Once the Heart is Heard, the ideas and actions flow freely
Many of you know how passionate I am about the head, heart, gut connection. It’s important to understand how each of these 3 brains is intrinsically connected to each other as they play a crucial role in personal transformation.
Last year, I took a week off my business to travel and support my parents during a huge life transition they are embarking on. A bit of a back story before I get into why this week triggered something transformational for me. I grew up in Africa and was in boarding school since I was 10. Fiercely independent, and a high achiever, I have, very successfully, over the years trained myself to listen to my HEAD. The logical, data-driven part of me. I believed the way to do this was first, to focus on my Studies, then my career, and finally my family – “don’t get emotional and allow myself to be derailed” (heck, this was drilled into my head!). It worked. Or so I learned to convince myself.
However, there was one problem with this…. I lead from my heart. I’m a heart person. And over the past 6 years, I’ve been uncovering my story and integrating my career, personal life, and life’s mission into ONE big story – not multiple stories running parallel to each other.
I’ve committed to live my life authentically – with no regrets.
My heart was yearning to be there for my parents as they transitioned so beautifully to their new life. I am so inspired by their courage and authenticity throughout this process. However, my head was busy convincing me (with all the logic in the world) why this couldn’t happen. How I had to plan for my upcoming workshops, coach my clients, take my kids to their classes, plan for exams, etc. While I was processing all this, and my head and heart were busy thrashing it out, I was “stuck” and not able to gain clarity on some strategic decisions I want to take in my business. You could say I was “procrastinating” on some major business decisions. My gut brain (intuition, courage, identity and action) was quiet and not being heard. I was just not taking the decisions I needed to take, make a movement towards my purpose, etc.
So, I went. I planned it (more on this in another post), made sure I could be 100% present, and there for them. For me. It was a beautiful few days full of laughter, talking into the night, talking about hopes and dreams, and connecting to those that matter. And it felt so good. I let my heart have its fill of love, connection, honoring values and compassion. And I feel complete.
On my way back home to Dubai, I felt an interesting sense of excitement. Like I’m allowing myself the freedom to take the risks I want to take, safely set aside the fear, to explore all the great ideas my head comes up with, and through this, is emerging crystal clarity – almost like the Zambian sunshine after a good downpour.
What I realized, is that my heart needed to be heard, and honored and fulfilled. Our roles as business owners are not separate from our roles as daughters (and sons) sisters (and brothers), wives (and husbands), moms (and dads) or any of the other roles we play in our personal lives. We are whole when we can give our head, heart, gut entirely to each role. We don’t have to tell ourselves that we can only focus on one role at a time. You can learn more about the heart-head connection here https://www.heartmath.com.
As a result, I can now truly step back into the next version of the Marya Leadership Academy with my heart, head, gut and soul.
Where are you not listening to what your heart wants? Which role of your life is yearning for your heart to be heard? What’s possible if you do?
If you want to learn more and experience the head heart and GUT connection, please visit https://www.maryaleadership.com/coaching-services/breakthrough-session/. Reach out to schedule a complimentary Breakthrough Session to gain greater self-clarity and a greater sense of self or write to us at info@maryaleadership.com to book your complimentary Breakthrough Session.