Listen to your second brain! Our gut can do so much more than just digest food and signal hunger. It is now even considered our so-called second brain because it can process significantly more information than previously thought. A bad gut feeling or the butterflies in your stomach when you’re in love are just a few examples of the fact that the generations that came before us have had this knowledge for a long time.

When medical causes can be ruled out, emotional and psychological factors remain potential reasons for as to why we may be suffering from abdominal pain. But the range of signals that this part of our body can send out is much broader. In this article, we'll introduce you to six gut feelings that you shouldn't ignore!

1. Imminent danger.

Our gut feeling can sometimes behave alarmingly. When we find ourselves in an uncertain situation and in the presence of people who are up to no good, our body’s core often reliably and clearly signals a serious concern. We all know such situations. The older we get and the more we learn to listen to that uncomfortable feeling in the pit of our stomach, the more confident in our decisions we are.

However, sometimes we meet some people over and over again and each time we feel an uncomfortable tugging in the stomach area. This is usually accompanied by goosebumps and the cramping of our entire body. If the message is one of “imminent danger,” we should trust it. The fear center in the brain is then activated in a matter of seconds, causing the entire body to switch to flight or fight mode.

In such situations, not only do we suddenly experience an irresistible urge to leave, but our other emotions are repressed. For example, we lose our appetite. We can also feel cold sweats breaking out and at times even a raging headache. For some people, the ears, nose and eyes begin to itch as well. If our gut isn’t listened to right away, it knows how to get our attention in other ways. Additional body parts of our body are simply committed and brought on board.

2. Someone magically attracts us.

Thank God our stomach can also give us good news. It promptly and reliably reports when we meet a person who could be right for us. We get the initial green light from our intuition to take a closer look. The center of our body works very closely with our subconscious. While our brain is still struggling to filter and weigh up all the available facts and externalities, our gut can often provide us with an immediate assessment of the situation.

The reason for this? Human communication is largely non-verbal, which tends to attract or repel us immediately, depending on things like our counterparts body language, odor and the sound of their voice. Many of our senses draw a picture of our new acquaintance in a matter of seconds. The famous butterflies in the stomach then are the messengers of good luck that deliver the good news.

3. It was the right decision.

Sometimes our gut signals to us a clear yes. Spontaneous decisions or those that are of great importance to us in particular receive the valued approval of our body's middle-region, so to speak. We literally feel it through skin and hair when our intuition pats us on the back and congratulates us on a decision.

This is where relief and gratitude come in as we realize we can rely on our own judgment. Incidentally, in this context it is also a good feeling not to feel anything. If the so-called gut feeling behaves calmly and does not find any emotion worthy of bringing up, this is also a signal that everything is fine. Silence here can be thought of as consent. The satisfied feeling of having made the right decision lets us sleep peacefully and soon forget the problem itself.

On the other hand, if it were to occupy our mind for a longer period of time and lie in our stomach, there would be no reason to be happy. Anger about one's own behavior also plays a role here. It can feel like a stone in the pit of our stomach or it may even bother our liver by causing a painful feeling of pressure below the right hand side of the ribs.

4. The feeling that something is wrong.

This assumption is felt deep in our gut and sometimes actually fights its way from the bottom to the top. We absolutely dislike the vague feeling that something is wrong and that things could soon go from bad to worse. Nevertheless, the feeling is there and reliably warns us of dark clouds gathering on the horizon.

Such hunches tend to manifest themselves in situations where, for example, people are whispering behind our backs, doors are slammed in our faces, or meaningful looks are exchanged. All our senses cooperate with each other and it’s ultimately left to our intuition to give us the uncomfortable message. When your gut is trying to tell you that something isn’t quite right, trust it. It relies on sources that are close to your consciousness.

5. I'll probably regret this.

Yes, unfortunately there is also this feeling, and it’s not so rare. As the years go by, however, the number of times we experience this feeling and end up crying over spilled milk should slowly decline. Nevertheless, we have all had to go through this at one point and should have learned our lesson by now. The only way to avoid experiencing that queasy gut feeling again is to learn from previous lessons. Our inteligent core would certainly agree with us on this point.

6. I can do it!

The best one comes last. It is a priceless, overwhelming and absolutely fantastic feeling when our gut gives us a big thumbs up and we can be completely sure we are up to any challenge. This strong, almost mind-blowing emotion from the gut is all the validation and motivation we need. When our intuition thinks “We can do this no matter what!'', then it will be so. This prognosis is as certain as the Amen in prayer. It fills us with unprecedented confidence and an uplift that is difficult to stop.

Perhaps it was precisely this feeling Hermann Hesse was describing when he talked about the magic inherent in every new beginning. Who knows? The fact is: If we have to ponder whether this or that step is the right one, we should probably take no as the answer. He who hesitates has already lost. If, on the other hand, there are real sparks flying inside us, a fire has been ignited that cannot be easily extinguished. If it just feels right, that's exactly what it is.

Today’s Conclusion:

The key to maintaining balance in our lives is to stay true to our center. A gut feeling is one of the most reliable signs from our inner self and should be trusted. Many of the impressions gathered in painstaking detail by senses are captured and quickly processed by our intuition and sixth sense. Not all words addressed to us are intended honestly.

Not all innocent looks promise exactly that they appear to. We always communicate something more than the words we say, whether we mean to or not. Our smart gut is the critical observer who always has only one thing in mind: our best interest. That's it for today. Thank you and see you soon!

This Is Why You Should Definitely Listen to Your Gut!