What’s Guiding Your Decisions - Your Head or Your Heart?
Published on 16 Feb 2009 at 9:16 am.
18 Comments.
Filed under Business Development, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
Does it matter?
I’d say yes because when we make decisions without bringing our heart into the equation, the outcomes can be very different and less fulfilling.
For example, if you are feeling a lot of fear about the recession, you might be thinking, “Ok, what do I need to do for …myself, my family, my business, my future, my security, my sanity….. so I can be/feel peacefull, in control, responsible, safe…..?”
While that’s a logical question to consider, the energy and motivation behind your thinking and decision-making process is fear. Fear-based decisions rarely bring lasting peaceful and fulfilling results; they usually perpetuate more fear and can generate guilt, doubt, and regrets.
The key is listening to your inner wisdom; the voice that whispers to you, trying to get your attention over the noise in your head. And, you must be present to hear the calling of your spirit in those moments of silence in between your thoughts.
Do you listen?
When I was in LA a few weeks ago I realized I was out of alignment with many of the choices I had made with my business. A while back I made a conscious decision to bring spiritual principles into my business practices. What that meant was tuning into my soul’s intention and guidance for direction when making business and life decisions. I wanted to be sure I was saying YES to the things that aligned with my spirit rather than what I thought I should be doing or what I was reacting to out of fear.
Discerning whether it is your head or your heart (soul, spirit, The Divine) guiding you might seem tricky.
Here are some ways I can tell the difference
1. Do I feel excited and juiced? Am I rationalizing, trying to talk myself into something, reacting from fear or shoulds? Am I being influenced by the enthusiasm of someone else and getting caught up in their excitement and urgency, especially when there is money involved? Now, I stop, take a few breaths, get quiet, tune into my body and “feel” into the idea. When I listen, I always know whether something is right for me.
2. It “feels right” and comes from an inner knowing that is very peaceful within me. I just know, period. No additional thought is needed. A decision that feels scary or uncomfortable is still the right choice when it comes from ”my gut” intuition and instinct. The more I have tested and followed my intuition and had good results, the more I have come to trust it - like a muscle you develop.
How often have you jumped on board with an idea, program, or company in the hopes of making BIG BUCKS quickly? How many times have you had a feeling about something, a gut instinct that you ignored because you didn’t trust yourself, and went to others for advice only to realize your original feeling was the right one for you? Have you ever regretted a decision because you didn’t pay attention to your heart?
Read Ari Koinuma’s great article on 9 Ways To Tell You’re Listening To Intuition.
3. The message repeats, catching my attention two to three times. You know those times when you have a thought and it pops up again in your mind or from a person, TV, radio, newspaper…..? By the second (and definitely the third time) By the second (and definitely the third time) I receive the same message, I’m taking action. I take that as a signal from my spirit that I am meant to do or be something NOW. When I sense that inner prodding to, “Do It and do it NOW,” I do!
4. I feel happy and lighter. When I was in LA a few weeks ago I realized I was out of alignment with many of the choices I had made with my business. Over the holidays I planned to take the last week in December off. Did I? NO. I began the New Year feeling tired, stressed, and over committed. While some of the projects I was working on were interesting, I felt I was working too hard and waaaay out of balance. In LA, I clearly saw and felt what I needed to let go of regardless of any potential financial rewards. Within one week of coming home, I cleared several things off my plate to create space for what’s next to flow into my life. I could feel instant relief and ease. When I made the decision to say yes to writing my book, I felt an inner joy inside as if my spirit was jumping up and down saying, “FINALLY, thank you!”
5. God/The Divine/The Universe is the SOURCE of my supply. All the abundance and good that flows into my life is not dependent on what I DO; it is more about who I am and how vibrationally aligned I am with my dreams, desires, and destiny. Being in faith, trusting your intuition and inner guidance with the willingness to take action even if it makes no logical sense and yet, it feels so RIGHT….. is the path to becoming the best and highest version of who you are. You must be “out of your mind to be into your heart”. Who you are Be-ing (first) and what you are Do-ing (second) affects what you are manifesting.
Our soul/spirit speaks to us through our emotions and inspired thoughts. Our mind is meant to be a tool used by our spirit in a physical body.
So, what is guiding your choices and actions?
Cheers,
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
Barbara on 16 Feb 2009 at 9:33 am: 1
I too, am committed to descernment. Thanks for some clear and easy to follow indicators to assess my alignment with that core value.
lorraine on 16 Feb 2009 at 8:38 pm: 2
I’m paying much more attention to my inner guidance Barbara especially about whether I feel excited and juiced about it because it feel right. I’m saying no to many more things because they aren’t what really calls to my heart. The result is a lot more satisfaction and abundance.
Nicholas Powiull on 17 Feb 2009 at 8:02 pm: 3
The ironic thing about this, is that once people let go of these fears and only concentrate on what is in their hearts, then they attract the illusions as well (it brings all the logical things to you). Even though at this point (the point of following the heart completely) the illusions are their least concern. The less they are concerned about it, the more of it they attract.
