06/26/2026
Interoception: the 8th sense.
Interoception is your ability to feel sensations from within your body by interpreting internal body signals, translating these into how they make you feel, so you can take a specific action to address what your body is communicating to you.
A tightness in your chest.
Butterflies in your stomach.
A racing heart.
Receptors within your body communicate these signals to your brain giving information around the conditions of your internal environment.
Interoception is not just about survival needs like rest, thirst or hunger; it is the foundation of self-awareness and emotion. When you practice interoceptive awareness you can not only improve your overall well-being, and regulate emotions, but also heighten your connection to intuition (by reinforcing behavior that listens and addresses the underlying need tied to what your body is signaling).
How to practice interoceptive awareness:
START WITH THE BODY
Pause, take a breath. Scan your body and notice if any sensory information is coming through
NOTICE EMOTIONS
Are any specific emotions present? If you’re feeling irritable, is it because you’re hungry, a boundary was crossed, or are you tired? Tie the emotion to any internal information coming up for you.
ACTION
Regulate the emotions and body signals with an action. If you’re tired, take a break or give yourself permission to rest. If hungry, nourish yourself, etc.
interoception
somatic awarness
wellbeing
nervous system regulation
emotional regulation
