Rediscovering the Self Through Embodied Cognition
Initially, I couldn’t relate to the concept of embodiment. I’ve always lived in my mind—analysing, strategising, and detaching from what my body was truly feeling. The idea of sitting in a circle and trying to evoke emotions that didn’t feel present for me seemed alien. But as I delved into embodied cognition, I started to see the need for a clearer understanding of what embodiment really means. Through exploring its science and philosophy, I realised how vital it is—especially in a world that often pulls us away from our inner wisdom.
Now, I understand that while embodied cognition and embodiment are technically distinct, they share significant overlap. For simplicity, I’ll often use the terms interchangeably. Embodied cognition reveals how physical experiences shape our thoughts and perceptions, while embodiment takes it further—inviting the integration of mind, body, and sensations into a unified whole.
Embodiment isn’t just about reconnecting with the body; it’s about interpreting what those sensations mean and how they interact with our mental processes. It’s about learning to trust our internal signals while staying open to external perspectives—balancing confidence with flexibility, and remaining grounded but not rigid.
Disembodiment: Losing Touch with Our Inner Compass
Disembodiment occurs when we become detached from our inner experience, losing touch with our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. The disembodied cognition would technically be that thoughts and concepts are abstract and symbolic, separate from sensory and motor information, while meaning is generated in the mind alone. In this framework, the body’s sensations and movements are secondary, rather than integral, to understanding the world.
While looking to the abstract for guidance, envisioning possibilities, or tapping into imaginative intelligence can be valuable, dissociation—whether as an escape or due to a lack of self-awareness—becomes not only dangerous but also prevents us from having an embodied experience. This disconnection can lead to “losing or exiling the self,” where we become so detached from our internal processes and perception of the external world that we lose trust in our thoughts, feelings, and ability to accurately interpret reality. When this occurs, the result can be a sense of consistent disorientation and self-doubt. We may begin to feel disconnected from our own identity, unable to trust our instincts or make decisions confidently. This lack of connection can lead to chronic confusion, anxiety, or even a sense of numbness, where life feels distant or unreal. Over time, this disconnection can hinder personal growth, making it difficult to form meaningful relationships or engage with the world in a grounded way. In extreme cases, it may lead to a complete sense of alienation, where both internal and external realities feel foreign and untrustworthy.
Why does it happen?
This disconnection often stems from repeated experiences of having to leave your body or world in order to feel safe, such as in narcissistic relationships, abuse, trauma or when parental figures fail to attune to our needs. Over time, we may begin to rely on external sources of validation to secure our inner and outer realities, such as social norms or the opinions of others, instead of listening to our own inner guidance. This can create a false sense of safety, where we accept external narratives without questioning them, leading to doubts about the accuracy of our thoughts and emotions, and potentially leading us to suppress or ignore them altogether.
For example, I recall an incident from when I was around nine years old in Las Vegas. A man was staring at me in a way that felt deeply uncomfortable. I confided in my parents, but they dismissed my feelings, assuring me there was nothing to worry about. In that moment, I learned to suppress my own perception/intuition of the situation—not just from others, but from myself. I began to believe that my own sensory and emotional responses were untrustworthy. This is how disembodiment often takes hold—gradually, through experiences where our inner knowing is overlooked or disregarded.
This disconnection doesn’t just affect our bodies; it also creates confusion in the mind. Without the capacity to recognise and interpret our internal signals, we lose touch with the source of decision-making within us. In a disembodied state, we become an extension of the world around us, shaped by external forces without a clear sense of our own thoughts, desires, or intentions.
Embodied Cognition: Reclaiming Our Inner Knowing
Embodied cognition challenges the traditional separation between mind and body, highlighting the connection between our thoughts, internal sensations (or emotions), and actions. While the mind encompasses cognitive processes like thinking, perception, decision-making, and reasoning that help us navigate and interpret the world (top-down), the body and sensations actively inform and guide the mind (bottom-up). True understanding emerges not from the mind alone, but from the integration of the full human experience—body, inner sensations, and thoughts. Bodily experiences—whether tension, relaxation, or discomfort—act as vital signals that the mind must interpret in relation to the self, while internal cues provide essential feedback on our inner state, shaping decisions and actions that reflect our deeper sense of being. When body, physical awareness, and thoughts are harmoniously integrated, the mind becomes a finely attuned guide, enabling us to engage with the world more authentically and with greater clarity. This holistic integration strengthens our understanding of ourselves and our environment, creating a more coherent and grounded experience of life.
For the mind to be truly effective and aligned with our true Self, it must connect to something greater than mere intellectual processes or emotions. This deeper aspect of our being is the essence of our identity, shaped not just by thoughts, but by our principles, purpose, and values. Embodiment is about more than simply aligning thoughts or emotions with inner awareness—it’s about bringing these principles into action and integrating them into every part of our experience. When the mind embodies these principles, thoughts, purpose, and values merge with a deeper understanding of who we are, creating a harmonious connection between our inner and outer worlds. This grounded awareness reduces reactivity to fleeting sensations or external pressures, and instead of functioning as a detached observer, the mind becomes a tool for deeper comprehension and clarity.
Embodiment, however, is one of the hardest things for a human to achieve. It requires us to confront our deepest fears—fear of judgment, the desire to fit in, or even the instinct to avoid discomfort and responsibility. Often, we would rather escape, distract, or resist the very principles that call us to act in alignment with our deeper truth. Yet, when we manage to overcome this resistance, we begin to experience a more unified self, where cognitive, sensory, and physical experiences work together in support of our true desired identity.
The Role of Technology and Groupthink
In the digital age, the dangers of disconnection are amplified. Social media fosters a kind of disembodied cognition, where meaning is abstracted into likes, comments, and algorithms. These external validations can pull us further away from our internal experiences, making it harder to trust our own perceptions.
The Situated Cognition Hypothesis highlights this issue, showing that our thinking is shaped by our environment. When that environment prioritises external validation, we risk losing touch with our inner compass.
Reclaiming the Self
Rediscovering embodiment involves learning to differentiate between self and other, building a stable sense of self while remaining open to external perspectives that are articulated and make sense. This balance is key: being certain and confident in one’s thoughts without becoming rigid or dismissive of new insights.
Embodiment practices, whether through movement, mindfulness, or reflective exercises, can help us reconnect with our emotional senses while taking wise, intentional action based on what they tell us—not reactive or impulsive action.
For me, this journey has been transformative. It’s not about perfection or always trusting my first instinct, but about learning to integrate my bodily sensations, emotions, and thoughts into a cohesive whole. It’s about understanding when to hold firm in my internal truth and when to allow external insights to refine my perspective.
Final Thoughts
Embodiment is not just a personal practice; it’s a cultural imperative in an age where technology and groupthink threaten to pull us further from ourselves. By embracing embodied cognition, we can navigate the complexities of modern life with greater clarity, authenticity, and balance.
In doing so, we rediscover what it means to be human: to think, feel, and act as integrated beings, grounded in both our internal experiences and the shared world around us.