Intestinal Fortitude ~ Tapping Into Our Inner Strength
Photo by @conscious_design
Many years ago, I had an abdominal surgery to repair an internal injury. The scar begins where my ribs come together at the center of my chest and runs just past my bellybutton. The recovery from that surgery was one of the most physically painful experiences of my life. I didn’t realize until then, when my severed abdominal muscles were beginning to repair themselves, how much every little thing we do in life comes from our core. I couldn’t wiggle my toes, turn my head, yawn, or take a sip of water without feeling the reverberation through my torso.
What does it mean to have “intestinal fortitude?” We have other similar expressions: strong stomach, hard core, abdominal strength, and gut instinct. In the fitness world, six-pack abs have long been admired and appreciated as a sign of strength. Beyond the perks of a desirable physique, neuroscientists and psychologists are now also beginning to recognize the importance of gut health due to the connection between our physiology and our psychology, i.e. the gut-brain connection. The gut has been referred to as the “second brain,” in it’s remarkable ability to transmit and process information through the nervous system, namely the vagus nerve.
Our intestine, also known as the gut, is the long, winding, tubular organ just behind and below our bellybuttons. Unlike some other critical organs, it is not protected by our skeletal system like the brain which is encased by the skull or the heart within the ribcage. Rather, it is located in a soft, penetrable, and extremely vulnerable area at the center of our bodies.
Most notable for it’s ability to break down food and absorb nutrients through digestion, the intestine is central to our health and vitality. Yet it has some other lesser known functions and qualities. The intestine is also home to an estimated 90% of our serotonin, one of our key feel-good neurotransmitters (the lack of which is associated with depression). The gut also plays a pivotal role in our immune system, our body’s ability to protect and defend itself from dangerous invaders through its extensive and complex community of microbiota.
From a physiological perspective it’s clear why we would want a healthy and robust gut, but how does this translate in psychological terms? As I discovered during my recovery process, the gut is essentially the center of the body, impacting almost every other system. When we feel strong at our core, we are in turn more connected, embodied, and fortified from the inside out. This may be evidenced by enhanced endurance, emotional balance, and psychological vitality. The gut contains its own innate wisdom, which we can choose to cultivate intentionally.
By fostering strength and fortitude within ourselves, at our center, we in turn feel stronger and more resilient in other aspects as well. We may identify these strengths in terms such as grit, perseverance, empowerment, courage, etc. Once we access these qualities, we realize that they are generated and reside, not outside of ourselves, but within our own skin, our mind and psyche.
Our intestines themselves may be soft and vulnerable, just as psychologically-speaking, we may experience vulnerability, anxiety, and fear. Yet, we can foster fortitude by developing stronger core “muscles,” so to speak. We can focus our awareness at our center, trust our gut, and recognize that we have access to this internal strength. Our intestinal fortitude is at our disposal if we but harness that inner power.
(Yoga sequence designed to tap into intestinal fortitude through core strengthening asasas)