Head vs. Heart - Who Wins?

Head vs. Heart - Which one wins?

Ever feel pulled between what your head is processing vs. what your heart is feeling?

In this busy, overwhelming world there are so many things to think through and so many heartfelt emotions we feel.  At times, they feel in conflict with each other.  As I read this poem by John Roedel, it hit home so deep I felt compelled to share it with all of you.  This is from several years ago but it is as true as ever for myself and many that I'm talking too.  (I have no affiliation nor do I know much of him, so if his stuff isn't aligned with what I usually cover, don't worry about it.  I'm sharing this poem because it resonated, especially in this uncertain time where we want to cling to a familiar past while not knowing what our future holds)

Finding Your Place

my brain and
heart divorced

a decade ago

over who was
to blame about
how big of a mess
I have become

eventually,
they couldn't be
in the same room
with each other

now my head and heart
share custody of me

I stay with my brain
during the week

and my heart
gets me on weekends

they never speak to one another
- instead, they give me
the same note to pass
to each other every week

and their notes they
send to one another always
says the same thing:
"This is all your fault"

on Sundays
my heart complains
about how my
head has let me down
in the past

and on Wednesday
my head lists all
of the times my
heart has screwed
things up for me
in the future

they blame each
other for the
state of my life

there's been a lot
of yelling - and crying
so,
lately, I've been
spending a lot of
time with my gut

who serves as my
unofficial therapist

most nights, I sneak out of the
window in my ribcage

and slide down my spine
and collapse on my
gut's plush leather chair
that's always open for me

~ and I just sit sit sit sit
until the sun comes up

last evening,
my gut asked me
if I was having a hard
time being caught
between my heart
and my head

I nodded

I said I didn't know
if I could live with
either of them anymore

"my heart is always sad about
something that happened yesterday
while my head is always worried
about something that may happen tomorrow,"
I lamented

my gut squeezed my hand

"I just can't live with
my mistakes of the past
or my anxiety about the future,"
I sighed

my gut smiled and said:

"in that case,
you should
go stay with your
lungs for a while,"

I was confused
- the look on my face gave it away

"if you are exhausted about
your heart's obsession with
the fixed past and your mind's focus
on the uncertain future

your lungs are the perfect place for you

there is no yesterday in your lungs
there is no tomorrow there either

there is only now
there is only inhale
there is only exhale
there is only this moment

there is only breath

and in that breath
you can rest while your
heart and head work
their relationship out."

this morning,
while my brain
was busy reading
tea leaves

and while my
heart was staring
at old photographs

I packed a little
bag and walked
to the door of
my lungs

before I could even knock
she opened the door
with a smile and as
a gust of air embraced me
she said

"what took you so long?"
~ john roedel (johnroedel.com)

There isn't much for me to say or to add to this.  I hope you find time to visit your lungs today and just BREATHE.  There is only NOW.  

I know you can find the balance between your head and your heart if you give yourself time to breathe.

If you are struggling, I am here to help.  Email me or schedule a call HERE.

Cheers to finding the balance within,
Sharon

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