The heart knows & the mind thinks. So what do we do about it?

We live in an age where the intellect is valued over all else. Johnny needs to get good grades or he won’t get a good job. Jenny needs to think more about making the “right” decisions. This is what society would have you believe. (be-lie-ve. Emphasis on the lie)

When Jenny over thinks, this leads to anxiety, stress & analysis paralysis. Johnny tries to fit in a box that society has pre-ordained for him, to get a job that pays well, so he can class himself as successful. Both situations lead to stress, both lead to misery over the long run.

When I was in school, I had trouble focusing, I didn’t enjoy most of what was taught & I didn’t learn any useful life skills, like overcoming anxiety, being comfortable with who you are, learning to budget, critical thinking, understanding Spirituality etc & the list goes on. That was 20 years ago & I don’t believe too much has changed.

So I guess life taught me these lessons & I learned in the real world on a real journey. What I’ve learned is this: The heart is nearly 10 times stronger than the brain electro-magnetically. Our hearts could power a city. Now there’s always going to be a place for reason & logic, but not when it paralyses us. If we are to evolve as a species, we need to learn to use the Mind & Heart together.

There are many ways to connect with your Heart (intuition), but the best way through my experience has been meditation. You don’t always have to sit & close your eyes either. Meditation could be watching clouds pass by, or staring at a tree bend in the wind, or it could be done whilst walking.

What matters is you find a way to get out of your head. Because we engage with the mind far too often than is necessary. Stillness, especially with eyes closed allows you to go within, feel your breath, feel your heart beat. It’s all about feeling, not thinking. “But that’s the trouble Matthew, I can’t stop thinking”. I would say, that’s not a trouble. This is normal, particularly in the beginning.

Here’s some tips, try meditating either first thing in the morning or just before bed, the closer to sleep, the easier it is to meditate. Sit, stand, lie down, doesn’t matter, as long as you’re comfortable & not disturbed. Set a timer & start with 5 minutes. If that’s easy, add more time next time, if it’s hard, try one minute of focusing on a place you love. When the thoughts come rushing in, imagine they are clouds passing by or floating on a leaf down a lake.

You are now training your mind to detach from your thoughts, you are re-wiring your brain. Do this 3-4 times per week. After about a month, you will find the volume on your mind has quietened. You will also become more aware of negative or useless thoughts, a pattern you can change because you are now The Watcher, The Observer. The mind serves you, rather than vice versa.

Now you’ve done well, but intuition is like a muscle. You need to use it otherwise it goes dormant. Every single time you need to make a decision, I want you to start to Feel first. Don’t think, don’t think, don’t… think. Does it feel right or wrong, take a deep breath, take a moment, be still. The more you operate from this point of awareness, the more your heart will lead you like a compass to the most amazing places that your mind couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

Try this and let me know if you notice any changes in your life.