How to Live According to the Call of Your Heart

Listening to your heart is not always easy, especially in a culture that is busy and demanding. While life often places you at countless crossroads, there are still paths and sacred spaces meant just for you. You can fully live according to the desires of your heart, and this will not only bring you joy but also allow you to help those around you more.

Create a list of things you want to achieve. A 'bucket list' can help you pinpoint where your heart wants to go. Try to set goals that are achievable, but not unrealistic (like 'becoming the first person on Mars'). This list can provide great inspiration when you're struggling to find meaning in life. If it's truly from the heart, it will reflect your deepest passions and aspirations.

Create an Open Space. The first step in connecting with your heart on a deeper level is allowing your heart the time and space to speak. You need to sit still and avoid any distractions from disturbing your heart's voice. You may want to create a space just for relaxation. If you have an extra room in your house, you can light candles and set up a comfortable environment to practice this.

Listen to Your Heart. Once you've created the right conditions, you can begin the practice of mindfulness to open your heart. You may want to ask yourself: "What am I feeling from deep within right now?" Pause for a moment after asking to see if your heart has an answer. This practice helps your heart and its desires come to the surface.

• You can also try a technique called Focusing, which is excellent for connecting with your body. Here’s how to practice it:
• Once your space is clear, ask yourself what is going on inside you and focus on listening to what your body responds. Don’t try to explore it—just give yourself space to observe. For example, you might feel tightness in your chest when asking about what’s happening inside of you. Maintain distance to recognize it.
• Begin to understand the body’s sensations. They usually appear as a word or a short phrase, such as "tightness" or "pressure". Try to come up with several words until you pinpoint the issue.
• Examine the body sensation and the words describing it. Notice how they interact. Observe if the body sensation changes as you accurately name the emotion.
• Ask yourself what is causing this sensation in your body. What in your life is making your chest tight right now? Don’t rush to answer; let the feedback emerge. It might not come on the first try. Focusing requires practice, but it consists of a series of steps to help you open your heart and all that is inside you.

Set Time Aside Every Day. A busy life can seriously limit your ability to follow the call of your heart. Set aside time each day just for yourself. Don’t let anything else interfere with this time. Do what you feel like doing, and here are some suggestions:

• Meditation. Meditation has numerous mental and physical health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing stress. Try sitting upright for at least 10 minutes in a quiet place. Focus on one thing, like the sensation of air entering and leaving your nostrils, or an object like a pencil. When your attention drifts, gently remind yourself to refocus.
• Long Baths. Soaking in water has a similar relaxing effect to other relaxation methods. It’s a wonderful way to unwind. Use this time to reflect on life or simply enjoy the silence and the warmth of the bath.
• Spend time having coffee with a friend. You may not have had enough time to connect with friends lately. Use this “me-time” to invite a close friend to lunch or coffee together.

Discover Hobbies that Activate Your Heart. The brain faces significant pressure from society. It tells you to "think before you act" and make rational decisions. However, this leaves little room for intuition or the heart. These pressures can make life less exciting, turning it into routine or efficiency-driven. Exploring activities that resonate with your heart can help keep the path of life wide open, not just a path of logic.

• For example, if you love reading, make sure to schedule time for it in your day. Ask friends to recommend good books. A collection of poems may evoke deep emotions.
• If you're a movie buff, find critically acclaimed films that might touch your heart.
• Spending time in nature is also a great option; it can make you healthier and help you understand yourself better.

Consider Therapy If It Seems Helpful. If the obstacles preventing you from following your heart's call feel too overwhelming to manage, or if you need support from a friend, consider consulting a specialist. Many doctors regularly address these kinds of issues. If you have experienced a painful childhood, an unhappy marriage, or are recently overwhelmed by a series of stressful problems, therapy can help you reconnect with your heart and feel more balanced in life.

• Somatic Experiencing Therapy is similar to the Focusing technique. It focuses on body sensations rather than thoughts and memories.
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy can help you examine rigid thoughts and beliefs that may be preventing you from hearing your heart's call.
• Find a local therapist. For example, if you're living in the U.S., you can visit this website.

Ask for Help from a Friend. Sometimes it can be hard to explore your heart on your own. For this task, seek the help of a friend. You can even use the Focusing technique with a friend, working through the steps together and sharing what happens. You can also simply talk about what’s going on in your life right now and express your desire to connect more deeply with your heart's calling. See if your friend has any advice to offer. Expressing yourself is incredibly powerful because verbalizing your feelings has a strong influence.

