Let Your Heart Lead. Eventually, Your Feet Will Catch Up

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Reflections

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Posted On August 3, 2018

“Our hearts are always leading us,” a spiritual mentor instructed me years ago. “And eventually, our feet catch up.”

Her insight inspires me. It reminds me that our hearts (not our minds) are the core of our Being. Our hearts are the inner GPS (global positioning system) that links our mind, body, and emotions so they work in harmony. We can rely upon this heart-based connection to balance and rebalance our lives and grow in inner peace and wisdom.

The task is to listen to our hearts and then, let them guide us as we journey through life.

One way to see whether we’re letting our hearts lead—instead of our bossy minds—is to look at the nine-character traits of heart-based living: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

By occasionally scanning our hearts to see how often these positive attributes show up in our daily lives and attitudes, we can monitor and adjust our life’s course—much like we do with a GPS.

Here’s a way to fact-check ourselves regarding each life-giving quality:

Love—Am I experiencing deeper connections with God, others, and myself?

Joy—Do I have a growing sense of awe as I realize I’m safe and my life has purpose?

Peace—Does an inner calm flow through me as I remember “All is well?”

Patience—Am I willing to let life unfold naturally?

Kindness—Do my words and actions build up myself and others?

Generosity—Do I live the law of abundance, knowing what I have is “enough,” and then share my “enough” with others?

Faithfulness—Do I trust my Higher Power and work with him as a team—he’s the coach and I’m the player?

Gentleness—Are my words and actions peaceful? Do I practice pausing before I respond to others so I can remain calm, centered?

Self-control—Do I observe my behavior and gently correct it when it needs adjustment?

I took a few moments recently to do a heart-scan using the above check-in questions. I realized my self-control could use some rebalancing. I’ve developed a snarky inner critic that judges myself and others by my self-imposed standards. And that snark can come out sideways and begin trash-talking out loud.

So, I asked the Creator to give me the gentle discipline to notice and correct my self-talk when the inner critic grabs the throne. I asked him to help me let go of negativity and lean into the fruit of kindness so my words build up myself and others.

I also found this self-check affirmed areas where I’m finding more balance. The gift of faithfulness continues to grow stronger as I lean into God as my Divine Coach who helps me call the plays on the field of daily life. And when I notice an imbalance in my attitudes and behavior, I’m becoming more willing to stop and ask the Creator for directions.

Maybe doing a heart-check is one way we can practice becoming the best version of ourselves. And after some practice, perhaps we can stop, look back over our shoulders, and realize our hearts were always leading us. Eventually, our feet caught up.

Ponder: Let your heart lead, and your feet catch up.

Something to try: Take a heart-scan using the above questions. In which areas are you growing? Where are you being invited to rebalance your GPS?

—brian j plachta
brianplachta.net

Written by Brian J. Plachta

Following the Breadcrumbs God Leaves Along Our Path

What if God is speaking through ordinary moments more often than we realize?

A conversation that stays with us. A door that closes. A quiet nudge we can’t quite explain. An unexpected invitation that seems to come at just the right time.

The challenge is learning to notice these moments before we have any idea where they’re leading, and trusting the next step.

Over time, we may begin to see that God’s guidance doesn’t always come as an answer. Sometimes, it comes as a trail.

What to Do When God Seems Silent

Has silence ever made you feel like God is far away? When we feel this way, it’s easy to start looking for answers or waiting for a clear sign. But prayer can also be as simple as slowing down and noticing what’s already here. The breeze. The waves. Your breath. The quiet. God’s presence doesn’t always come through words. Sometimes we just need to be still enough to notice.

Let God Alone Define You

Ever have someone’s words get stuck in your head?
Maybe they criticized you, misunderstood you, or told a story about you that doesn’t feel true. And before long, you’re holding a courtroom in your mind—defending yourself, replaying the conversation, wondering if maybe they’re right.

There’s another way.

Bring it into the quiet with God.

Ask: Is there something here I need to learn? Is there something I need to own? And what was never mine to carry in the first place?

We can stay humble enough to receive the truth without letting someone else’s opinion become our identity.

Because in the end, God alone defines you.

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