When you identify yourself as a leader—and you are a woman—with both of these aspects of identity, it’s more important than ever to listen to your heart over the voice of experts. Why? Because the heart is part of your innate source of wisdom.
The heart always leads you to the highest path. The heart always guides you to unfold the highest version of yourself.
When you learn how to tune into your heart at the deepest level, you won’t doubt yourself anymore, even if the external world doubts you. When you listen to the wisdom of your heart, you won’t take action because someone else says you should. You’ll wait. You’ll wait and won’t be afraid of the space of non-action— the void.
Why It’s Hard to Listen to Your Heart or Beware of the Shiny Objects
#1. We are conditioned away from our heart and toward our mind. From the beginning, we are taught that the mind is superior to the heart, that facts are more important than feelings.
#2. Whether you’re a young woman starting on your path of service or you’re already established in your profession, it’s easy to listen to experts and to look at how others have done things because they are actually telling you that how they do it is how it should be done and that if you follow them you will succeed….
I’m not saying there’s not value in learning and educating yourself. Of course there is; however, the absolute most important guide in life is your heart. Your heart wisdom permeates your body. As women, we know this and we feel it but we have lost touch with it and now must relearn this connection.
What I mean by The Heart
I’m not referring to some material thing like a valentine. I’m not referring to some romantic cliché about romance.
Your heart is a real power center within you. It’s where Universal Love flows through you; it’s where you feel the Presence of your own divinity when you get really quiet and bring your awareness to your heart.
There’s wonderful new science about the power of the heart if you are the kind of person who has a little skepticism about mystical truths and needs a bit more factual evidence. Nothing wrong with that! Here are two links to explore if you are that kind of person: heartmath.com (scientific research) and www.thepoweroftheheart.com (a film!)
How to make space to listen to your heart:
How will you do this?
The bottom line of connecting with your heart is to make sure you have the space to do nothing. Sit in stillness and listen to your heart. Allow yourself to not get hooked by your thoughts or your feelings (they will be there!)
This takes practice.
Practice:
You must want to connect with your heart in a deeper way. This desire is the basis of your practice. Desire and heart are like twin-energies.
Sit in Stillness.
Focus on your breath and close your eyes.
Step back from your thoughts.
Begin to gently bring your awareness to your heart.
Be with it. Listen. Feel. Listen. Feel.
Stay here for 15 minutes.
Practice as often as possible.
Write down any voices that emerge in your journal.
Leading with Love— What’s possible then?
Once you have the channel open to your heart—and you’re tuning in to it no matter what you’re doing—whether you’re taking a shower or going to work, leading a workshop or writing in your journal; writing a paper, grading papers or cooking dinner—your life will change. You’ll feel the power of your heart.
Your Heart is Love.
When you tune in, you feel this love and you activate it with your focus. You bring it forth into the field of your consciousness in that moment.
What would be possible in your work if you brought a deeper more profound experience of the love in your heart t every interaction? To every communication?
Contemplate this. Spend time creating possible futures in your work place or your business and creative life that are filled with 1000 times the love you now bring forth.
This is the new paradigm of leadership. And it all has to do with love.
Have you experienced the power of your heart as a leader? I’d love to hear your experiences/thoughts about your challenges and breakthroughs. Have you ever held back the wisdom of your heart because you were afraid it wouldn’t be heard? I’d love to hear from you! Share below!
Nancy xx
