The Longest Distance

The Longest Distance in the World Is From the Head to the Heart.

Michael J. Formica

Enlightened Living 

As human beings, we can have very analytical minds and very huge hearts, but the distance between can be well into infinity.  Somewhere in the process of development, the feelings of the heart were deemed as being weaker (and more associated with the female population) while mental capabilities were sighted as being stronger (and more associated with the male population).  As with many other things, both abilities when in balance create a wonderful human being.

There is a saying about going with our  'gut' feelings before they reach our head and we talk ourselves out of them.  Some decisions are made with the heart whereas some are made with the head, but perhaps the best is the decision tempered by both knowledge and heart.  Some will even equate mental equations with business and impact from the heart as creative, still that strength verses soft.    I personally believe that it takes great strength to be creative and analytical processing can be too extreme without compassion from the heart.  Too much analytical strength can squelch most anything or anyone instead of teaching and encouraging.  Too much creativity without the support of analytical support can aimlessly float away.

When we base our decisions with the consideration of both the head and the heart, we are fully living a compassionate life.  We don't have to actually change a well thought out decision, but we may be better off presenting our decisions from the heart.  The head and the heart are powerful contributors for guidance.  We may 'think' we need to take the job with more money, but our 'heart' may be yearning for the more diversity in the lesser paying job.  If there is a meeting between the mind and the heart, a better serving decision can be made.

There is quite a distance between the heart and the head.  The distance is filled with a lot of 'shoulds', self-imposed expectations, or career driven goals based on childhood or family directives.  There may be miles of debris between these two points, but if we persevere and navigate through these obstacles, we can finally know what are mind and heart can create together. 

If we entwine our hearts desire with our analytical perspectives we can create opportunities to fulfill our life purpose.  We don't have to live in isolation like monks, or travel to foreign countries as missionaries or be the poorest family on the block.  If we generate an excellent income, we have the choice to share our wealth with others in need. 

Humility is not to be confused with poverty any more than aid is directly exclusive to foreign countries.  I am aware of a large family who jointly agreed to eat simple meals all week without eating in restaurants or carry out foods, to save money for one week.  At the end of the week they pooled their monies from the grocery store budget, pockets, and spare change.  Then they anonymously donated it to a local family in need. 

If we get out of our own way, we can find a shortcut directly from our heart to our brain.  We can creatively and thoughtfully provide help for others as well as for ourselves.  If our personal finances are tight, we can offer our time even if it is just an hour per week.  We can help shoulder the burdens of life as a community of acceptance and compassion.  We can design our lives with heartfelt energy and creative dimensions to finally close the distance between the heart and the head.