Are you living in your head or from your heart?
What does it feel like to live in our heads? When we live in our heads we over think, we easily tire, we literally feel our minds buzzing with distractions. We feel mentally, spiritually, and emotionally cluttered. Living in our heads is heavy, burdensome, and tiring.
What does it feel like to live from our hearts? We feel connected to God, to ourselves, and to others. We feel passion and love. We enjoy the moment. We’re serene and happy.
Living in our heads is draining; living from our hearts is invigorating. Living in our heads drives us to isolate.; living from our hearts leads us to connect more deeply with others.
I think many of us are disconnected from our hearts. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that the heart is “the place of encounter.” The heart is the deepest center of the person, the place where we are most authentically ourselves, the place where we encounter the living and Triune God. The more we connect with our hearts, the more we connect with the Lord who dwells in us.
So how do we make this journey from living in our heads to living from our hearts? I’ve been trying to do just that. I’ve consciously distanced myself from technology. I’ve gotten off of Facebook and Twitter and disabled email on my iPhone. Yes, I still use the internet and email daily, but I’ve consciously stepped away from a lot of it. It’s made a big impact in a short amount of time. I’m more peaceful, and I’m more connected to the Lord, myself, and others.
So here are some steps you can take to get out of your head and into your heart:
- Minimize distractions in your daily life. Let technology be your servant not your master.
- Declutter. Get rid of the clothes you don’t need. Clean off your desk. Get rid of those items you’ve been wanting to throw away.
- Consciously slow down during the day. Remember that you are a temple of the Lord.
- Make time for daily silence; open your heart to the Lord in deeper prayer.
- Be present to people. Look them in the eyes. Be conscious that God is present in your encounter with each and every person.
- Commit to some type of physical exercise.
- Enjoy nature.
- Laugh.
If you enjoyed this post please share it:
I find that being at peace and calm is a hard thing for me. I’ve lived
in a world of protecting myself from people because of the traumatic
life I led when I was growing up. Everyday I pray to be healed and not
be in tension all the time. I want to live in peace and calm to serve our
Lord. I am living from the heart and I do love our Lord very much. He has
brought me many miracles lately am very grateful everyday for that. I’m
very blessed. I let him know that I am in love with him as I serve him. I’m ready for living in holiness.
Sincerely, Jo Jones
Jo,
It sounds like the Lord is doing good things in your heart. Keep it simple, and live one day at a time.
Thank you so much for this wonderful blog Fr. Mike! As I read it I can visualize different moments I have spent in each of these situations and it has been exactly as you have described. For me too technology tends to become a distraction and I find myself having to take technologically free retreats in order to recenter and refocus Who is really important to me. Keep up the wonderful blogging and letting us encounter Him through your words. God bless always.
Thanks Christine! We should all take those technology free retreats once in a while.
Hi Fr., I too have been slowly retreating from all things that steal my peace and ruin my sensitivity to the Spirit. A book came to mind while reading your post, the Eastern Orthodox book “The Way of a Pilgrim,” by R.M. French, where the Russian peasant seeks to learn how to “pray without ceasing”. First praying with his lips and his mind, then eventually it leading to prayer of the heart, where even when he slept, his prayer continued. Keep striving for holiness, as you continue to be an encouragement to others. Peace.
Dennis,
Thanks for reading and commenting!
I’m so glad I found your corner of the writing world – I’ve been searching for such a long time for balanced living within a Christian faith and never found something that resonated with me. Thank you!
Elle,
I’m glad you stumbled upon my blog! Thanks for reading and commenting. Keep coming back!
Peace