When Your Body Knows Before Your Brain: A Creator's Guide to Energy-Based Decisions

Hey Reader,

Have you ever turned down what looked like a great opportunity on paper, only to have something even better come along? That's not just luck – it's your intuition at work.

Today, I want to share a powerful framework for making decisions that align with your energy, not just your logic. Because here's the truth: Sometimes your body knows what's right before your brain catches up.

The $1,000 vs. $10,000 Paradox

I recently interviewed Hayden Flohr on the HeyCreator podcast, and on the call she asked me an interesting question: Why do we label making $1,000 doing something we love as "bad" compared to making $10,000 doing something that drains us?

Here was Hayden’s take: When you choose to follow what truly energizes you, even if it seems less profitable at first, the ripple effect can be far bigger than you imagine.

A Personal Story of Following Energy

I'll get vulnerable here for a moment. A few months ago, I faced a decision that tested this principle:

• I had a potential client offering significant money
• The deliverables felt heavy and draining
• Everything looked good on paper, but my energy said "no"

I listened to that inner signal and declined the work. Within days, a perfect-fit client appeared – one that energized rather than drained me.

How to Tell Fear from Wisdom

But here's the tricky part: How do you know if you're responding to genuine intuition versus fear? Here's what I've learned:

Fear feels like:

• A tight chest
• Racing thoughts
• "I should do this, but..."
• Pressure and heaviness

Wisdom feels like:

• A clear "no"
• A sense of relief when declining
• Space opening up for something else
• Calm certainty, even if it's uncomfortable

Your Body's Built-in Decision-Making Tool

Want to start building this intuition muscle? Try this simple exercise from Hayden:

1. Ask yourself an obvious yes/no question
   ​Example: "Do I love coffee?"
2. Notice your immediate body response
3. Track what a "yes" feels like in your body
4. Notice what a "no" feels like

Use these same signals when facing bigger decisions. It can be that simple.

Making It Practical

Don't feel like you have to do all these things at once. Let's start with a much simpler decision flow.

• Before saying yes to your next collaboration
• When choosing content topics
• Before buying that new course or tool
• When deciding on project scope

Take a breath and check in: Does this feel expansive or contracting?

Your Next Step

This week, try this: Before making any decision, pause for 30 seconds and notice your body's response. Keep a quick note of your feelings and the outcomes. You might be surprised at how often your intuition leads you right.

What decisions are you facing right now? Hit reply and let me know – I'd love to hear how this resonates with you.

Here's to trusting your energy,

Matt