A MOTIVATING EXHORTATION
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The following is a list of “10 Reasons to Follow Your Heart” by Dr. Nikki Martinez LCPC posted on Huffington Post.com
The following is a list of “10 Reasons to Follow Your Heart” by Dr. Nikki Martinez LCPC posted on Huffington Post.com
When you follow your heart, you cease having regrets.
When you follow your heart, you cease having regrets.
There is no greater truth that when we follow our heart, we cease to have regrets. While things may not always go in our favor, at least we will have tried. At least we will know the truth, and at least we know we will not live asking ourselves, "what if...?" You learn to trust your instincts and know that if you listen, your heart will guide you in the right direction.
There is no greater truth that when we follow our heart, we cease to have regrets. While things may not always go in our favor, at least we will have tried. At least we will know the truth, and at least we know we will not live asking ourselves, "what if...?" You learn to trust your instincts and know that if you listen, your heart will guide you in the right direction.
Gain a newfound respect for yourself and from those you admire.
Gain a newfound respect for yourself and from those you admire.
When we follow our hearts we may actually find that we develop a newfound respect for ourselves. Not only that, we may get the respect of those that we love and admire. Why is this? It is because we are now focusing on what truly matters instead of the trappings of things that have no meaning at all. It helps us clear out meaningless things for things that fill us with purpose and passion.
When we follow our hearts we may actually find that we develop a newfound respect for ourselves. Not only that, we may get the respect of those that we love and admire. Why is this? It is because we are now focusing on what truly matters instead of the trappings of things that have no meaning at all. It helps us clear out meaningless things for things that fill us with purpose and passion.
Get to know who you really are and what really matters to you.
Get to know who you really are and what really matters to you.
When we start to follow our hearts, when we are willing to ask the tough questions about what really matters to us, we may get to know ourselves on a level that we never have before. We may surprise ourselves, when we are willing to ask the deep and tough questions, what we would choose if faced between what our heart and our intellect tell us to do. If we listen to our hearts, we may be surprised that we can find a way to make our hearts desire come to fruition.
When we start to follow our hearts, when we are willing to ask the tough questions about what really matters to us, we may get to know ourselves on a level that we never have before. We may surprise ourselves, when we are willing to ask the deep and tough questions, what we would choose if faced between what our heart and our intellect tell us to do. If we listen to our hearts, we may be surprised that we can find a way to make our hearts desire come to fruition.
Ensure that you are on the right and true path for yourself.
Ensure that you are on the right and true path for yourself.
When we listen to our hearts, we can ask ourselves if we are on our right and genuine path. If there is apathy or ambiguity for what we are currently doing, we know that somewhere and somehow, we have gone off course. That we are not on the path that we should be, the path of fulfillment, and the path of that is our true course. Our hearts will guide us towards our true direction, and our ultimate calling.
When we listen to our hearts, we can ask ourselves if we are on our right and genuine path. If there is apathy or ambiguity for what we are currently doing, we know that somewhere and somehow, we have gone off course. That we are not on the path that we should be, the path of fulfillment, and the path of that is our true course. Our hearts will guide us towards our true direction, and our ultimate calling.
Allow yourself to forgive yourself and others.
Allow yourself to forgive yourself and others.
When we listen to our heart, it tells us that it does not want us to hurt. It does not want us to hold grudges or be vengeful, as the person that we end up hurting most is ourselves. When we are honest with ourselves, we will realize that the person that we are struggling to forgive is likely not sitting around and spending their time thinking about us. They are living their lives, they have moved past us, and any history we shared. The same can be said of ourselves. We often have so many mistakes from our past that we struggle to let go of and forgive ourselves for, but we cannot go back and change them. We cannot erase them or control them. What we can control is everything that we do from this moment forward, so let it be a future of kindness to self and others. To focus on the present, forget the past, and to not worry about the future.earn to love yourself.
When we listen to our heart, it tells us that it does not want us to hurt. It does not want us to hold grudges or be vengeful, as the person that we end up hurting most is ourselves. When we are honest with ourselves, we will realize that the person that we are struggling to forgive is likely not sitting around and spending their time thinking about us. They are living their lives, they have moved past us, and any history we shared. The same can be said of ourselves. We often have so many mistakes from our past that we struggle to let go of and forgive ourselves for, but we cannot go back and change them. We cannot erase them or control them. What we can control is everything that we do from this moment forward, so let it be a future of kindness to self and others. To focus on the present, forget the past, and to not worry about the future.earn to love yourself.
Learn to love yourself.
Learn to love yourself.
This may sound simple to some and impossible to others. People struggle with low self-confidence, social anxiety, and the belief that they are not good enough. When we follow our hearts, we truly begin to love ourselves. We start to believe that we are good enough, even great. We believe that we are exactly the person we should be. That everything that has happened to us, good or bad, has made us the person we are today. That each of the things that has happened was for a reason, taught us a lesson, and enabled us to develop some skill and knowledge we possess today. We are just as we should be, and we should love the person we are.
