What does it mean to "trust your instincts"?
Rediscovering my intuition through body literacy.
“Trust your instincts.”
As a writer/performer living in New York City in my 20s, I heard this phrase so often that eventually it lost its meaning.
I had been on the “emerging artist” treadmill for years, running the same unrelenting routines over and over:
Consistent output!
Endless productivity!
Constantly networking!
So when I heard the phrase “trust your instincts,” I didn’t have any sense of how to actually apply it.
How does someone learn to listen to their instincts, let alone trust them?
My routine was so fast-paced, there wasn’t time to listen.
If I did have a creative impulse - what a gift! - I wasn’t even sure if I could trust it. I was behold to the industry to give me validation of those impulses.
I was completely burned out and disconnected from my body.
It was in this zombie-like state that I found body literacy, which has completely changed I connect with my body, my creativity, and my world.
What is Body Literacy?
Body literacy is a holistic understanding of our selves that goes beyond knowing how our bodies function.
The term, coined by Laura Wershler (there is also some evidence of it being tied to an organization called Tathapi in India), is a practice of cultivating a relationship with our bodies that attunes to their cycles, needs, and wisdom.
It’s about learning how to listen to the cues and signals our bodies send us each day in the language our body speaks (sensation, emotions, and yes - intuition).
This is in stark opposition to modern life, which encourages perpetual dissociation from our bodies.
That is where I had been living: constantly pushing my limits in pursuit of productivity and ignoring pain/discomfort in search of perfection.
Then I started charting my cycles.
Let me explain.
Body Literacy & Cycle Charting
Body literacy is an umbrella can be applied to a range of practices, but I first came across it through cycle charting: the practice of tracking biomarkers of my menstrual-ovulatory cycle.
This daily practice - which only takes a few minutes a day - allowed me to take time to check in and read the signs my body was sending me daily.
Our cycles are always speaking to us, and learning how to track my cycle allowed me understand what was happening with my body in the present tense.
And there was a lot to say!
Some even call the menstrual-ovulatory cycle the “Fifth Vital Sign” because of how much information it can tell us about our health and well-being.
As I came into deeper relationship with my cycles, I started to recognize the ebb and flow of my body’s natural rhythms and patterns.
I would see how different lifestyle shifts - diet, exercise, and more - affected my cycle, and it allowed me to reflect more deeply on what was serving me and what wasn’t.
I also began to trust and respect my body’s inherent cyclical wisdom, and this has an incredible ripple effect through the rest of my life - including my creative practice.
Opening to Instinct
Now, I’m sure you’re wondering how this might tie back to my creative practice.
Fostering a deep, ongoing dialogue with my body has changed how I create and live in the world.
I am more attuned to the subtle signals my body sends me:
The joyful smoldering in my belly when I know I’m onto an idea
The clear and concise “NO” when something is off
The prickling fog behind my eyes when it’s time to step away from a work session to allow the light in
The ecstatic vibration when I re-read a draft that’s ready to go
I even started writing and creating in alignment with the different phases of my cycle!
I know when to make space for moments of expansion, contraction, and rest so I can work in ways that are more sustainable for me.
In short, I feel more present in my body and in my life, and therefore more in touch with my deeper wisdom and intuition.
How do you define intuition and invite it into your life and practice?
Tell me more below.
With gratitude,
Kate
P.S. If you are looking to connect with your body in a new way in the new year, my next Cycle Charting Class Series begins this month.
You’ll learn how to chart and interpret your cycle - and the course includes one individual session so you can feel confident in your own practice.
Use the discount code CYCLESTACK for 10% the class series!
To learn more, visit earthbodyschool.com/cycle-charting