brain, the heart-brain is invaluable. My experiences have shown that aligning the head-brain with the heart-brain yields remarkable outcomes, including serendipity and synchronicity.

• I navigate uncertainty and anxiety more effectively—essential during turbulent times.
• My productivity thrives without rigid to-do lists, as my focus sharpens, allowing effortless task-switching.
• I gain clarity on what truly matters, enabling me to break free from unhelpful thought patterns and cravings.
• By simplifying my life and minimizing possessions, I create space for love and connection, ultimately discovering the love of my life.

Gut-Brain

The gut-brain, our third brain, plays a critical role in our overall health, acting as the core of our immune system. It is directly linked to the head through the gut-brain axis, facilitating energy flow between the two.

Pavlov, a pioneering physiologist, conducted extensive research on the gut-brain connection, demonstrating that both animals and humans salivate not only when eating but also in anticipation of food. Past experiences can trigger future responses—this is brain activity in action!

The concept of gut instinct or gut feeling is a colloquial representation of intuition. A 2016 study published in Psychological Science provided evidence supporting the existence of intuition.

> “Many people use the phrase ‘intuition’ to describe a sensation or feeling they have when making decisions. This is the first time we have been able to show strong evidence that something like intuition does actually exist.” > — Psychological Science

Intuition resides beyond thought and emotion. My gut, home to friendly symbiotic bacteria, seems a fitting place for it to thrive.

Biologist Lynn Margulis elucidated the symbiotic relationship we share with the bacteria in our guts, stating that we are mutually dependent.

> “There are 10 times the number of microbial cells in the human gut than in the whole human body, totaling roughly 100 trillion microbes representing as many as 5,000 different species and weighing approximately 2 kilograms.” — US National Library of Medicine.

It's crucial to differentiate between bacteria and viruses. While some bacteria are harmful, many are beneficial companions that enrich our lives, whereas viruses solely consume our resources.

How to Utilize Our Three Brains?

So how do we achieve harmony among our three brains?

> “As soon as we start to feel with our heads and think with our hearts, our hands will automatically do the right things.” > — Engbert Breuker, Dutch regenerative change maker.

To all the rational thinkers, I urge you to tap into your body for wisdom. Our bodies are our primary tools for a fulfilling life.

Here are three practical strategies to balance our brains:

Head-Brain Most of us predominantly rely on our head-brain, often neglecting our bodies. Many limit their cognitive engagement to analytical thinking. It’s vital to learn how to engage the creative right side of our brains.

Engaging in creative pursuits—such as painting, dancing, or music—can help unlock the non-linear creativity inherent in this half. Additionally, practicing meditation can quiet the mind. Explore various techniques to discover what resonates with you.

Heart-Brain Developing the heart-brain necessitates embodiment. Engage in activities like dancing or immersing yourself in nature using all your senses.

Practice silent walks in nature, focusing on enhancing your senses beyond sight. Meditation and creative outlets will also strengthen the heart-brain. Personally, deep-breathing techniques like the Wim Hof Method have profoundly impacted my well-being.

Gut-Brain Your gut-brain comprises a diverse microbiome. To maintain its health, prioritize a varied diet and adequate hydration. If plain water isn't appealing, consider warm beverages like herbal teas.

Incorporate seasonal, locally-sourced vegetables into your meals to nourish your body according to its natural cycles. Adding fermented foods, such as yogurt or kimchi, can also introduce beneficial microbes to your gut.

Embrace the journey of balancing your three brains! Life is a precious gift, and embodying it fully is what we truly have.