What does it mean to follow your heart? Sometimes the universe seems to conspire to set the deck against you. You see what you want to do, you feel it inside you, yet moving forward can feel all but impossible.
Why is it that something that should be so natural can be so hard? We get caught up in the possibility of failure or success. The fear can be overwhelming – what if people don’t like what you’re doing, what if you get laughed at or judged, what if you fail, what if you make a mistake, what if you’re not good enough, and, worst of all, what if you succeed?
It’s easy to lose sight of the most important consideration of all – what if you don’t follow your heart? Do you want to spend your life selling yourself short and doing things you don’t love. When you step back from your busy everyday life, ask yourself, is there anything more important than doing what you love? If, for whatever reason, that isn’t an option right now, is there anything more important than working towards that eventual goal – where you can do what you love every day?
The universe doesn’t conspire to set the deck against you. Every hardship is just there to show you a new path to your heart. When you find it within yourself to overcome the challenges that confront you, you grow as a human being. Your capacity to love grows and similarly, your capacity to do what you love grows. You become a stronger person.
Every obstacle you have ever overcome has brought you to where you are today and made you who you are. Every challenge you face today will make you who you are tomorrow. You can get frustrated or find gratitude for the experience. Nothing is more satisfying than becoming who you are as long as you are being true to yourself. The great Chinese philosopher, Lao-Tzu, said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The first step begins with your heart.