I saw a film recently—don’t watch it. The bad guy wanted children to stay young forever and play with him. A twisted Peter Pan. His method? A Black & Decker lobotomy. Gross. Moving on.
But it got me thinking… about thinking. The Illusion of Higher Thought I like to believe I operate from the higher cortex— some evolved space with nuance and restraint. I take a little pride in having kept my “lizard brain” in check. But now I’m not so sure. In fact, I wonder if I’ve slipped even lower. What if I’m not just using my brain to think? What if I’m thinking with… everything else? Gut Logic and Rogue Actions
We’ve all heard the phrase: “I think with my gut.” But there’s science to back it up—enter the Vagus Nerve. It connects brain to body in a deep and ancient way, carrying signals from heart, lungs, gut, even throat back up to the brain. This means decisions aren’t made in the brain so much as through it. You might think you’re in charge… but by the time your cortex gets the memo, your body already made the move. Case in point: I “woke up” the other day standing in front of the fridge, looking for kale and Greek yogurt dip. I didn’t start out with that intention. I don’t even remember getting out of the chair. Apparently, someone inside me was hungry for fermented dairy and leafy greens. That someone was not my frontal lobe.
The Scary Side of the Vagus
In the hospital, they don’t let you go home until everything’s working again. Everything. Constipation? Not acceptable. But here’s the kicker: they warn you not to push too hard. Why?
Because overexerting can overstimulate the Vagus Nerve— potentially causing a heart attack, a stroke, or unconsciousness. In other words: if you push too hard… the brain shuts down. That’s one way to get out of your head.
Final Thought
So yes, I’d like to think I’m thinking outside the box. Turns out, I’m actually thinking outside the brain. And it’s a little scary.
But maybe that’s the point: True awareness doesn’t rise. It descends.
