April / May 2006

What’s on your mind today? Is it the mortgage payment, your child’s dental appointment, or the other 101 tasks that need to be accomplished before you can finally call it a day? Is your mind constantly barking orders at you — Do this! Do that! — until you want to tell it to shut the (bleep) up? Who’s running the show here, your mind or your heart? Because if it’s your mind, you’re in deep yogurt!

by Barbara Davies, ND

But, I hear you shout, who else do I listen to? Who else can keep me on track? Who else can keep me from screwing up? I can’t ignore my brain, for Pete’s sake! Everything will fall apart. Are you mad? No, I’m not totally bonkers; I’ve just learned the hard way. And the hard way involves letting the mind make all of the decisions. Because the mind, while very useful, can’t see the big picture, can’t know all of the variables, can’t know what’s best for you at any given moment. That’s the heart’s job. I used to share your disbelief. Bear with me while I explain what I’ve learned. While, on one level, it seems that the heart simply pumps blood and keeps everything running, on a deep spiritual level the heart is where the soul resides. Your energy field (your soul-essence) surrounds you and permeates every cell in your body. You are your soul. But the “home base” of your soul is in your heart. That’s where your truth lies. That’s where you’re most deeply connected to your highest self.

Therefore, that’s who should be in charge.

Some believe that God exists outside of us, somewhere out in the ethers. But everything—everything—in the universe bears the stamp of Divinity, is a part of the Divine. Is Divine. Your soul carries that “God-ness,” and that God-ness exists in every part of you—even in the spaces in between: in between cells, in between breaths, in between heartbeats. But that Divinity is condensed, focused, in your heart.

So, when people tell you to “follow your heart,” they are often unaware that what they’re really saying is to follow your Divinity. Follow the instructions of your heart, because they are from God. From the part of God that is you.

If you get quiet, and ask your heart what it wants in any given situation, it will tell you. Don’t worry – you probably won’t hear a voice speaking to you. (Although you could!) Most likely you will be given a picture, or experience a feeling, or even have a word or two pop into your mind, seemingly from nowhere.

If you don’t trust this “answer,” then wait a bit and try again. Maybe rephrase the question, or open yourself to more options, because the mind, while extremely important and helpful in many situations, also can be limiting and fear-based. Ask your mind to step back for a minute and let your heart lead you.

If your mind won’t cooperate, won’t give up control, reassure it that it will always have important jobs to do. Somebody still has to help you balance the checkbook and keep track of your appointments! Let the mind know you want it to work with the heart, with your soul’s purpose, not against it. Give the mind specific tasks to do and let it know that you intend to keep it “in the loop” regarding what your goals are. What your dreams are. What you intend to do with your life.

If you do this one simple thing, if you listen to your heart on a daily basis (perhaps many times a day), decisions made with your heart will be much easier to implement and much more joyful and fulfilling than the endless tasks set forth for you by your brain. Let the mind do its job, but at the behest of the heart, not in conflict with it. Life will be so much better.

But, don’t take my word for it. Try it and see for yourself. Tune in to your own heart and see what transpires. You’ll be amazed at the wonders the universe has in store for you.

Barbara Davies is a a licensed naturopathic physician and writer whose focus is on working with Spirit to heal the emotional/spiritual body along with the physical. She can be reached at: www.barbaralight.com and 1-425-231-4342

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