The Body Knows First: Somatic Signals of Intuitive Guidance

Let’s get real for a second. Have you ever agreed to do something, and before the word “yes” even fully left your lips, your stomach did a weird, uncomfortable flip?

Maybe it was a date with someone who looked amazing on paper, a work project that promised a great payout, or even just a simple coffee meetup you didn’t actually have the energy for. Your brain was screaming, “Do it! It makes perfect sense!” But your body? Your body was subtly (or maybe not so subtly) pulling the emergency brake.

We have all been there. I know I have. There was a time not too long ago when I said yes to a collaboration that everyone around me said was a “no-brainer.” On the surface, it was perfect. But every time I had a Zoom call with this person, my jaw clenched so hard I thought I might crack a tooth, and my shoulders crept up to my ears like I was bracing for an impact.

Did I listen to my body? Nope. I pushed through, slapped on a smile, and told myself I was just nervous. Spoiler alert: it was a total disaster. The project fell apart, the communication was toxic, and I spent weeks untangling myself from a mess I could have entirely avoided if I had just listened to my clenched jaw.

OMG, I had no clue what I was doing, even though I teach this stuff for a living! That is the beautiful, messy reality of being human. We are so conditioned to live from the neck up, letting our brains run the show, that we completely ignore the most incredibly accurate intuitive compass we have: our physical bodies.

Welcome to the world of somatic signals. Today, we are talking about how the body knows first, and how you can start using your physical sensations as a real-time bullshit detector and intuitive guide. Grab a coffee, get comfortable, and let’s dive in.

The Brain is a Master Debater. The Body Just Knows.

Think about how you usually make decisions. You probably make a pros and cons list, ask three friends for advice, overthink it in the shower, and then lose sleep worrying if you made the right choice.

Your brain is a beautiful tool, but let’s be honest—it is incredibly easily influenced. It cares about logic, societal expectations, fear of missing out, and what your mom will think. Your brain will rationalize red flags until they look like a nice shade of pink.

Your body, on the other hand, does not care about logic. It does not care about being polite. Your body is intimately connected to your energetic field and your intuition. It registers truth and alignment in milliseconds, way before your conscious mind can even process what is happening. This is what we mean when we talk about somatic intuition. “Soma” simply means body. Somatic signals are the physical sensations your body uses to communicate your intuitive truth.

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt a wave of heaviness, even though nothing bad was happening? Or met someone new and felt this warm, expansive ease in your chest, like you had known them for years? That is your body reading the energy of the situation and giving you a real-time status report.

Decoding Your Somatic Signals: The Yes  and the No“

So, how do we actually read these signals? It is simpler than you might think, but it requires you to actually pay attention to what is happening below your chin.

Let’s break down the two main categories of somatic signals: Expansion (the “Yes”) and Contraction (the “No”).

The Contraction: Your Body’s “Hell No”

When something is out of alignment for you—whether it is a boundary being crossed, an unsafe situation, or just a choice that is not serving your highest good—your body will contract. It is trying to protect you.

Here is what contraction might feel like for you:

• A sudden tightness in your chest or throat.
• Your stomach dropping or tying itself in knots (the classic “gut feeling”).
• Clenching your jaw, fists, or glutes.
• A feeling of shrinking, heaviness, or wanting to pull away physically.
• Shallow breathing or holding your breath.
• A sudden drop in energy, like someone just unplugged your battery.

The next time you are faced with a choice and you feel any of these sensations, hit pause. Your body is waving a red flag. It is saying, “Hold up, something is not right here.”

The Expansion: Your Body’s “Hell Yes”

Conversely, when something is deeply aligned with your truth, your body responds with expansion. It feels open, safe, and ready to receive.

Here is what expansion might feel like:

• A deep, spontaneous sigh or a full, relaxed exhale.
• A feeling of lightness or warmth in your chest.
• Your shoulders dropping away from your ears.
• A subtle leaning forward, like you are magnetically drawn to the person or idea.
• A surge of calm, quiet energy.
• A sense of “spaciousness” inside your physical form.

Expansion does not always mean jumping up and down with excitement. Sometimes, the deepest intuitive “yes” feels like a quiet, profound sense of peace. It feels like coming home.

How to Tune Your Somatic Compass

Okay, so this all sounds great in theory, but how do you actually practice it when your life is loud and busy? How do you hear your body over the noise of your mind?

Let’s try a little experiment right now. Seriously, do not skip this part!

