Embodied Cognition and How You Experience Life
Well now, growing up I used to think the mind was its own little kingdom. I figured thoughts lived up in the head, feelings lived down in the heart, and the rest of the body just hauled everything around like a loyal workhorse. Turns out that is not how it works at all. The more we learn about the human experience, the clearer it becomes that the body and mind are partners that stay in constant conversation. Embodied cognition is the fancy term for this idea. It means that your understanding of the world is shaped not only by the brain but by your muscles, your breath, your posture, and the space you stand in. Your body helps your mind make meaning. Your mind helps your body respond. They move as one, whether you notice it or not. Researchers have shown this again and again. People do not only think with their heads. They think with their hands, their movements, their senses, and the environment around them. A child counting on their fingers is not behind. They are simply letting the...