What if the answers you've been searching for aren't outside of you—but already living within you?
In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita sits down with Jen Aks, TEDx speaker, bestselling author of Your Body Is Speaking, somatic educator, and creator of The Power of Gesture®, for a powerful conversation about the intelligence of the body and why mindset alone isn't always enough.
Jen shares her personal journey from feeling disconnected from her own intelligence to discovering the many ways we experience intelligence through the body. Her story is a powerful reminder that traditional measures of success don't capture the full picture of who we are or what we're capable of.
Together, Rita and Jen explore the concept of “body set”—an embodied complement to mindset—and the four intelligent systems that can help us develop greater self-trust:
- Kinesthetic intelligence – the body's ability to move, express, communicate, and navigate.
- Somatic intelligence – the “gut knowing” and physical sensations that provide information about our experiences.
- Intuitive intelligence – how we respond to and act on that inner knowing.
- Emotional intelligence – our ability to recognize, understand, and work with our own emotions while holding space for others.
Jen also introduces The Power of Gesture, a practice that uses movement—particularly the hands—to help us connect the mind and body. She explains how our hands can serve as a bridge between our logical mind and emotional body.
❤️ A Different Way to Relate to Struggle
Toward the end of the conversation, Jen offers a beautiful invitation: What if we loved our struggles?
Rather than judging ourselves for difficult emotions or experiences, she encourages us to approach them with curiosity, compassion, and love. Our emotions and struggles can become teachers rather than problems we need to eliminate.
The conversation also explores the idea that we can experience seemingly opposite emotions at the same time. We can be happy and terrified, excited and nervous, confident and uncertain. It doesn't have to be either/or. It can be “yes, and.”
✨ In This Episode, You'll Discover:
- Why mindset alone may not be enough for meaningful change
- What “body set” means and how it complements mindset
- The four forms of body intelligence
- How disconnection from the body can contribute to self-doubt
- Why your gut feelings are worth paying attention to
- How your hands can help you process emotions and information
- The Power of Gesture and the science behind it
- A simple RESET practice for shifting anxious energy
- How to approach difficult emotions with curiosity instead of judgment
- Why you don't have to choose between two seemingly opposite emotions
- How reconnecting with your body can strengthen self-trust and authentic leadership
A Takeaway to Carry With You
Your body isn't working against you. It may be communicating something you need to hear.
Instead of immediately overriding, analyzing, or judging what you're feeling, pause. Get curious. Notice what's happening in your body. Give yourself permission to listen.
As Jen reminds us, when we approach our emotions with curiosity, compassion, and love, we can begin to see ourselves—and our struggles—in a completely different way.
Top Podcast Chapters
Your Body Already Knows
Rita opens with the question: How often have you ignored your body when it was trying to tell you something? This establishes the episode's central message—that empowered decisions require access to the intelligence already within us.
From Self-Doubt to Body Intelligence
Jen shares the deeply personal story behind her work, including how traditional measures of intelligence contributed to years of self-doubt and disconnection—and how discovering multiple forms of intelligence helped her reconnect with herself.
What Is “Body Set”?
Jen breaks down body set, the four body intelligence systems, and how they can help us develop self-trust and lead from the inside out.
The Power of Gesture + RESET Practice
Jen explains how gestures can help bridge the mind and body, then walks listeners through her simple RESET practice for working with anxiety, nervousness, and emotional energy.
What If We Loved Our Struggles?
The conversation turns toward self-compassion, emotional acceptance, and learning to approach our inner voices with curiosity rather than judgment. Jen's “yes, and” perspective offers a powerful way to hold complex emotions.
Connect with Jen Aks
Website: https://jenaks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jen_aks
TedX Talk: https://youtu.be/nfZGY1mAbWs?si=9gdG1A44C4M3zOo-
----------------------------------
Breathwork & Candle Making Experience in Cincinnati, OH
https://www.daringwell.com/courses/candle-making-experience
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Follow us on YouTube & TikTok:
@DaringWell
For free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills.
https://www.daringwell.com/freebies