1. Find a baseline: Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let it out with a sigh. Notice how your body feels right now in a neutral state.
2. Feel a “No”: I want you to think about something you absolutely hate. It could be a food that gags you, a movie you despise, or a chore you dread. For me, it is doing my taxes. Just the thought of spreadsheets makes me want to hide under the covers. Hold that thought in your mind for ten seconds. Now, scan your body. What happened? Did your stomach tighten? Did you frown? Did you hold your breath? Memorize that feeling. That is your unique somatic “No.”
3. Clear the slate: Shake it out. Move your shoulders, take a deep breath, and release it. Let that negative energy go.
4. Feel a “Yes”: Now, think about something you absolutely love. A person, a pet, a favorite vacation spot, or your favorite meal. For me, it is sitting on the beach at sunrise with a hot cup of coffee and my dogs running in the sand. Hold that thought for ten seconds. Scan your body again. What changed? Did your chest open up? Did you naturally smile? Did your breathing deepen? Memorize that feeling. That is your unique somatic “Yes.”

You now have a customized, built-in lie detector test. You can use this for everything. Trying to decide between two items on a menu? Check your body. Trying to decide if you should sign a year-long lease on an apartment? Check your body.

The Messy Middle: When Anxiety Masquerades as Intuition

I can already hear you asking, “But Michelle, what if I just have anxiety? How do I know if my racing heart is my intuition telling me ‘no,’ or just my anxiety freaking out about something new?”

Oh, friend, this is the million-dollar question. And trust me, I get it. Anxiety and intuition can feel confusingly similar at first glance, but they have entirely different energetic signatures.

Anxiety is loud, frantic, and looping. It lives in your head and makes your body feel like a chaotic buzz. It usually speaks in “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios. Anxiety is rooted in fear of the future or regret about the past.

Intuition, even when it is warning you of danger, is incredibly grounded. It is clear, concise, and happens in the present moment. Intuition does not loop; it just delivers a steady, unwavering message. It feels less like a frantic buzz and more like a heavy, solid block of knowing.

When you feel tightness, ask yourself: Is this the frantic energy of my mind spinning out of control (anxiety)? Or is this a solid, heavy knowing in my gut (intuition)? The more you practice listening to your body, the easier it becomes to tell the difference. Be patient with yourself. You are unlearning decades of conditioning that told you to ignore your body. It takes time.

Stories From the Trenches (Because I Am Definitely Still Learning)

I want to be super transparent with you. Even as someone who has dedicated her life to intuition and spiritual development, I still mess this up. I still have days where I ignore my body because my brain is throwing a tantrum.

Last year, I was invited to speak at an event. It was a great opportunity, good exposure, and a decent paycheck. When I read the email, my brain did a happy dance. But as I went to type out my reply to accept, my fingers literally felt heavy. My chest got tight. I felt a sudden wave of exhaustion.

My body was screaming “NO.”

But my brain said, “Don’t be ridiculous, you have to do this, it is great for your career.” So, I sent the email. I committed.

For the next three months, every time I had to prepare for this event, I felt drained. The communication with the event organizers was clunky and frustrating. The travel arrangements got messed up. When I finally got there, the energy of the event was completely misaligned with my values. I gave my talk, went back to my hotel room, and just cried from sheer energetic depletion.

It was a massive flop. And I had no one to blame but myself, because my body knew from the very first email. My body knew before my brain had even finished reading the subject line.

I am sharing this messy behind-the-scenes moment with you because I want you to know that you do not have to be perfect at this. Intuition is a practice. When you ignore it and things go wrong, do not beat yourself up. Just view it as data. Remind yourself, “Ah, that is what happens when I ignore the tightness in my chest. Next time, I will listen.”

Reclaiming Your Body as Your Home

We live in a culture that treats the body like a machine we just happen to live in. We diet it, we medicate it, we push it to exhaustion, and we ignore its subtle cues until it has to scream at us with illness or burnout.

But your body is so much more than a vehicle for your brain. It is an incredibly sophisticated receiver of energetic information. It is your soul’s partner in this lifetime. When you start listening to your body’s somatic signals, you are doing something deeply radical: you are coming home to yourself.

You are deciding that your own internal knowing is more valuable than external validation. You are deciding that your ease, your expansion, and your alignment matter more than looking good on paper.

Putting It Into Practice Today

I want to challenge you to try this out today. Start small. You do not need to use your somatic compass to make a major life decision right this second.

Use it for the little things. When someone asks you for a favor today, do not answer right away. Take a breath. Check your body. Is there expansion or contraction?

When you open your closet to get dressed, do not just grab the first thing you see. Touch a shirt. Does your body feel heavy or light? Wear what makes you feel expansive.

The more you trust your body in the small things, the louder and clearer its voice will become for the big things. You will start to navigate your life with a sense of ease and flow that feels almost magical. But it isn’t magic. It is just you, finally listening to the truth you have held inside you all along.

You have the answers. You always have. Your body knows first. You just have to be willing to listen.

Now, I want to hear from you! What is a time you ignored a “gut feeling” and regretted it later? Or, better yet, when did you follow an expansive feeling and have it lead to something amazing? Drop a comment below and let’s chat about it. I read and reply to every single one, and I cannot wait to hear your stories.

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