Your Body Is Running the Show

We like to think we’re in control. That our likes and dislikes, our choices and judgments, are the products of rational thought and deeply held values. But science tells a different story: your body is calling the shots, and your brain is mostly there to craft a believable excuse after the fact.

This process is called neuroception. Coined by Dr. Stephen Porges, neuroception describes how our nervous system constantly scans the environment for cues of safety or danger—without any input from our conscious mind. It’s like having a high-tech security system on autopilot, detecting threats before you even know they exist. The problem? Neuroception isn’t always accurate. It can mistake a harmless glance, a loud laugh, or the hum of fluorescent lights for danger, triggering your body’s alarm system.

In 2018, researchers at the University of Wisconsin explored just how much control the body has over our reactions. They showed participants images of faces displaying subtle micro-expressions—flashes of anger, happiness, or neutrality. The results were startling: participants’ bodies reacted—measured through heart rate and skin conductivity—before they consciously registered what they were seeing. Even when participants couldn’t identify a threatening face, their bodies responded as if danger were imminent. Neuroception was running the show, making decisions faster than the conscious mind could process.

This is how it plays out in daily life: Imagine walking into a coffee shop. The hum of conversation, the smell of espresso, the clink of cups—it all feels ordinary. But something seems off. Your chest tightens. Your body tenses slightly. Your brain notices this unease and rushes to fill in the blanks: That person looks irritated, or The barista is unfriendly. But the truth may have nothing to do with either of them. Your neuroception could be reacting to the harsh lighting, the volume of the background music, or the fact that your threat bucket was already teetering after a stressful morning.

Your body reacts first—automatic, instinctive. Your brain follows, translating the body’s signals into a story. And it doesn’t stop there. The body also decides what you like. A warm room, soft lighting, and kind faces provide cues of safety, signaling your body to relax. Your brain takes this sense of ease and assigns meaning: I like this place. These people seem nice. That’s a great sweater. But is it really about the people or the sweater? Or is it simply that your body, finally relaxed, is telling your brain, This feels safe?

This is how the threat bucket runs the show. When it’s overflowing, everything feels sharp and unkind. You avoid risks, judge quickly, and cling to the familiar. But when your bucket is manageable—when neuroception picks up on safety rather than threat—the world looks entirely different. Colors brighten, people seem warmer, and you might even discover you like things you swore you didn’t. Your body steers the ship, and your brain, as always, writes the narrative