Happily human in a digital age.
We Created This Digital World—But Can We Live In It Without Losing Ourselves?
If you’re interested in unlocking your full potential through your own body intelligence, listen to my BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast guest this week, Andrena Woodham, bestselling author of Embody: The Power of Presence in an Age of Distraction.
Andrena is an embodiment expert, a pioneer empowering innovators, entrepreneurs and educators to reconnect with themselves in an increasingly digital world. A former BBC World presenter with over 30 years in somatic therapy, she runs transformational retreats blending neuroscience with embodiment practices to access authentic power.
She teaches that we have two brains, the thinking brain in our heads and the feeling brain in our gut. When we live from the head alone, we disconnect from our true selves. But when we inhabit our bodies fully, we become grounded, connected and at peace. In a world of constant alerts and notifications, that reconnection may just be the superpower we’ve been missing.
Andrena’s own story is a map of courage and transformation. Born in Kansas, the home of The Wizard of Oz, she was swept away at 14 to Brazil, where she discovered a world of healing, movement and magic. Yet it wasn’t until midlife, after heartbreak, loss, and a melanoma diagnosis, that she found what she’d been searching for all along: home within herself.
“I realised,” she says, “I’d been living like a swan, graceful on the surface but paddling furiously underneath. I had to stop and face myself. I found that my body was my true partner, and its only purpose is to take care of me.”
From that revelation came Embody, her book about finding presence and feeling happily human in a distracted, digital age. She invites us to move from living “outside-in” to “inside-out,” trusting that our bodies hold the wisdom to guide us through life’s tornadoes.
Andrena’s definition of courage in the light of her views on Embodiment:
“I define courage as being open to what's coming to you. I define courage as embracing the future as it is, not as we wish it to be, and knowing that we have the ability to be able to make the changes within ourselves to be able to embrace this magical digital world that we're living in, and we can use that for the good of everyone.”
That openness is what embodiment makes possible- because when we feel safe and centered in our bodies, we no longer need to control everything. We can meet life as it comes, with awareness and grace.
So how can we begin?
Read the ten tips below:
Brave New Girl- How to Be Fearless.
10 Actionable Steps for a better future.
Breathe deeper. Let your breath expand your belly rather than your chest.
Drop into your “second brain.” Place a hand just below your navel and bring your attention there.
Ground yourself daily. Walk barefoot on grass, soil or sand to reconnect with the earth’s energy.
Notice your posture. Loosen tight clothing and allow your body to take up space.
Feel before you think. When faced with a decision, pause and notice how your gut feels first.
Move with awareness. Whether walking, dancing or stretching, sense the rhythm of your body.
Switch off. Create tech-free moments in your day: no screens, no scrolling.
Accept, don’t perfect. Begin with acceptance rather than trying to fix yourself.
Laugh at your mind. When your thoughts race, smile and gently bring awareness back to your body.
Come home again and again. Every breath is an invitation to return to yourself.
Andrena reminds us that embodiment isn’t a luxury- it’s essential for thriving in this fast-evolving digital landscape. When we inhabit our bodies fully, we not only reclaim our calm but rediscover our courage.
By learning to live from our bodies rather than our heads, we can ground ourselves in the present, strengthen our courage, and find peace amid digital chaos.
PS. Listen HERE to ANDRENA’S journey on BRAVE NEW GIRLS podcast to hear how she helps us create well beings on a well planet.