This is why following your heart/passion is so important: it also attracts everything else you could ever desire in reality without trying. You do not have to try to follow your heart, your heart will lead you exactly to where you want to be. All you have to do is not change your focus. Stay active in your heart. That is what the most important thing in life is all about and that is the key to success. Successful people, are people who follow their joy/ happiness/ passion NO MATTER WHAT. They do not let illusions and fears stop them from doing what their heart says to do. They have no expectations to any illusion (money, time, surviving, paying bills) because they have no logic. They have no fears to life, they are only concerned with following what is real. What resides in the core of their being.
* “Logic: The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding.” ~Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) American Writer, Journalist and Editor.
* “The want of logic annoys. Too much logic bores. Life eludes logic, and everything that logic alone constructs remains artificial and forced.” ~Andre Gide (1869 - 1951) French Author and Winner of the Nobel Prize.
* “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” ~Albert Einstein (1879-1955) Theoretical Physicist.
* “No, no, you’re not thinking; you’re just being logical.” ~Niels Bohr (1885 -1962) Nobel Prize winner in Physics.
* “Man is not logical and his intellectual history is a record of mental reserves and compromises. He hangs on to what he can in his old beliefs even when he is compelled to surrender their logical basis.” ~John Dewey (1859-1952) an American Philosopher, Psychologist, and Educational Reformer.
And of my favorite quote applies here as well:
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” ~George Bernard Shaw(1856 - 1950) Irish Dramatist & Socialist.
Thank you for the inspiration
lorraine on 18 Feb 2009 at 12:29 am: 4
Thank you for adding your brilliance to the conversation Nicholas.
Ther is great the power in our passions to fuel our commitment and courage to do whatever it takes to fulfill the desires of our soul.
I’m in favor of being unreasonable!
Blessings,
Lorraine
Evelyn Lim on 18 Feb 2009 at 10:07 pm: 5
I’m also trying to paying more attention to my intuition. But it’s not been very easy since my decisions have largely been ruled by my conscious mind previously. It takes courage to be okay with not having all the answers, and instead to allow ourselves to take the next natural step that is in alignment with our higher selves.
Carolin on 18 Feb 2009 at 11:40 pm: 6
It’s so easy to try to be logical and rational. But if your heart is not with you your decisions will not lead to success.
Thanks for a great post!
lorraine on 19 Feb 2009 at 5:43 pm: 7
You bet Evelyn
It’s a different way of discerning choices from a place of knowing that doesn’t always make sense logically. That’s what faith and trust is about.
lorraine on 19 Feb 2009 at 5:45 pm: 8
Absolutely Carolin
When I follow my heart/spirit/The Divine my expertience is always richer although not always comfortable.
Ellie Walsh - Living the Law of Attraction on 19 Feb 2009 at 7:31 pm: 9
Hi Lorraine…
Great Post! If someone asks me “Are you out of your mind?!” - I am soooo happy as I know I am truly on “my” path and not the path of “they said - I should”
Thanks!
lorraine on 20 Feb 2009 at 8:55 am: 10
LOL Ellie
That’s my barometer! If it feels so right, what others think is all about their path, not mine.
Coryelle Kramer~Animal Communicator on 20 Feb 2009 at 2:52 pm: 11
Now that is true, always listen to the guidance coming from your heart, it will never lead you in the wrong direction. I loved this post
lorraine on 20 Feb 2009 at 2:59 pm: 12
Thank you Coryelle,
I have found that to be so true. It takes courage to follow your heart especially when it seems crazy or other people think you’re wrong or nuts. Each time I follow my intuition and wisdom, I am always led to where I am meant to be.
Amber on 21 Feb 2009 at 12:12 pm: 13
Fantastic Lorraine! I love the..”you must be out of your mind to be in your heart.” So true!! You offer beautiful insight and clarity into matters of the heart. Thanks for your inspiration today. I agree with Nicholas completely!. No fears and aligning yourself up with your passions and the universe causes everything to develop with ease…life becomes easy and a pleasure! Love this post.
lorraine on 21 Feb 2009 at 12:37 pm: 14
Thanks for your comment Amber,
The more I tune in, the easier I can feel and hear the clarity of my soul’s desire. Keep listening and follow the calling of your heart.
PS. Check out my NEW website: http://www.isayyesnow.com
Kathleen on 5 Aug 2010 at 8:22 am: 15
Ahhhh! The unravelling of old beliefs. The challenge to let go and TRUST for our Highest Good can only steer us to higher ground. Thank you for sharing your insightfull wisdom.
Namaste
lorraine on 6 Aug 2010 at 3:41 pm: 16
Amen Kathleen
It is an ongoing unraveling to reveal the greater truth and deepen our connection with Source. Yes, the challenge is to follow our inner guidance rather than to empower the stories and illusions our mind creates. The question is, What is the truth and what is the dream?
francis on 15 Aug 2010 at 9:37 am: 17
I believe some decision requires more than logic; logic can be overrated at times. Your heart is the machine of your very life, it should always be considered in decision making. This is a great post.
lorraine on 16 Aug 2010 at 5:44 pm: 18
Amen Francis
It is the combination of listening and following our inner knowing with sound logic and practices that can create miracles.