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In this episode of the Autonomic Homeostasis Activation Podcast, Tom Pals and Ruth Lorensson explore how the brain thinks independently of the conscious mind—and how this capacity supports healing, clarity, and thriving.

Building on their previous conversation, they examine the difference between mind-based problem solving and brain-based wisdom, introducing the concept of cognitive homeostasis. The discussion unpacks why the mind often loops in fear, trauma, and overanalysis, while the brain integrates information holistically and delivers insight through spontaneous “aha” moments.

You’ll learn:

• What cognitive homeostasis is and how it differs from somatic homeostasis
• Why the brain generates involuntary insights, memories, and realizations
• How trauma and stress disrupt the brain–mind partnership
• Why “thinking harder” often blocks healing and problem-solving
• How Autonomic Homeostasis Activation (AHA) facilitates access to the brain’s wisdom

This episode is especially relevant for anyone experiencing chronic stress, trauma patterns, health anxiety, or feeling stuck despite trying to “figure things out.”

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Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

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Send us a text

What if the breakthrough you’re looking for isn’t found by thinking harder—but by listening differently?

In this episode, Ruth Lorensson and Thomas Pals continue their exploration of the wisdom of the brain, introducing the concept of cognitive homeostasis—how the brain independently problem-solves and offers insight beyond the mind’s habitual loops.

They unpack aha moments, involuntary thoughts, and sudden clarity as signs of the brain cutting through trauma-informed, fear-based thinking to guide us from survival to thriving. The conversation also introduces how Autonomic Homeostasis Activation (AHA) can intentionally create the conditions for these insights to emerge.

Key Takeaways

• Your brain is already thinking—even when your mind feels stuck
• Overthinking can block the brain’s natural problem-solving capacity
• Sudden insights are often signs of cognitive homeostasis
• Healing and clarity emerge when the mind learns to listen
• You can intentionally create space for the brain’s wisdom to surface

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

You can follow us on
Facebook
Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

Support us

We appreciate you!

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Season 4 begins with a foundational conversation on the wisdom of the brain and how it shapes problem solving, emotional regulation, and personal growth. Ruth and Tom explore the crucial difference between the mind and the brain, and why stress, trauma, and learned patterns can distort our thinking.

Introducing AHA Problem Solving, this episode shows how calming the nervous system allows the brain’s natural intelligence to generate clarity, insight, and genuine “aha” moments—especially around health anxiety, relationships, and life decisions. The discussion also touches on neuroscience, homeostasis, and what artificial intelligence reveals about human cognition under stress.

Key Takeaways:
• The brain and mind are not the same
• Stress impairs decision-making
• The brain holds innate wisdom
• Regulation restores clarity

Support the show

Thanks for listening!

You can follow us on
Facebook
Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Check out the Autonomic Healing Website & InnerWorkings Website

Email Tom thomasjpals@innerworkings.org
Email Ruth ruth@bridgeandrhino.com

Support us

We appreciate you!