Over the past couple weeks I’ve become so absorbed in writing about my thoughts that I’ve forgotten about updating my website about my personal journey!

Right – things have progressed regarding my goal to follow my heart rather than my head (whatever that means)!  After 8 years of jointly owning/running/growing 2 businesses I decided that I’m on the wrong path.

The week before last I officially quit my job.  I didn’t know it was possible, but even though I own 50% of the companies I work for, I can still resign as an employee.  So – my solicitor helped me to draft a letter to the board and it’s all official now.

So how do I feel?  Well – very excited and very scared.  I’m finding it very hard to switch from doing what I’ve always done (follow my head) to doing what my heart says.  I keep observing my thoughts and they’re often dealing with work issues.  I’m so conditioned to think a particular way that it’s hard to even realise that my focus now has an opportunity to change.

I’m receiving at least one request every day for consultancy work.  I’ve been offered all sorts of jobs and I’ve even been offered a Managing Director position.  I’ve also been approached by 3 start-ups that are offering me all sorts of incentives to join them.  I keep saying ‘no’ but it’s very hard.  My head say’s ‘Are you nuts…you could make a fortune’ and then my heart says, ‘But this will not make your heart sing’

I’ve made a promise to myself to not commit to anything significant for at least a few months.  I don’t mind helping people out and doing a bit of consultancy but I’m not going to jump into anything that requires too much time.

Yes – I’m sure you can be in business and follow your heart, but for me I need to figure out what it means to truly follow my heart before I do anything.

So what does it mean to follow my heart rather than my head?

I don’t know.  I do know that it has something to do with turning my brain/thoughts down (or off) and listening to a feeling in my heart.  Your heart always has the right answer but your thoughts talk so loud that you often can’t hear your heart.  Everything I’ve ever been taught (by parents, teachers, friends and employers) has been about logic – it’s about making present decisions based on past experiences and future fears.  That sucks – especially if you’re full of bad past experiences.

More and more I think that there’s a feeling that comes from your heart, if you allow yourself to feel it, that is way more intelligent than your brain.  You’re heart seems to know what’s best for you… your brain thinks it knows what’s best for you but has such a limited amount of wisdom.

How many times have you felt that you made a wrong decision?  You didn’t think you made a wrong decision – you felt it.

What if we lived more based on our feelings and less on our thoughts?

That’s what I’m working towards, but how do I do that? Well, for starters I’m paying more attention to how I feel.  Before doing a task, I’m settling myself and without logic I’m trying to observe how I feel based on the action I’m about to perform.  Writing this article makes me feel like my heart is singing…whereas earlier I sent a work-related email and my heart felt black and shrivelled.

It’s so odd.  For all my life I’ve relied on learning, reading, and education.  I always thought that the more educated I am the more successful I’ll be.  Nowhere along my path did someone say, ‘Hey – it’s not about filling your brain up…it’s about feeling your way to success!’

It’s crazy – I’m very successful based on what society says.  Heck, right now I’m actually worth millions but I don’t feel successful.  I acquired my wealth in a way that didn’t allow me to make my heart sing.  That’s such a powerful lesson for me:

• Follow your head and your success will be based on what your environment tells you that success is
• Follow your feelings and if you do what feels right (live from your heart) you’ll discover true success

In 50 years’ time (or less), I bet people will look back at our generation and say, ‘Can you believe that they lived from their mind and not their heart?  That must have been a struggle! What a bunch of goof balls!’

I definitely feel that I’m on the right track now.  I have no idea where this is going to lead me.  Yes, I’m scared, but I feel okay about it.  If I’m only going to live this one life and it could end any time, I’m at least going to do my best to find true success.

Here’s to being able to follow our hearts rather than our heads! If you can offer any more thoughts on this topic I would be very grateful. Please leave a comment so we can all benefit

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