Living from the Heart: Quiet Wisdom Beyond the Mind

I’ve always had a doubting mind. If you know the Enneagram, I’m a Six—which means I’m constantly second-guessing myself. Decisions can feel exhausting because my mind runs in loops, always questioning: “What if this isn’t good enough?”

Over time, I came to see that my mind developed the thought that I wasn’t good enough. From there, it started looking outside of me—achievements, appearance, approval—as the fix. But that never works. Because when the original thought is faulty, no external proof will ever make it feel right. The result? Endless spinning, hesitation, and being stuck.

And maybe you’ve noticed this in your own life too: when your mind is in charge, it’s loud, urgent, and full of “what-ifs.”

The Head vs. The Heart

The head is not “bad.” It helps us analyze, plan, and solve problems. Sometimes it even offers good ideas in the moment. But the head—what we often call the ego—is shaped by conditioning, inherited beliefs, generational trauma, and fear. Its main job is survival. It worries about the future, replays the past, and tries to control the present.

The heart, on the other hand, speaks in a quieter, more spacious voice. It’s the place where we hear the soul’s wisdom—our true self—guiding us. And while the head asks, “What will make me more successful, safe, or accepted?” the heart asks a different question: “What will bring more love into my life and into the lives of others?”

The heart isn’t concerned with money, prestige, beauty, control, or any of the world’s measures of success. It’s concerned with aligning us with our deeper purpose, the part of us that already carries compassion, clarity, calm, courage, curiosity, confidence, connection, and creativity.

“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” – Ram Dass

The heart is where we remember our soul’s path—our life blueprint—and where we access wisdom that can’t be reached through overthinking. It’s also where we touch the quiet intelligence of our true nature: the softer, subtler voice of wisdom that some call the Holy Spirit, others the higher self, but that all traditions recognize as the place beyond the thinking mind.

Subtle Aggression Toward Ourselves

One of the ways we get pulled back into the head is through what I call subtle aggression toward ourselves.

It’s not always obvious. It often shows up as the quiet voice that says: “You should be further along by now.” Or “You need to be better.” Or “This moment isn’t enough.”

This is the mind’s constant push against the present moment. It’s a way of attacking ourselves, of believing that who we are and where we are right now isn’t acceptable. And because of that, we never quite settle.

Living from the heart is different. The heart doesn’t demand improvement. It doesn’t measure us against impossible standards. It welcomes us, just as we are, and gently leads us forward. When we drop into the heart, we don’t bypass growth—but we grow from love instead of self-rejection.

What Science is Discovering

For centuries, wisdom traditions have told us to “listen to the heart.” And now science is catching up.

The HeartMath Institute has discovered that the heart has its own nervous system—over 40,000 neurons—so much so that scientists call it the “little brain in the heart.” Even more fascinating: the heart actually sends more information to the brain than the brain sends to the heart.

This means the heart doesn’t just respond to the brain; it influences how the brain works. When we generate feelings like gratitude, love, or compassion, our heart rhythms become smooth and coherent. In this state, the nervous system calms, the brain works more efficiently, and we feel clearer, steadier, and more open.

When we’re stressed or fearful, the opposite happens: our rhythms become jagged and incoherent, signaling chaos to the brain, which then has trouble focusing, regulating, or making wise decisions.

Simply put: the heart is not just a metaphor for wisdom. It’s a real physiological center of intelligence that affects every part of our system.

Stillness and Presence

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Stillness has always been the doorway to wisdom. When the head is running on fear, we can’t hear much of anything beyond its static. But when we pause, breathe, and drop our awareness into the heart, we access something deeper—a steady presence that’s always been there.

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” – Rumi

Simple Morning & Evening Practices

Here are two expanded practices to help you live more from the heart:

Morning: Heart-Centered Intention Ritual
– Upon waking, place your hand over your heart.
– Take 3–5 slow breaths, imagining the air flowing in and out through your heart.
– Allow a gentle feeling of gratitude or appreciation to arise.
– Ask yourself: “How can I move from love today?”
– Choose one word that reflects the quality you’d like to embody—perhaps calm, courage, or compassion—and carry it as your quiet intention through the day.

Evening: Gratitude & Release Practice
– Before bed, sit or lie comfortably.
– Scan your body, noticing areas of tension. Breathe into those spots and soften them.
– Bring to mind one specific moment from your day you’re grateful for—no matter how ordinary.
– Hold that image in your heart for 60–90 seconds, letting the gratitude sink in.
– Then silently say: “I allow myself to rest in love.”
This practice not only calms your nervous system but also ends your day with coherence and peace.

A Reflection for You

Take a moment right now to ask yourself:

Where am I listening to the loudness of fear, instead of the quiet of love?

And if you pause long enough, can you sense—even faintly—that quieter wisdom beneath the noise?

Final Thought

Living from the heart isn’t about ignoring the head. It’s about letting the head take its rightful place—serving the deeper wisdom of the heart. When the heart leads, the mind can do what it does best: organize, decide, and carry out the soul’s intentions with clarity.

Over time, we discover that peace doesn’t come from control or certainty. It comes from listening to that quieter voice—the one that steadies us, guides us, and reminds us we are already enough.

 If you found this blog meaningful, feel free to share it with someone who might need the reminder to live more from the heart.