I am motivated to step out of my comfort zone by a Krishnamurti quote I read a long time ago:

“You must distinguish not only the useful from the useless, but the more useful from the less useful. To feed the poor is a good and noble and useful work; yet to feed their souls is nobler and more useful than to feed their bodies. Any rich man can feed the body, but only those who know can feed the soul. If you know, it is your duty to help others to know.”

According to the Heart Foundation, heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States, claiming approximately one million lives annually. This is no accident. As a society we have glorified our intellect at the expense of our emotions. We value doing over being. We are all in a hurry to get somewhere, to get more _________ (you fill in the blank), to get better, to simply… get.

This is a result of an underlying feeling of inadequacy; a deep-seated fear that we are not enough. It is a consequence of listening to our ego mind and mistaking its ranting for truth.

Earlier, due to the persistent restlessness I felt, I became aware I wanted more. I embraced the concepts of personal development and self- improvement. Somehow I wasn’t enough; no doubt there were experts out there who could fix me, as I certainly felt broken.

When I began to question my thinking I learned I had access to another voice. My journey is now one of self–discovery. I find what I always had and can never lose. It’s learning—if I’m willing—that the expert isn’t out there but deep within me, and it’s none other than my heart.

Our hearts are literally crying out to us. We’ve ignored their whisperings for years. We’ve misread the emotional signs. Our bodies are simply reflecting the loss of communication with our hearts, of suppressing their voices, of denying their very existence.

I know there is a better way; I’m living it. I am stepping up my game to champion heart-centered living. My blog posts will offer a glimpse into my thoughts, encouragement and support of your journey, an opportunity to see things differently, an illumination of the possibilities for living a life of joy and gratitude. The process is simple. The work is not easy but it is worth it.

I’m committed to be the change I want to see in the world, as Mahatma Ghandi encouraged us to be. I invite you to take a minute to reflect on the words from a song my sister Matisun wrote, and feel if your heart agrees.

It’s up to me to reach out and touch.
It’s up to me to give and care enough.
The love in our hearts can grow stronger every day.
Won’t you be a light along the way?