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The Full Spectrum Human Intelligence: Why You’re Smarter Than You Think

This article on human intelligence is longer than most because there’s a vital point to grasp…

By cultivating awareness of your multiple forms of human intelligence and working mindfully with your patterns, you can develop more flexible, authentic responses to life's challenges.When people speak of human intelligence they’re referring to mental abilities, right? We give great importance to the head — go to the ‘head’ of the class; the main office is ‘head’quarters; she’s the ‘head’ of the department or the ‘head’ of her field; the CEO is the ‘head’ of the company; etc. But there is so much more to being human than being a brain. 

Our bodies possess remarkable intelligence. All day long, they use complex systems to maintain life and respond to challenges with incredible sophistication. Yet there’s an even deeper level of human intelligence that needs to be explored — the wisdom we gain from the whole mind-body connection — our wholeness as a human being!

Yes, we may limit our access to the whole spectrum of human intelligence unintentionally. How is this often manifested? Patterns of response that may have served us well in the past may no longer work in our present circumstances.

The Spectrum of Human Intelligence 

We carry within us multiple forms of intelligence that work in concert. Popularly, they are listed as Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ), Social Quotient (SQ), and Adversity Quotient (AQ).

We carry within us multiple forms of intelligence that work in concert. Popularly, they are listed as Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ), Social Quotient (SQ), and Adversity Quotient (AQ).
However, I believe we have much more intelligence than we realize. However, I believe we have much more intelligence than we realize.As you skim the following list, try to recall how you’ve experienced each.

Somatic Intelligence: The body’s innate ability to communicate through physical sensations and physiological responses, regulate stress, and maintain health through cellular and muscular memory.

Experiential Intelligence: The cumulative wisdom gained through direct experience, pattern recognition, and practiced skills that shape our decision-making.

Intuitive Intelligence: The capacity to understand situations through rapid, subconscious pattern recognition and deep knowing that transcends logical reasoning.

Academic Intelligence: The ability to acquire, analyze, and apply formal knowledge through systematic thinking and theoretical understanding.

Emotional Intelligence: The capacity to understand, manage, and respond effectively to both our own emotions and those of others while navigating complex interpersonal dynamics.

Spiritual Intelligence: The ability to connect with deeper meaning, integrate various forms of wisdom, and understand our place within the larger context of existence.

Ecological Wisdom: The understanding of our interconnection with natural systems and cycles, enabling sustainable living within larger ecosystems.

Collective Wisdom: The knowledge and understanding that emerges from shared experiences, diverse perspectives, and collaborative learning within communities.

Creative Wisdom: The ability to recognize patterns, solve problems, and gain insights through artistic expression and innovative thinking.

And that’s not all!

Are you getting the idea that we have endless sources of intelligence? How limited we are depends on how attuned and attentive we are to them. 

So, how do we tune in? The best way I know is getting out of your head and reconnecting with your body aka somatic awareness!

Working with Limitations Through Somatic Awareness

Through the years, my clients have achieved remarkable results. Because we all love a good story, I’ve compiled many of my client’s stories into one — I’ve named her Emily. See if you can identify the skills she’s using…

Emily hadn’t always started her mornings watching the sunrise from her apartment’s small balcony, breathing intentionally as steam rose from her tea. As Chief Strategy Officer at a rapidly growing tech startup, she used to jump straight from sleep to screens, her mind racing before her feet hit the floor.

The change came when a panic attack during a board meeting served as her wake-up call. Her doctor called it “executive burnout,” but Emily recognized it as something deeper – a disconnection from herself that had been building for years. She came to me looking for answers.

“Your body is telling you something,” I said. “The question is: are you ready to listen?” Through somatic awareness, I helped her develop a new relationship with her body’s signals. 

How Emily used what she learned

Every morning, Emily practices a brief meditation followed by gentle stretching. She has learned to notice the tension in her shoulders that preceded anxiety, the tightness in her throat before difficult conversations, and the flutter in her stomach that often accompanied her best intuitive decisions.

During her morning commute, instead of mentally rehearsing presentations, Emily practices embodied presence – feeling the weight of her feet on the ground, the rhythm of her breath, and the energy in her surroundings. These small moments of mindful awareness became anchors throughout her day.

