How to use your body’s wisdom to make decisions about travel (and anything, really

Whenever I’m making a decision about whether or not to take a trip (or any big decision, really), I’ve discovered a helpful process for seeking wisdom. Our bodies house more wisdom inside than we can imagine, and they can often help guide us. Here’s how it works for me:

Scenario: An opportunity comes my way to go on a trip that sounds interesting, but I’m just not sure if it’s the right time, location, if I have the budget.

So I run the idea past my body—literally from my head to my toes:

1-How does this idea feel in my heart? Does it feel inspired or maybe even literally cause my heart to do a flip-flop? Can I suddenly see myself there, and do I find myself smiling? This lets me know my heart approves.

2- What does my gut say? I then bring this idea into my gut. This often brings an immediate reaction, so pay attention. Does my gut say, Hell yes! I’d love to do this! If so, I know to move forward in my decision process. (See my short video to hear me talk about how I do this and a really short exercise you can do to listen to your gut.) Or on the flip side, do you feel immediate dread or stress? Then maybe it’s not the right trip or the right time.

3- I bring it to my pelvis. Yes, my pelvis. This feels like you’re dropping into your bones, into the solid center of yourself, and you sit with the idea. You hold your question and ask, Do I have the energy, or even the power, to do this? Sometimes our hearts can really want something and our guts are game, but the reality is we’re too exhausted. This is important information from our body. But if my pelvis tells me that I have the energy and ability to take this trip, I can trust it.

At this point, if you’re like me, though, your mind might still be swirling with details. Do I have the budget? What if I can’t find someone to watch my dog? Who will care for my house? Can I take that time off work or can I work remotely successfully? Can I really go alone? There are a million questions that might come up.

4- Walk it out. There are reasons people get great ideas and epiphanies when they go for a walk or a run. The simple act of moving our feet allows us to wrestle with thoughts and give them some air, which often leaves just enough room for answers to plop into our minds, almost like magic. If walking it out helps me wrestle through some of my unanswered questions, making them all feel more figureoutable, then I take a step toward making my plans.

Once I go through this process, I can feel good about the wisdom gleaned. I then not only know what my heart wants and needs, but I also know if my body is up for it and my mind is on board to help me take care of the details.

Below, hear me tell a bit shorter version of this process in the video :