The heart and the mind do not always see eye to eye. Often, these voices are at odds with one another. One part of us knows what it wants, while the other thinks the exact opposite. How can we find a single, unified voice amidst this?

Reason

The voice of reason most often represents the voice of the ego and our need for security. It is responsible for stability and assessing the most advantageous material situation. And it is at this point that the tone of reason and the heart most often diverge. Because the heart does not always want to follow the path of reason.

Reason represents what is comfortable and safe. It does not venture into those areas of our personality where we harbor dreams and plans for our development. Here, therefore, it sees no deeper feelings or spiritual needs, only purely material solutions.

The heart

The heart perceives the soul’s needs. It therefore represents all that is spiritual, revealing dreams and all higher emotions such as love, the need for growth, and so on. The heart does not concern itself with material matters, for it touches only upon what is of immaterial importance to us.

What the heart speaks of is usually not connected to reason. Here, we really see only what is important to us from the perspective of our inner needs. There is no room here for calculations; rather, it is a space for contemplation and mindfulness regarding our hidden desires.

The shortcut and the path of procrastination

Conflicts between the voice of the heart and that of reason often arise because we want to achieve something too quickly, or we put things off for too long, thereby giving power either exclusively to reason or to the heart. In this way, if we give power solely to the heart, we may make a hasty decision by following a wave of inner desire; for example, we may already want to make a bold and risky decision or investment, without paying attention to our own readiness and actual preparation for the situation. On the other hand, by choosing the path of procrastination, we are constantly searching for the right moment and the ideal circumstances to follow the path of our dreams. And here lies the trap, because it turns out that this ideal moment never comes, and we remain in a state of preparation all the time.

Both these strategies mislead us and distance us from a sense of balance between the two. And it is in the balance between the voice of the heart and reason that we achieve true coherence.

Dialogue

Sometimes it is impossible to hasten the moment of true harmony when the voice of reason meets the heart. It cannot be planned or forced. Everything depends on naturally reaching the maturity needed to integrate within oneself both what has driven us forward (the heart) and what has provided rationality in practical matters (reason). And to find this common ground, sometimes a little time must pass before a person feels ready within themselves to translate a dream into a real and tangible reality. So when a vision meets a practical plan of action, then we can speak of inner coherence and thus of the meeting of the voice of the heart and reason.

The worst trap is when reason completely blocks the voice of the heart. This can look like sabotaging one’s inner needs, repressing them, and belittling one’s own dreams or achievements. If we listen exclusively to the voice of reason for too long, we may lose faith in any plan, and dreams can be completely forgotten. It is the voice of the heart that is the inner fuel for action, so when that fuel begins to run out, it is hard to find the motivation for any change. It is also worth noting that reason is often under the control of the ego, and this can sometimes lead us to doubt any life-changing decision. The ego fears change and novelty, as it interprets them as a threat. Reason, therefore, sometimes takes on the guise of a stern policeman, standing guard to ensure you do not move from a comfortable place, because change may be too risky. At this point, it is important to bear in mind that the voice of the heart can also offer sound arguments as to why it is worth putting something new into practice and turning a desire into a concrete plan.

Harmony

Consistency between reason and the heart comes when we try to adopt the attitude of an observer. It is worth asking ourselves, "Who is speaking through me right now?" The heart or the mind? Will this decision be good for both sides? Seeking a compromise between the heart and the mind is a good strategy for moving from a phase of chaos to realistic planning.

Consistent decisions also come when we no longer take on the role of a victim. For it is the victim mentality that makes us want to fulfill our dreams here and now under idealized conditions in the world of our dreams. Whereas the ‘evil’ mind prevents us from doing so. Shedding the role of a victim allows us to see that nobody here is out to spite anyone. Part of life is finding the golden mean between what we desire and what our capabilities allow. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but the point is to take action and move forward. Often, it is this smallest step forward that marks the beginning of a new, coherent path, which we carve out for ourselves through a mature synthesis of the perspectives of the heart and the mind.

The worlds of reason and the heart need not be at war with one another. Every person can find and develop within themselves a happy medium – a compromise between these perspectives. The inner fuel of the heart and the strategy of reason allow us to move mountains, provided we stop fighting against these worlds and find a common language between them.