• For example: You might say, "Hey, I feel like I'm not really living according to my heart's call. I really need someone to talk to about this. Are you willing to help me out?"

Enjoy Your Own Life. It’s easy to get caught up in living based on the pressures of others—friends, family, spouse, or children. If you want to live according to your heart’s call, make sure you’re following your own aspirations rather than those of others. This is one of the most common regrets shared by people on their deathbeds.

• Ask yourself: "Is this really what I want, or am I doing it because of others' wishes, not my own?"
• Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being generous and doing things for others. However, you can only find balance when you live authentically: being kind and helping others. If not, even with good intentions, you might fail and lose touch with your heart’s calling.

Commit Yourself to the Path You've Chosen. Changing your mindset can be an easy way to overcome difficult situations, but if you constantly fail to follow through on what you’ve previously said, you’ll never learn from mistakes or make progress. Commitment to your chosen path is crucial in life. It provides you with the strength to face challenges. Following your heart’s call is not easy. If you encounter resistance to this commitment—whether from your education, career, or other areas—you should examine whether you are truly following your heart’s call.

• Don’t confuse natural resistance and difficulty with more serious resistance. It’s normal to feel discouraged at times, even when you’re on the right path. If you’re uncertain whether you’re doing the right thing, try asking someone you trust, like a close friend or family member.

Clean and Organize Your Personal Space. You might be surprised to learn how much your environment influences your mood. For example, colors can greatly affect how people feel. Make sure your home is clean and organized. If you don’t like the wall colors, consider repainting them. Decorate with artwork that inspires you and creates a "response to beauty." Display pictures of loved ones around. Simple home organization techniques can change the way you feel and make it easier to connect with your true desires. A cluttered and chaotic environment can create mental chaos and hinder your ability to follow your heart's call.

Engage in activities that express your emotions. You can participate in creative activities to understand what your heart truly desires. The goal is to stay open to your inner calling or your deepest longing. The self-expression style used in art therapy can help you become more open with yourself as well as with your heart's desires. Below are some ideas you might consider:

• Music. Try joining a choir or guitar lessons.
• Art. Attend a painting class or learn sculpture.
• Dancing. Enroll in a Latin salsa dance class or even join dance classes at a fitness center.
• Theater. Explore any acting groups around you that you can join. Acting is a fantastic way to express creativity.

Free writing. Life can sometimes trap your true desires, overwhelming you with obligations and expectations. Practicing activities like free writing can help you connect with your heart and begin to develop a deeper relationship with your inner calling.

• Pick a topic and write it at the top of a sheet of paper. The topic can be a single word, like 'travel', or a brief statement like 'what I think about travel'. Set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and write about the topic without overthinking what you're doing. Don’t plan ahead. The goal is to let your subconscious mind take over, instead of your conscious mind controlling the process.

Practice mindfulness. There are two different ways of living: existing and acting. The 'acting' mode is when many people feel they are constantly busy. This mode is necessary in our high-pressure and fast-paced culture, and it is useful for moving forward. However, the 'acting' mode can make it difficult to listen to your needs and live slowly enough to enjoy life. Mindful meditation can help you embrace the 'existing' mode, allowing you to follow your heart's calling.

• Sit in a comfortable position with a straight posture. Spend a few minutes getting familiar with this position. Start noticing what is happening in your experience. You'll encounter many wandering thoughts, body sensations, and spontaneous emotional surges. Be aware of all these things and anything else that is happening. Try to maintain a sense of 'curiosity' without reacting to what is occurring. Imagine you are a scientist observing this experience without interference. Once you're comfortable sitting in a quiet and safe space, you can try applying this practice in your daily life as you go about your other tasks.

Take a significant leap forward. Based on your bucket list and your overall goals, decide to take a bold step if necessary. This could mean going back to school for more knowledge, relocating to a different city with better opportunities or closer to family, or quitting your job to pursue something more aligned with your heart’s desires. It’s a good idea to talk to friends and family about your move before starting, to see what they think and to get their support.

Make small changes. You don't necessarily have to make big changes to transform your life and begin following your heart's calling. Explore what small adjustments you can make in your daily habits to feel more in tune with yourself and your desires. For example, you might want to spend more time with friends or cut back on TV time. Check your 'bucket list' to see if you can make minor tweaks to achieve what you truly want to change.