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How To Reconnect With Your Intuition & Learn To Trust Yourself Again with Dr Tara Swart #604

Dec 17, 2025 1h 29m 26 insights
What is intuition? What happens when we die? And, how does trauma get stored in our bodies? These are just a few of the fascinating themes I explore in today’s episode with returning guest, Dr Tara Swart. Tara is a neuroscientist, a former medical doctor & psychiatrist, a lecturer at MIT, an executive coach and author of 2 books, including her very latest The Signs: The New Science of How to Trust Your Instincts.   In this episode, Tara shares her own personal story about love, loss, and learning to trust herself again, after the death of her husband, Robin. This life changing experience left her questioning her deepest beliefs as a scientist, when in the midst of her grief, she started noticing unusual signs that she felt - she was unable to ignore. At first, she was sceptical, but these moments gradually helped her reconnect with her intuition in ways she never expected.   In our conversation, we explore: What intuition really is and how to start accessing it again The gut-brain connection, and how emotions, trauma, and even grief can be stored (and released) in the body. The practical tools and techniques that helped Tara - and can help you - rediscover your own intuition, including journaling, creative practices and nature How to gently challenge your beliefs and open yourself to possibility (even if, like Tara, you’re sceptical at first). Reflections on what science can and can’t explain - and why sometimes, believing in something greater (be it love, the universe, or connection itself) can be a healing force. How to help your children (or yourself!) grow up with a stronger trust in their inner wisdom, without fear or ridicule. We also talk about the disconnection that many of us feel in the modern world, the transformative power of nature and the many different ways in which humans try to make sense of death.   This is a raw, honest and thought-provoking conversation that I’m certain will leave you feeling inspired and eager to rediscover your own inner wisdom.   Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our
Actionable Insights

1. Integrate Mind-Body Work

To evolve and access inner wisdom, combine cognitive reframing with physical bodywork (e.g., improving movement patterns, seeing therapists) to address trauma stored in the body.

2. Prioritize Daily Self-Focus

Take dedicated time out each day to focus on yourself, using tools like meditation apps, to become more present, calm, and focused.

3. Connect with Nature, Move

Spend time in nature and engage in physical activities like walking or yoga to reconnect with intuition, recognizing it as both a mental and physical process.

4. Cultivate Transcendent Purpose

Cultivate a sense of purpose and direction that extends beyond yourself, as this is a powerful way to reconnect with meaning and self.

5. Own Your Health

Recognize that you are the architect of your own health and commit to making lifestyle changes, as feeling better leads to living more fully.

6. Reduce Stress, Access Wisdom

Address chronic stress to better access inner wisdom, and conversely, accessing inner wisdom can reduce stress and provide direction.

7. Journal Gratitude, Focus Positively

Use journaling and gratitude practices to consciously focus your brain on positive aspects, as this will lead you to notice and experience more good in your life.

8. Optimize Gut Health

Improve gut microbiome health, as a poor gut condition can cloud access to intuition and cause brain fog.

9. Body/Art Therapy for Trauma

For trauma like PTSD, engage in body-based therapies such as yoga or art therapy, as these can be more effective than talking therapy alone due to the impact of trauma on speech centers.

10. Process Trauma with Art

If exposed to a traumatic scene, immediately engage in creative expression like painting what you saw, as this practice has shown to significantly reduce the incidence of PTSD.

11. Re-engage with Life

After experiencing loss, make a conscious decision to re-engage with life, work, loved ones, and activities like travel to move forward and appreciate life.

12. Appreciate Beauty, Connect

Actively notice and appreciate beauty in nature and make an effort to connect more deeply with people to enhance your perspective and well-being.

13. Seek Awe in Nature

Spend time in nature to experience wonder and awe, fostering a connection to the environment and a sense of something greater.

14. Connect Presently with Others

When with others, put away your phone and make eye contact to foster genuine connection and care, which deepens human relationships.

15. Nurture Child’s Intuition

As a parent, encourage children to express feelings and intuition by asking ‘how do you feel?’ or ‘what does your heart/gut say,’ alongside promoting physical activity.

16. Balance Intuition with Logic

Encourage children to consider if their intuitive feelings also make logical sense, helping them develop a balanced approach to decision-making.

17. Ask for Loved One’s Sign

Recall a fond memory or inside joke with a deceased loved one, choose a symbol for it, and then consciously ask for a sign related to that symbol.

18. Study Near-Death Experiences

Educate yourself on near-death experiences to gain similar benefits like a sense of freedom, calm, and reduced fear of failure, which can shift perception of life.

19. Apply & Share Insights

After learning new information, identify one thing to implement in your life and one thing to share or teach to someone else, as teaching aids retention and helps others.

20. Recognize Behavior Patterns

Pay attention to recurring patterns in decision-making, behavior, and relationships to identify areas where intuition isn’t evolving or mistakes are being repeated.

21. Spot Intuition Disconnect

Be aware of overthinking, anxiety, rigid thinking, and over-reliance on logic that contradicts gut feelings, as these indicate a disconnection from intuition.

22. Guide with Health Data

When using health wearables, treat the data as a guide rather than a dictator, correlating it with your subjective feelings and life context for a holistic understanding.

23. Integrate Red Light Therapy

Consider adding a red light therapy device, like the Demi, into your daily routine for potential benefits such as improved relaxation, enhanced focus, and deeper sleep.

24. Utilize Meditation, Aid Sleep

Use guided meditations, sleep stories, calming music, or grounding exercises to manage anxiety, stress, improve focus, build habits, and achieve restful sleep.

25. Regular Blood Testing

Utilize regular blood testing as a proactive and preventative tool to gain insights into your health and optimize it for the future.

26. Monitor Health with Retesting

Retest your blood every few months to build a clear picture of what health interventions are working and where adjustments are needed, comparing your results to others for context.