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where my dad learned never to trust me with a map. We had fun visiting water parks and doing other tourist activities. It was an excellent juxtaposition to our previous adventure and made for a well-rounded vacation. After 21 years, there are undoubtedly many things I’ve forgotten about that trip, but I still remember how happy we all were. It’s not the details that have stuck with me as much as the feeling. We enjoyed each other’s company and had a ton of fun. More than anything, I felt free. I think that’s why none of us have ever forgotten our vacation to the South Fork American River — and hopefully never will.
–Sierra Bennett
HEAD, HEART, AND GUT
HOW TO USE YOUR 3 ‘BRAINS’
Even a child can tell you that we only have one brain, and it’s between our ears. But recent research suggests it’s a little more complicated than that. We still only have one lump of gray matter that allows our bodies to complete all their other functions. But researchers are beginning
a similar notion for years. Further, you’ve probably felt your three brains working in your everyday life. Situations regularly cause butterflies in our stomachs or send our hearts racing. It’s not an accident, and that knowledge gives phrases like “trust
not always be doing ourselves a favor. Just like the brain in your head is sometimes wrong, your heart and gut may be, too. But it’s wise to listen to what they all have to say. Notice how particular ideas or actions make you feel throughout your body. Our hearts speed up in fear or panic for a reason, just like they sometimes swell with emotion. A sinking feeling in your stomach or other gastrointestinal distress also communicates something essential. Your “gut instinct” isn’t just a saying — sometimes our stomachs know how we feel better than our heads. By paying attention to all three brains, we can gain greater perspective, become more true to ourselves, and possibly have more fulfilling lives. Don’t discount your body’s signals; your heart and gut are much wiser than you may realize.
your gut” and “follow your heart” brand new meaning.
to understand it works in close collaboration with our hearts and stomachs.
Our brains have 89 billion neurons and do the
Our heads, hearts, and guts all have individual complex neural networks, and neuroscientists study this link under the heading of multiple brain integration. In layman’s terms, we have three “brains,” which each play a role in how we think and make decisions. If this concept already makes sense, it’s not surprising. Some Eastern medical traditions have embraced
traditional work of thinking. But the heart has neurons of its own, numbering 39 million. While that’s only a
fraction of the brain, they still have an impact, and the heart regularly sends messages to our brains. Meanwhile, our guts have 100 million neurons that also have constant conversations with our gray matter.
So, when we override our emotions to make a “logical” choice, we may
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