Move From Head to Heart in 3 Easy Steps

It's not that the mind is bad. It's a powerful tool to use for planning, sorting details and taking action steps. But it is not the sole place you or I are meant to live from. There is a deeper place that we can inhabit on a more regular basis.
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If you had asked me five years ago the best way to make a decision, I would have answered you emphatically with the following: make a list of pros and cons, assess possible outcomes from all vantage points and take yourself through each likely scenario until the winning solution presents itself.

Whew. Are you exhausted yet?

Not surprisingly, that head-centered approach to life left me depleted, frustrated and burnt out. But in a culture that often reveres the power of the mind over the heart, I didn't even realize that I had other options. Options that didn't include Excel spreadsheets, pros/cons lists and endless hours of processing.

I soon discovered that a head-centric way of life rarely, if ever, leads to the abundant, deeply rewarding life that I craved. It's not that the mind is bad. It's a powerful tool to use for planning, sorting details and taking action steps. But it is not the sole place you or I are meant to live from.

There is a deeper place that we can inhabit on a more regular basis. A place where our inner heart truth can be accessed so that we can live in the richness we deserve.

And good news, because getting there needn't take hours logged on a therapist's or our best friend's couch. We have the ability to tap into our inner heart truth in mere minutes. Curious? Ready? Follow the three steps below to connect to your inner heart truth now.

Step 1: Step away from the information overload. Leave your cell phone, iPad, laptop, Kindle and whatever other electronics typically surround you in another room. Find a comfy and peaceful place to sit quietly (sometimes yes, your only option may be the bathroom -- but do whatever you need to get away from it all momentarily).

Step 2: Take 4-7 deep belly breaths, placing one hand on your lower belly. Breathe into your hand, allowing your inhale to extend your belly out as far as possible and on the exhale allowing your belly to sink into your body. Make this breathing your only focus.

Step 3: Next, place your right hand on your heart and your left hand on the top of your head. Focus your attention first on your left hand on your head and then slowly move your attention to your right hand on your heart. Feel the fingers in your right hand and feel the skin of your chest (or collar of your shirt). Slowly begin to lightly tap over the head and heart -- right hand tapping over heart, left hand over the top of the head. After about 10 seconds, move your left hand from the top of your head to over your right hand on your heart. Gradually slow down the tapping, resting both hands over your heart center. Breathe into your heart for 4-7 breaths. Visualize green love light emanating from your chest.

When you feel ready, open your eyes. Notice how the colors in the room appear brighter than before, how your breath has slowed down and how you may suddenly have clarity about something that was ailing you.

Welcome to being connected to your inner heart truth.

Use this exercise as often as you need. If you're a head-led superstar (as I used to be) you may need to do this several times a day until a heart-centered approach becomes more of a habit. Soon though, you'll experience a greater connection to inner heart truth without the impediment of the mind.

Take five minutes to do this exercise now and tell us what you noticed in the comments below. As always, please feel free to reach out with questions here.

For more by Heather Strang, click here.

For more on emotional wellness, click here.

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