Using Your Three Brains: Why Decisions Don't Come From Your Head Alone
Have you ever made a decision that looked right on paper but somehow felt wrong? Or followed an instinct you couldn't explain, only to realise later that it was absolutely the right choice?
Many coaching conversations focus on developing self-awareness and confidence, to enable positive change. A useful approach when a client feels stuck is to consider the three brains: the head, heart and gut. Understanding which one you default to can provide valuable insights into how you process information, and why some decisions feel easier than others. Learning to consult all three can lead to greater confidence, understanding and authenticity.
Head: the voice of logic - this is your rational brain, where you plan and evaluate, but utilising this brain too much, can lead you to analysis paralysis. You think so much about a decision that you never actually make one. Overthinking and repeatedly evaluating every option, makes it hard to move forwards. A head-led person can make a technically great decision whilst ignoring how they truly feel about it.
Heart: the voice of emotion - this brain represents your values, emotions and compassion, connecting you to what matters most. However, overusing the heart can mean that emotions sometimes overwhelm objectivity. Where decisions feel uncomfortable they may be avoided, even when they are necessary. Equally, ignoring the heart entirely can result in choices that conflict with core values, leading to dissatisfaction and burnout.
Gut: the voice of instinct: this brain is your intuition, that internal voice that whispers 'something isn't quite right'. Many people dismiss these feelings as they may not appear logical or have no evidence to support them. Yet this instinct reflects the gut brain's ability to recognise patterns based on years of experience. The challenge is distinguishing genuine intuition from fear, anxiety or bias. Gut feelings work best when combined with reflection, rather than accepted without question.
Which Brain is your Default?
Most people have a preferred brain that they consult first, paying little attention to the others.
Consider your own tendencies:
Do you go straight to planning and rely on data?
Do you consider how you feel and what matters most to you?
Do you instinctively know what is right before you can explain it?
There is not right or wrong preference. However, being aware of your default allows you to recognise when you might be overusing one, whilst overlooking the others. The power lies in consulting all three brains to reach rationale decisions that are meaningful and authentic.
Final Thoughts
Self awareness is not just about understanding what you think, but also understanding how you process the world. The head provides logic. The heart provides meaning. The gut provides intuition. Each offers a different perspective on who we are and what we need.
Perhaps the question is not whether you trust you head, heart or gut. Perhaps the better question is: when did you last listen to all three?
