THE BODY DETECTOR

A practical guide for making decisions when everyone has an opinion

We live in a world where advice is available within seconds. Friends, podcasts, coaches, influencers, Reddit, AI, your neighbour’s dog… everyone has a suggestion.

Yet many people have lost touch with the one source that travels with them everywhere: their own body.

This guide won’t teach you how to make the “right” decision. It will help you notice what information your body, emotions, thoughts, and values are already offering.

When Did We Stop Listening?

Many of us learned to trust external validation before internal signals.

Questions like:

• What should I do?
• What do people expect?
• What will look best?
• What would everyone else choose?

often become louder than:

• What feels true?
• What feels heavy?
• What feels energising?
• What matters to me?

Your Internal Advisory Board

Imagine every decision goes through four advisors.

The Brain

Loves analysis, planning, forecasting.

Helpful:

• Logic
• Risk assessment
• Strategy

Not so helpful:

• Endless overthinking
• Creating 47 future catastrophes

Reflection:
“Am I solving a problem or rehearsing one?”

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The Emotions

Emotions are data, not dictators.

Fear may signal uncertainty.
Anger may signal a crossed boundary.
Excitement may signal possibility.

Reflection:
“What emotion is present right now?”

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The Body

Your body often notices before your mind catches up.

Pay attention to:

• breathing
• shoulders
• jaw
• chest
• stomach
• energy levels

Questions:

• Do I feel contracted or expanded?
• Do I feel heavier or lighter?
• Am I holding my breath?

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The Values

Values are your internal compass.

A decision can be uncomfortable and still be aligned.

Questions:

• Does this support the life I want to build?
• Which option reflects who I want to become?

A Tiny Experiment

For one week:

Before seeking advice, spend 60 seconds checking in with:

• your body
• your emotions
• your thoughts
• your values

Write down your answer first.

Then seek external input if needed.

You may discover that what you’re really looking for isn’t advice.

It’s trust IN YOUR OWN BODY.

THIS IS HOW TO DO THAT

The 3-Minute Body Check-In

Before asking five friends for advice:

Step 1

Sit comfortably.

Step 2

Take five slow breaths.

Step 3

Imagine Option A.

Notice:

• body sensations
• energy
• emotions

Step 4

Imagine Option B.

Notice again.

Step 5

Write down observations without interpreting them.

Not:
❌ “This means I should choose A.”

Instead:
✅ “My shoulders softened.”
✅ “I felt tension in my stomach.”
✅ “I felt curious.”
✅ “I felt drained.”

Final Reflection

The goal isn’t to stop asking others.

The goal is to stop abandoning yourself while doing it.

Your body may not always have the answer.

But it almost always has information.❤️