Did you know you have brain cells in parts of your body other than your head?
It’s true, the research is in and experts now talk about the brain in 3 parts:
- Neo-cortex – the head bit (Think)
- Limbic – represents the brain cells in your heart (Feel)
- Reptilian – represents the brain cells in your gut (Know)
So why do we have brain cells in these organs? And what function does each part serve?
The neo-cortex is for the thinking, analysing, creating. When we go logical, we engage this part of the brain.
The limbic is for compassion – in use when we feel empathy.
The reptilian is for instinct – fight or flight – instinctual decisions come from the gut.
Which one is your preferred?
If you study the menu at a restaurant before ordering you are likely a Thinker.
If you’re more interested in the pictures on the menu or the smells coming from other plates, you are likely a Feeler.
If you typically order in less than 3 seconds, you are a Knower.
This is not to be judged, there is no right or wrong – each have their pros and cons.
Thinking provides informed decisions. Too much think leads to sssslllllooooowwwwww decisions.
Feeling provides compassion and strong relationships. Too much feel can get in the way of hard commercial decisions.
Knowing provides quick decisions and forward momentum. Too much knowing can lead to a lot of changing goalposts as decisions are changed frequently.
Modern society has taught us to ‘think’ a lot – easy to do given the accessibility of data.
Over-thinking however can lead to indecision. If you’re avoiding a decision because you are busy or don’t have enough information, check in on how real that is. These excuses are often a mask for being stuck in your head and not listening to your gut.
Are you trusting your gut enough?