WHAT'S relationship between the gut and your brain? According to UCLA's Dr. Emeran Mayer, "The gut converses with the brain like no other organ. When people talk about going with their gut feelings on an important decision, what they’re referring to is an intuitive knowledge based on the close relationship between our emotions and the sensations and feelings in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract." I’m well known for trusting my gut in most, if not all, of my decisions but I’ve been actively paying closer attention to what that really means in my day-to-day life and how it affects all areas of my being.

So what exactly is the gut? “Your gut is your gastrointestinal system and includes your stomach, intestines, and colon. It digests and absorbs nutrients from food and excretes waste,” as defined by Better Health. The gut and the brain are closely linked through bidirectional signaling pathways that include nerves, hormones, and inflammatory molecules. “When you eat too much or have certain fatty foods, the changes in your gut can affect your mental state,” Dr. Mayer notes. “And when you feel butterflies or a rumbling in your stomach when nervous, or knots in your stomach when you’re angry, your mental state is affecting your gut.”

We all know the feeling of butterflies in our stomach, which can be inexplicable. Being in love, being excited, or feeling discomfort—these feelings can lift you up or let you down.

Recently, I had to make a decision about moving. I found an apartment I fell in love with, though it was practically impossible to get. Still, something in my gut was telling me it was meant to be mine. I had a “gut feeling”.

I understand that this is a classic philosophical dilemma and Descartes might appreciate this, but my gut feeling highlighted the dualism between mind and emotion. Long story short (and I mean very short for the sake of this piece), after almost four months of back and forth, and learning a lesson or two about patience, perseverance, and grit, I got the place. During this time, I was already contemplating this article and consciously chose to pay closer attention to how my brain was affecting my gut. A Harvard study states that the gut is sensitive to emotions such as anger, anxiety, sadness, and elation—these feelings can trigger symptoms in the gut. This proved to be true; during this period of uncertainty and stress, my appetite and food cravings fluctuated. When I thought I wouldn’t get the apartment, I was hungrier, and when I glimpsed hope, my appetite disappeared.

Another example: when I was standing in front of a perfect pair of Phoebe Philo shoes while searching for summer sandals, I knew they weren’t right for me—too high, not the right shape, though unique and perfect in their own way. I made the move, chose to ignore my gut feeling, and prioritized my fashion needs. As Ralph Lauren said, “Fashion is about something that comes from within you,” and at that moment, that pair belonged in my closet. You guessed it—I haven’t found the occasion to wear them, and they’re still sitting untouched in my closet. Am I happy I ignored my gut feeling? Yes. I’ll make exceptions for Philo; but typically, I follow Vivienne Westwood’s wise advice: “Buy less, choose well.”