This may sound simple to some and impossible to others. People struggle with low self-confidence, social anxiety, and the belief that they are not good enough. When we follow our hearts, we truly begin to love ourselves. We start to believe that we are good enough, even great. We believe that we are exactly the person we should be. That everything that has happened to us, good or bad, has made us the person we are today. That each of the things that has happened was for a reason, taught us a lesson, and enabled us to develop some skill and knowledge we possess today. We are just as we should be, and we should love the person we are.
Learn to love others.
Learn to love others.
This can be the hardest step for many people. Many of us have been through some difficult times. We have been hurt, humiliated, and discounted. What we have to remember is that most of the time, we have no idea what is going on, or has gone on, in this other person's life. We do not know the pain and hardships that have made them the person they are. So, no matter what they do, the greatest gift we can give them and ourselves is to show them love. To show them that no matter what they do, you will not waiver, you will not be jaded, and you will not join in the negativity. You will only love and show kindness.
This can be the hardest step for many people. Many of us have been through some difficult times. We have been hurt, humiliated, and discounted. What we have to remember is that most of the time, we have no idea what is going on, or has gone on, in this other person's life. We do not know the pain and hardships that have made them the person they are. So, no matter what they do, the greatest gift we can give them and ourselves is to show them love. To show them that no matter what they do, you will not waiver, you will not be jaded, and you will not join in the negativity. You will only love and show kindness.
Learn to trust our intuition.
Learn to trust our intuition.
When we follow our hearts, we learn to trust our intuition. We are more in tune with what our hearts are telling us to do and what direction they are leading us. Sometimes it has been a long time since we have trusted our intuition, but having started to follow our hearts again, we clear a space to hear and listen to our intuition again. When we learn we can trust our intuition, we are more open to following our hearts.
When we follow our hearts, we learn to trust our intuition. We are more in tune with what our hearts are telling us to do and what direction they are leading us. Sometimes it has been a long time since we have trusted our intuition, but having started to follow our hearts again, we clear a space to hear and listen to our intuition again. When we learn we can trust our intuition, we are more open to following our hearts.
Stop overthinking and go with what life throws us.
Stop overthinking and go with what life throws us.
When we follow our hearts, we stop overthinking things. We are able to deal with the curve balls that life throws us more easily. Why is this? It is because we have started to believe that what should be is what will happen. We have faith and believe in our hearts that we can survive anything that comes our way, and that it has come our way for a reason.
When we follow our hearts, we stop overthinking things. We are able to deal with the curve balls that life throws us more easily. Why is this? It is because we have started to believe that what should be is what will happen. We have faith and believe in our hearts that we can survive anything that comes our way, and that it has come our way for a reason.
Listen to your heart -- it knows your true desires.
Listen to your heart -- it knows your true desires.
To end, I find it important to highlight the concept of listening to your heart, because it knows your true desires. It knows your wants and needs, and what will genuinely make you fulfilled. When we are honest with ourselves, when we are willing to ask ourselves what is truly in our hearts, we open ourselves up to possibility. Possibility to fulfill our hearts desire, and to be who we were truly meant to be, doing what we were meant to do.
To end, I find it important to highlight the concept of listening to your heart, because it knows your true desires. It knows your wants and needs, and what will genuinely make you fulfilled. When we are honest with ourselves, when we are willing to ask ourselves what is truly in our hearts, we open ourselves up to possibility. Possibility to fulfill our hearts desire, and to be who we were truly meant to be, doing what we were meant to do.
Follow your heart” is a creed embraced by billions of people. It’s a statement of faith in one of the great pop cultural myths of the Western world, a gospel proclaimed in many of our stories, movies, and songs.
Essentially, it’s a belief that your heart is a compass inside of you that will direct you to your own true north; if you just have the courage to follow it. It says that your heart is a true guide that will lead you to true happiness; if you just have the courage to listen to it. The creed says that you are lost and your heart will save you.
This creed can sound so simple and beautiful and liberating. For lost people it’s a tempting gospel to believe.
Now that we have heard how secular society directs us concerning our heart. Let us now hear from sacred Scriptures how our heart’s creator deals with our heart.
Our heart possesses sociopathic tendencies not salvific capabilities.
Our heart possesses sociopathic tendencies not salvific capabilities.
Until you consider that your heart has sociopathic tendencies. Think about it for a moment. What does your heart tell you? Our lives on earth should serve as a constant reminder of how dangerous it is to follow our hearts.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Do you not daily feel the consequences of our first parents decision to follow their heart and not their Lord?
To the woman he said,
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,
but he shall rule over you.”
And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Our hearts are sick not saviors.
