You’ve gathered pros and cons, yet something still feels off. Somatic decision-making helps you include your nervous system—so your choice is not just smart on paper, but livable in your body.

What “somatic” actually means

Somatic = relating to the body. In practice, it means you intentionally notice sensations (breath, muscle tone, temperature, pressure) and use them as data alongside facts and values. The goal isn’t impulsivity—it’s wholeness: mind + body + context.

The 3-step somatic loop

1. Regulate — Create a baseline so signals aren’t just stress noise.
   Try: Inhale 4 / exhale 6 for 2 minutes, or 10 slow shoulder drops.

2. Relate — Bring the decision into the body, gently.
   Say out loud: “I choose Option A.” Pause and scan. Then, “I choose Option B.” Pause and scan.

3. Decide — Choose the path that feels steadier (not always easier) and test it with one tiny move.

Read your body: 5 reliable markers

• Breath: shallow/held (threat) vs. longer exhale (capacity)

• Jaw: clench/push (fight) vs. softening (safety)

• Chest: buzzing/pressure (anxiety) vs. spacious/neutral (coherence)

• Belly: knotty/icy (bracing) vs. warm/settled (readiness)

• Impulse: urgent perfection (panic) vs. simple next step (clarity)

Somatic scorecard (5 minutes)

Create a two-column table: Option A vs. Option B. For each line, score 0–3 after a quick body scan:

• Values alignment

• Energy after most days

• Learning/growth you actually want

• Support/resources available

• Body coherence (breath, jaw, chest, belly)

Pick the higher score, then validate with one tiny yes in the next 24–48 hours.

Tiny yeses that reveal truth (not just opinions)

• If leaning to move/quit: two informational chats, one role application, draft a 3-month runway.

• If leaning to stay: renegotiate one key need, set a 30-day checkpoint with metrics, test one boundary for a week.

For Latinas & first-gen professionals

We’re often taught loyalty, gratitude, and proving ourselves. Beautiful values—and they can keep us in rooms we’ve outgrown. Somatic decision-making lets you honor your body’s signals without drama or rebellion—just clear, culturally aware self-trust.

When somatic signals are noisy

If trauma, chronic stress, or burnout make every option feel like “danger,” lengthen the Regulate step and shrink the decision horizon:

• Shorten the choice window to the next 30–90 days.

• Decide the next right experiment, not the final outcome.

• Borrow regulation: a walk, a call with a calm friend, or a body-based practice.

30-day container (so you stop reopening the decision)

1. Choose one path + one weekly tiny yes.

2. Track three things: energy, learning, support.

3. Review on Day 30. Adjust if the data—not the fear—calls for it.

FAQ

Is somatic decision-making “scientific”?
It’s evidence-informed: you’re using interoception (body awareness) to complement cognitive analysis. It won’t replace facts; it balances them.

What if my body is always anxious?
Lengthen regulation, shrink the decision scope, and test with micro-moves. If every path stays tight after consistent regulation, that’s data—something foundational needs support.

How fast should I decide?
Give yourself a clear window (e.g., 7–14 days). Somatic clarity grows with small actions, not more rumination.

CTA: Want a guided, body-based decision session? Book a Decide With Confidence session for one grounded next step.