Let Your Body Tell You Which Ideas Ring True

We tend to decide with our minds, but inspiration often arrives first in the body. I remember testing two choruses in the studio. After each take, I felt a subtle difference—a flutter in my solar plexus on one, a dead quiet on the other. I might have been wrong, but that small buzz told me which chorus to pursue. When I listened back with more critical ears, the one my belly chose really did feel more alive.

Scientists call this interoception—our ability to sense internal bodily states. It’s powered by networks linking the gut, heart, and brain. When you trust these signals, you tap into a decision-making process far richer than logic alone. A simple coin flip test can even unearth hidden preferences: as the coin spins, your gut will lean one way or the other before it lands.

By turning off analysis and tuning into felt sense, you free yourself from overthinking. You let the wisdom already in you speak, guiding you to choices that both feel right and deliver better creative results.

Next time you’re torn between two versions, play them or read them back-to-back, close your eyes, and notice where you feel energy—whether it’s a tingle in your chest or a lightness in your stomach. Label each feeling with one word, then choose the version that gave the stronger pull. Try it on your next draft.