The real test came during the company’s biggest product launch to date. In the past, Emily would have pushed through eighteen-hour days, surviving on coffee and adrenaline. Instead, she found herself doing something radical: scheduling “integration blocks” between meetings. Five minutes to breathe, stretch, and check in with herself. Her team was skeptical until they noticed how her clearer thinking led to better decisions.

Emily also joined my weekly women’s circle, where other high-achieving professionals shared their journeys of balancing ambition with wellbeing. Through their stories, she realized she wasn’t alone in struggling to maintain her humanity within the demands of corporate success. The group is a place where she can be vulnerable about her challenges and celebrate her progress.

One morning, preparing for a crucial investor meeting, Emily noticed her old patterns emerging – racing thoughts, shallow breathing, and the urge to check her phone constantly. Instead of fighting these sensations, she acknowledged them with curiosity. She stepped away from her desk and did a brief walking meditation around the office. When she returned, she spent ten minutes journaling about what she was feeling and what wisdom her body was trying to share.

To her surprise, this practice revealed an important insight about the presentation she was preparing. Her anxiety wasn’t just about the investors – it was her body’s way of telling her that certain projections in the deck didn’t feel authentic. She trusted this somatic wisdom and revised the numbers to reflect her true assessment. Later, the investors specifically commented on the refreshing honesty of her presentation.

As months passed, Emily’s new practices influenced her leadership style. She introduced “mindful minutes” at the start of team meetings, encouraged walking one-on-ones, and created space for emotional check-ins during high-stress periods. Productivity didn’t suffer; if anything, her team became more creative and resilient.

The most profound change, however, was internal. Emily discovered that true leadership isn’t about pushing through limitations, but about working skillfully within them. By tuning into her body’s intelligence and integrating all forms of wisdom – analytical, emotional, intuitive, and somatic – she found a more sustainable way to pursue excellence.

“Success feels different now, she told her women’s circle one evening. “It’s not just about what I achieve, but how present I am along the way. The challenges haven’t disappeared, but my relationship with them has transformed.”

Emily’s story spread through her professional network, inspiring other executives to explore similar practices. She didn’t set out to be a mindfulness advocate in the corporate world, but her authentic journey showed others that it was possible to be both highly successful and deeply connected to one’s inner wisdom.

Each sunrise on her balcony reminded her of this truth: transformation doesn’t always come through dramatic changes, but through the patient, daily practice of showing up for yourself in small but significant ways.

Your path to transformation will involve recognizing both your limitations and vast internal resources. By cultivating awareness of your multiple forms of human intelligence and working mindfully with your patterns, you can develop more flexible, authentic responses to life’s challenges. This process isn’t about overcoming limitations, so much as, working skillfully within them while accessing your deeper wisdom.

 “Dream Big, Start Small” Here’s the one thing you can do today.

The Three Points of Contact Practice is useful for high-intensity women to quickly calm and focus their thought and emotions.

Here’s a simple but powerful 5-minute somatic grounding practice designed for busy women in high-intensity careers.

The “Three Points of Contact” Practice

  1. Find a comfortable seated position in your office, car, or park bench.
  2. Place your attention on three specific points of contact:
    • Your sit bones making contact with the chair
    • Your feet making full contact with the floor
    • Your hands resting on your thighs
  3. Take three slow breaths, focusing on the weight and pressure at these contact points. Notice how gravity is supporting you.
  4. Now, slightly increase the pressure at each point:
    • Gently press your sit bones down
    • Press your feet into the floor
    • Press your palms down.
    • Hold this increased pressure for 3 breaths.
  5. Release the pressure and notice the sensations that arise. You might feel tingling, warmth, or a subtle pulsing.
  6. Finally, take one full breath while imagining energy flowing between all three points of contact, creating a triangle of support in your body.

The key is to feel the sensations rather than thinking about them. With practice, you can access this grounded, calming state in just a few breaths.

Would you like to work with me and explore a particular aspect of human intelligence mentioned above? Contact me and let’s talk! Or if you’d like to get to know me better first, I’m the Sustainability Coach. I’ve been blogging consistently for 10 years, so you’ll find sustainability practices that work year after year.


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