There are more and more people talking about following their heart today than ever before. When we trust our intuition and follow our heart we are tapping into our internal guidance system or intuitive GPS. Some people do it part time or when it seems convenient while others are committed to following their heart with every decision.
Over the last decade I have strengthened in my commitment to follow my heart and I am what you would consider full time. Yes there is the occasional decision that may be made unconsciously but 99% of the time I am leading with my heart. When I don’t lead with my heart I am aware or become aware shortly after the decision because I am practicing present moment awareness and I recognize the resistance, big or small.
I was once told that individuals doing personal growth or spiritual development are only about 5% of the population. That statistic surprised me because I surround myself with others that are committed to healing and growing. I have come to realize that the 5% consists of a lot of part timers and the truth is only about 1% of the population is fully committed to their spiritual development and following their heart 100% of the time.
Following your heart takes courage and deep trust because our mind doesn’t always understand why we are guided to do certain things. I teach my Heart Led Living members that we are often walking with blind faith and that takes courage.
I arrived home on Sunday from a trip to Africa on behalf of my Heart Led Living Foundation. After 10 days in Kenya visiting Mothers and children living in extreme poverty my heart was deeply touched. I was there in support of a dear friend and social worker who runs a business academy to empower Mothers and uplift families. My intention is to help her create sustainability for the foundation so she can help many more women.
In my calendar I was scheduled to arrive home on Sunday from Kenya and leave to Salt Lake City on Tuesday morning for a huge annual convention with about 10,000 people. My trip to Kenya was very last minute and I followed the guidance around the dates and trusted I would have enough energy to make the transition from two extreme environments.
On Monday morning as I was unpacking from my Kenya trip and preparing to go to Salt Lake City I noticed a couple of emails from friends who were no longer able to attend convention. I remained curious and suddenly the question came into my awareness “am I to go to convention still?”
I have never cancelled a trip before in my life. My flight, hotel, event ticket and everything I needed was already arranged. I remained open and curious. When I tuned in with my soul sister Lisa Windsor I felt great relief in the idea of not going then I felt slight fear around how much money I would have to pay by cancelling. Again I remained open and curious and allowed my fear to wash up and out.
One of the tools I teach my clients and my coaches in training is to release any and all attachments to what the answer is. Many people complain that they can’t hear their heart or feel disconnected from their inner guidance. The insight is always coming to us. It is always given when we ask but it is our fear that blocks us from hearing or receiving it. It is often fear about what the answer may be that causes the block.
Here are the steps to help you release fear around receiving guidance.
Step 1: Give over any attachment to the answer. Be will willing to see or hear the answer and give yourself full permission not to follow the guidance. This opens up space in the mind to receive and to make a choice to follow or not. This helps dissolve fear.
Step 2: Drop your awareness down into your heart and ask for guidance or clarity. It may even help to place your hand on your heart.
Step 3: Imagine your mind is wide open to anything and listen with your inner ear. You may receive an image, words, colours, a feeling in your body, it may come through someone else, you may see a magazine heading…guidance can come from anywhere as long as you are listening and open to receive it. Keep in mind sometimes there is no guidance. Spirit works on a need to know basis only. It doesn’t mean you are not connected, it simply means there is no guidance at this moment. Continue to be wide open anything and attached to nothing.
Step 4: Once you receive guidance, feel into it. You will likely feel an expansion or softness or rightness in your heart. If there is fear present look directly at it so you can wash it up. If you don’t do this your guidance will become buried under your fear and doubt will creep in. The FEAR process may be a helpful tool for you.
Step 5: Trust the guidance. If doubt is persistent it is helpful to join with someone who is heart led and can tune in with you. We do this a lot as a community. Joining is a process where one or more will tune in and receive guidance or intuition for another. It helps strengthen our faith in our own intuition as well it deepens the practice of trusting the guidance.
Step 6: Take inspired action only. Now that you received guidance stay tuned in on the actions steps to take. Your heart will direct you moment to moment. This is one of the “Heart Led Living” principles from my book. If you need more support in leading with your heart my book is filled with tools for integration.
So when I received guidance around the idea of not going to the convention I was wide open to a spiritual re-direction. I followed the guidance in each moment as if I was following a recipe. In doing so I found someone to take over my hotel booking without penalty, buy my event ticket from me, I was able to change my flight to another date in November for my Mexico retreat and my husband and family were excited that I wasn’t leaving them after being in Africa for 10 days. I felt this deep space opening for me to process my experiences in Africa and reach out to others for support around my new vision for the Mothers in Kibera. It was a win win win for all.
As challenging as it can be sometimes to follow the guidance, when you follow your heart miracles are the side effect. I celebrate each and every miracle because in doing so I become even stronger and more committed to following my heart. So the next time I am faced with a decision that may be judged by others, I am solid in the knowing that by following my heart it is for everyone’s highest good including me.
I am 100% committed to following my heart because I am 100% committed to my purpose in life which is to inspire and empower healing in self and others. We are all in this together and every time we follow our heart we are contributing to the healing of everyone and awakening the hearts of all. It is worth it! You are worth it! We are all worth it!
So the next time you receive guidance and are afraid to follow ask yourself “How committed am I to following my heart?”
