One Cool Free Idea

I’ve been thinking lately about living more heartfully.  More “from the heart” as opposed to from the intellect, which for me is so often a stadium of disparaging voices trying to talk me into some more logical ways of living and learning and creating.

I know that when you live from the heart, or your core, you live a different kind of life. And I am pretty certain that a heartful life is a more authentic and wise one. The wisdom of the ages tells us knowledge and the power inherent in our true “selves” lies within the realm of our hearts - hence the old adage to “follow your heart” - that heart knows how to open a gateway for you to self-realization and fulfillment.

But it takes alot of courage to listen to and learn from your heart’s wisdom, doesn’t it?  Did you know the word courage derives from the French word “coeur” which translates as ‘heart?’  So living courageously is in essence living bravely from and with your heart.  ”Laisse parler ton coeur” means “let your heart speak.”  And isn’t that what the creative process is?

I say making art is essential heartfelt living.  Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning “spinning wheel of energy”. The fourth (of seven) chakras is the heart chakra, which governs spiritual direction and wisdom. Energy centered here involves complex emotions, compassion, tenderness, unconditional love, and well-being…all key determinants to living authentically, passionately and creatively.

When you live only from your head or intellect at the expense of listening to your heart, you create a system of demands that you must always have a plan; you are trying to “beat the odds” of failure by hedging your bets and taking what you perceive to be safe, predictable paths.

But what it really implies is that you are constantly looking backwards in memory for the predictors of success instead of plunging headlong into the uncertainty that ultimately creates new energy and new creation.

A popular quote (unattributed) says “Follow your heart but be quiet for a while first.  Ask questions then feel the answer.  Learn to trust your heart.” It’s a classic meditation seeking guidance from your heart.

Steve Jobs pointed to this same wisdom in a commencement speech in 2005.  ”You can’t connect the dots looking forward,” he said.  ”You can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.

“Don’t lose faith,” he continued. “You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

Before she became the white-hot author of the Fire Starter Sessions at White Hot Truth, blogger Danielle LaPorte told the Huffington Post: “Authenticity is the force of your nature.  When you bring all of you to the look, the feel, and the spirit of your life, your “outsides” begin to match your “insides.” And something truly magical will happen. You will continue to become even more of your self. You will have more of what you want. You will become fearless.”

I’d even say courageous.

Now let’s go for it.