4 keys to recognize your Heart’s voice

So many people (including me!) will tell you to follow your heart or listen to your heart. It sounds so simple.  It is not simple.

It takes practice and careful discernment to recognize the voice that comes from your heart and not your mind.  I am not knocking the mind.  It is a great tool and will do its best to find you an answer to your concern or problem.

But what if you want a deeper answer, one from your Heart?

In 1978 when I received the inspiration for the winged heart, it came with the words “always follow your heart in all ways”. That is almost 40 years ago! And I have been a student of the instruction all this time. I have practiced it in counseling and in my own life. It is not simple but I find there is great value in learning to listen to your own heart and to the hearts of others.  There is a lot of wisdom available!

It is not always easy to be sure that what you are hearing or sensing is a message from the Heart. The mind, emotions and imagination regularly jump in and clamor for attention and muck up the communication channels.

When I speak of the Heart, I am speaking of the spiritual Heart. In my experience, the true Heart is the loving of the center of your being.

So what are a few keys to recognize when it is your Heart that is calling or leading you?

Key # 1 KINDNESS: The heart is always kind. Kindness is a key. Kindness can be firm and strong. Remember the phrase “tough love”? Kindness comes in a lot of forms but it is never hatred, intolerance, meanness or selfishness. It is and includes goodness, understanding, gentleness, thoughtfulness and grace.

Key # 2 ENCOURAGEMENT: The true Heart will encourage you. It is positive and uplifting in its messages, never critical or hurtful. I have always loved the word “encouragement”. When I break it down and see the parts (‘en’ from French meaning to cause to be in; ‘cour’ from French and Latin meaning heart; ‘age’ meaning a length of time; and ‘ment’ from Latin meaning the result or product of an action) I hear the word as – a time of the heart. This is a lovely thing to give or to receive. Encouragement is a key.

Key # 3 KNOWING: The Heart understands what the mind cannot. The Heart just “knows”. Have you ever had that experience when you “just know”, defying all logic and information? That may be the wisdom of the Heart. Don’t just trust it though; check it out. It is also a very quiet voice. You really have to quiet the mind to hear the heart. It is sometimes like a whisper on the wind…very gentle. You really have to want to recognize it and get past the noise of the mind and emotions.  The experience of “knowing” or understanding can be a key.

Key # 4 HUMOR: Last of these 4 keys but definitely not least is humor. When the heart is present or when you are present in your heart center, there is laughter and joy or at least the opening for it. This is often why we laugh at a joke. The heart recognizes the truth and is moved.   Humor is a key that opens the Heart’s door and can move you into your Heart quickly.

These are just a few of the Heart’s key qualities.  There are many more.  These are the 4 that I find most commonly showing up in my art, Heart Haiku’s,  and when I counsel myself and others.  Years ago, a young man gave me some advice.  He said “Listen with your Heart and you’ll do fine.”  I find it still good advice.