The Heart and the Mind
Our culture places great emphasis on the mind, valuing formal education, intellect, and achievement while paying little attention to intuition, feelings, and insights. We are trained that the cognitive gears must always be fully engaged, often without any consideration of the wisdom of the heart. The cognitive approach, however, is linear, superficial, and can be misused. To be clear, the mind certainly has a function and should not be thrown out entirely. The mind is home to logic, reasoning, and evaluation; it seeks to protect us from danger. The mind is also the place where fear, judgment, rigidity, and overthinking originate.
Thoughts are just that–thoughts. They are not reality, even though they may feel like it at times. Emotions influence thoughts, and thoughts influence emotions, and both can change with a change in outer circumstances. Thoughts about ourselves and others are often based on inaccurate information, assumptions, and the opinions of others. Emotions, too, are often based on inaccurate information, biases, and misperceptions. If thoughts and emotions are so mercurial and often depend on what is happening in the outer world, where do we find true guidance?
The heart is the seat of truth and wisdom, our one true navigator. The heart is the place of a deep inner knowing, an inner knowing that goes even beyond emotions and intuition. Sometimes this inner knowing does not make sense to the logical and rational mind. That is when I trust it the most, even when I don't fully understand its message. The heart knows all and sees all, and the mind often has to play catch-up. All answers lie within the heart. We only have to get still and listen, not always an easy thing to do.
When we are fully connected with the wisdom of the heart, we don't care if people think differently from us. We don't expect or anticipate the worst from others. Our heart goes out to others until it is proven unwise to do so. The heart sees beyond someone's appearance or the way they talk or what they do for a living. The heart sees with kindness and compassion the human being that stands before them. The fully engaged heart is the source of true peace.
Many things in life can hurt the heart. A good heart can be tripped up by harsh life experiences and become calloused. Pain and hurt can cause us to close our hearts, which means ignoring our feelings. Our hearts may become cold. We may learn not to feel, and we shut down emotionally.
A beautiful heart and kind nature can make one feel vulnerable, weak, and fearful of being trampled. Kindness and compassion are not weaknesses at all; a heart of gold is a powerful thing. Until a person fully matures, he/she may feel that a beautiful heart cannot fully function in this world.
How does one rejuvenate a heart that has been hurt or reconnect to a heart from which one has disconnected? Perhaps the first step is simply to slow down, quiet the mind, and get in touch with feelings, body sensations, and a quiet inner voice that I cannot easily explain. The shift from the cognitive into sensations and feelings can be complicated.
Take time for self-reflection. When you are engaging in an activity for work or pleasure, ask yourself if this feels right to you. Or does something feel off about a situation or a person? You don't need to understand what exactly is off, but notice how these questions and answers feel in the body. Do you feel tense, relaxed, open, resistant? Who and what do you enjoy? What makes you feel alive? What brings you peace? Where do you find purpose and meaning? Again, you don't need to understand all the why's (that is the mind needing to understand); you simply need to recognize the feelings and sensations and honor them. Give yourself time and just learn to pay attention to what your body, emotions, and intuition are telling you.
To best navigate life on earth, both heart and mind need to be fully engaged. When your heart is not fully engaged and your inner being is disconnected, your efforts are robotic and superficial. They lack purpose and meaning. Maybe the heart is telling you that this is not right for you. Or maybe it it telling you that something or someone is no longer a fit for you. Learn to pay attention to those feelings and sensations. If your heart is not in it, why do it?
Scientific studies at the National Institute of Health have shown that the heart actually sends more signals to the brain than vice versa. This evidence supports ancient and universal spiritual teachings that tell us that everything begins in the heart. The heart is where all the answers lie, no matter what the problem--depression, anxiety, loneliness.
So, if we do find ourselves feeling scared, angry, or depressed, remember that this comes from the mind, from overthinking. When you are in this place, you are out of touch with the wisdom of your heart. These emotions can create uncomfortable sensations in the body. You can become desensitized and numb to your feelings. The antidote is to get in touch with your heart. That is where all your wisdom lies. Your wisdom is within you, not in the outside world. So let your heart be your guide.
Next Month: Gratitude Keeps the Heart Open