Our hearts are sick not saviors.
Please don’t answer. Your heart has likely said things today that you would not wish to repeat. I know mine has. My heart tells me that all of reality ought to serve my desires. My heart likes to think the best of me and worst of others — unless those others happen to think well of me; then they are wonderful people. But if they don’t think well of me, or even if they just disagree with me, well then, something is wrong with them. And while my heart is pondering my virtues and others’ errors, it can suddenly find some immoral or horribly angry thought very attractive.
“No, our hearts will not save us. We need to be saved from our hearts.” The “follow your heart” creed certainly isn’t found in the Bible.
The Bible actually thinks our hearts have a disease:
The Bible actually thinks our hearts have a disease:
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
). Jesus, the Great Physician, lists the grim symptoms of this disease: “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (). This is not leadership material.
Jesus, the Great Physician, lists the grim symptoms of this disease:
Jesus, the Great Physician, lists the grim symptoms of this disease:
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
). This is not leadership material.
The truth is, no one lies to us more than our own hearts. No one. If our hearts are compasses, they are Jack Sparrow compasses. They don’t tell us the truth; they just tell us what we want. They are not benevolent; they are pathologically selfish. In fact, if we do what our hearts tell us to do, we will pervert and impoverish every desire, every beauty, every person, every wonder, and every joy. Our hearts want to consume these things for our own self-glory and self-indulgence.
The truth is, no one lies to us more than our own hearts. No one. If our hearts are compasses, they are Jack Sparrow compasses. They don’t tell us the truth; they just tell us what we want. They are not benevolent; they are pathologically selfish. In fact, if we do what our hearts tell us to do, we will pervert and impoverish every desire, every beauty, every person, every wonder, and every joy. Our hearts want to consume these things for our own self-glory and self-indulgence.
No, our hearts will not save us. We need to be saved from our hearts.
No, our hearts will not save us. We need to be saved from our hearts.
Our hearts were never designed to be followed, but to be led. Our hearts were never designed to be gods in whom we believe; they were designed to believe in God.
Our hearts were never designed to be followed, but to be led. Our hearts were never designed to be gods in whom we believe; they were designed to believe in God.
If we make our hearts gods and ask them to lead us, they will lead us to narcissistic misery and ultimately damnation. They cannot save us, because what’s wrong with our hearts is the heart of our problem. But if our hearts believe in God, as they are designed to, then God saves us.
Our hearts cannot be rehabilitated they must be replaced.
Our hearts cannot be rehabilitated they must be replaced.
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
) and leads our hearts to exceeding joy ().
and leads our hearts to exceeding joy
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
).
Therefore, don’t believe in your heart; direct your heart to believe in God. Don’t follow your heart; follow Jesus.
Therefore, don’t believe in your heart; direct your heart to believe in God. Don’t follow your heart; follow Jesus.
Note that Jesus did not say to his disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled, just believe in your hearts.” He said,
).
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
So, though your heart will try to shepherd you today, do not follow it. It is not a shepherd. It is a pompous sheep that, due to remaining sin, has some wolf-like qualities. Don’t follow it, and be careful even listening to it. Remember, your heart only tells you what you want, not where you should go. So, only listen to it to note what it’s telling you about what you want, and then take your wants, both good and evil, to Jesus as requests and confessions
or
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
So, though your heart will try to shepherd you today, do not follow it. It is not a shepherd. It is a pompous sheep that, due to remaining sin, has some wolf-like qualities. Don’t follow it, and be careful even listening to it. Remember, your heart only tells you what you want, not where you should go. So, only listen to it to note what it’s telling you about what you want, and then take your wants, both good and evil, to Jesus as requests and confessions
.
So, though your heart will try to shepherd you today, do not follow it. It is not a shepherd. It is a pompous sheep that, due to remaining sin, has some wolf-like qualities. Don’t follow it, and be careful even listening to it. Remember, your heart only tells you what you want, not where you should go. So, only listen to it to note what it’s telling you about what you want, and then take your wants, both good and evil, to Jesus as requests and confessions
Jesus is your shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
; ). Listen to his voice in his word and follow him (). Let him be, in the words of a great hymn, the “heart of [your] own heart whatever befall.” He is the truth, he is the way, and he will lead you to life ().
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Listen to his voice in his word and follow him
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Listen to his voice in his word and follow him (). Let him be, in the words of a great hymn, the “heart of [your] own heart whatever befall.” He is the truth, he is the way, and he will lead you to life ().
). Let him be, in the words of a great hymn, the “heart of [your] own heart whatever befall.” He is the truth, he is the way, and he will lead you to life ().
He is the truth, he is the way, and he will lead you to life
word and follow him (). Let him be, in the words of a great hymn, the “heart of [your] own heart whatever befall.” He is the truth, he is the way, and he will lead you to life ().
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.