Find Your Inner Strength to Tackle Any Challenge

Everyone faces challenges during their life, from suffering the death of a loved one to being laid off from a job. But the challenges themselves aren't holding you back; rather, it's how you react to the challenges that determine your ultimate success and happiness.

When faced with any challenge, you can react one of two ways: with your mind or with your heart. And if you're like most people, you are much more attuned to your mind than to your heart. In fact, you probably seldom think about your heart, unless you feel it pounding as a result of exercise.

Because the mind is primarily a reactive system, it is driven by the ego's need for power, control, and approval. As such, it reacts impatiently to challenges and then justifies any rash actions by turning to logic and reason. The heart, on the other hand, is driven by spiritual concerns. It seeks connectedness, self-expression, and fulfillment of your deepest needs. When a challenge arises, the heart "feels" for the right course of action based on your body's needs.

When you listen to your heart and draw upon its energy, you develop an inner strength that guides you and sustains you through any challenge. Use the following suggestions to develop your heart connection.

1. Get to know your heart

Getting to know your heart is the first step to overcoming a challenge. When you are in tune with your heart, you understand who you really are, what you love, and what your life's mission is all about. Most likely you are already familiar with your physical heart. It beats wildly when you get excited and pounds when you're scared. But to get connected with your spiritual heart, you must be willing to look deep within yourself and challenge your own beliefs. Only then will your heart give you the energy to persevere through challenges.

The following questions will get you started toward identifying the path that will help you overcome your challenge. As you consider these questions, other questions may present themselves to you that will further stretch your thinking.

¨ What makes you feel connected to your heart (some people refer to this as feeling "spiritual")?

¨ What does happiness mean to you?

¨ When do you experience connectedness?

¨ Which activities make you lose track of time?

¨ How have your life aspirations changed over the years?

¨ What life events have prompted your emotional growth?

When you truthfully answer these questions, you'll develop a deeper connection to your heart and a greater understanding of what you must do in the face of adversity.

2. Tap into your heart's intelligence Your heart has an intelligence all its own. We all think, speak, and reason with our heart, especially when facing a challenge. We also rely on our heart's intelligence whenever we make an important decision. For example, no matter how carefully you may weigh all the options, ultimately something serves to make you decide one way or another. In most cases, this is your heart speaking, giving you the "feeling" that you should do one thing rather than another. So whether you realize this or not, you consult with your heart every day as to the wisdom of the choices you need to make.

Your heart's intelligence is very different from your mind's intelligence. The mind seeks victories; the heart seeks solutions. The mind is judgmental; the heart is forgiving. Material matters drive the mind; values drive the heart.

To discover your heart's intelligence, you must consciously choose to silence all the other voices that are seeking your attention. These voices are the voice of power, the voice of control, and the voice of achievement ? all the voices of the mind. Sit quietly and think about your challenge as you focus on the voice of your heart ? the voice that connects you to silence, to inspiration, to comfort, to peace, to contentment, and to love and meaning. As you hear the answers your heart gives you, your mind will silence and the challenge's resolution will be obvious.

3. Create an "island of peace"

Some people view a strong heart connection as having peace of mind. But how do you achieve peace of mind in a world that's in constant motion, endless activity, and pressed by demands and expectations? The solution lies in the interruption of our daily activities with "islands of peace." These are moments when we let go of stress and regenerate ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It's during these times that we can better hear our heart and understand its message to us.

One way to create an island of peace is through meditation. Because we are constantly entertaining so many thoughts, feelings, and emotions, especially during difficult time, we need a way to quiet our mind so we can hear our heart. When we meditate, we are able to discover a silence within. It is this silence between thoughts where we often find the solution to whatever challenge is before us.

There are various meditation techniques. One is to observe your breathing and be mindful of it, because breathing and mental activity go hand in hand. When you are excited, you breathe fast. When you are relaxed, you breathe slowly. So just observing your breathing quiets your mind and allows your heart to speak. Another technique is using a mantra, which means "instrument of the mind." A mantra is a word that, when repeated in your mind, leads to the same quieting of the voices. It disconnects you from the constant desire to be active and alert. Meditating helps you discover an inner peace that re-energizes you, enabling you to tackle any challenge that comes your way.

Your Heart's Strength

When we experience a challenge, the way to handle it is to take refuge in our heart ? to be aware that we have a safe place where we can analyze the problem without being overwhelmed by it. If we gain this sense of detachment from the challenge, we can gain control over it. So whenever you are facing a challenge, connect with your heart. It will give you the support and guidance you need to overcome your obstacles, continue in life, and achieve your dreams.

© Copyright 2004 Bruno Cortis, M.D.

Bruno Cortis, M.D., is a cardiologist with a major interest in Spirituality and Health. He authored two books, The Spiritual Heart and also Heart & Soul. He is a member of NSA, Illinois Chapter and he delivers speeches and seminars across North America. You can visit Dr. Cortis at http://www.BrunoCortis.com or e-mail him at DrCortis@BrunoCortis.com. His telephone number is 708-366-0117.

---

Banish Shallow Breathing And Boost Self Esteem!

You know, very often, the manner in which a person... Read More

Dump Those Negative Tapes

Every time something doesn't go quite right (rather frequently for... Read More

Good News! The Pathway of Change Is Predictable

Often when radical change occurs in our lives we feel... Read More

Clenching?

What are you holding onto? Wanta quit?There are many things... Read More

Look for the Positives

Our lives are overflowing with negative information from the newspapers,... Read More

Give Your Attitude A Little Altitude

Need a way to make your life a better place... Read More

Mindfulness: Youre Soaking In It!

Looking for a bit more mindfulness in your daily life?... Read More

Self-Sabotage - Are We Prisoners of the Past?

Many people who suffer from low self-esteem would give anything... Read More

All Your Problems Are Based In False Beliefs!

All the problems that any individual has in their lives... Read More

Five Ways to Be More Encouraging

We all need encouragement. Even the most callous, hard headed... Read More

Creating Success Through Self-Affirming Thought Patterns

Everyone of us has the potential to successfully more through... Read More

The 5 Words That Are Ruining Your Life

How would you like to stop feeling like your life... Read More

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

I was always somebody who felt quite sorry for myself,... Read More

Feel Those Feelings and Develop Emotional Intelligence

There is an old joke about a man who is... Read More

Understanding Visualization

Visualization is the art of using ones imagination to influence... Read More

Are You A Prisoner of Your Own Making?

There is a wonderful story about the famous escape artist,... Read More

Five Ways to Stay Positive in a Negative World

In view of the increasing negative events happening around the... Read More

Are You A Victim Of FABS? Part 2

When you have a case of FABS, it may be... Read More

A Major Block to Constructive Change

A Yale University study a few years ago revealed that... Read More

Create Your Own Confidence Bank Account

This is a technique that sounds a bit silly when... Read More

Mind Games!

Have you ever been caught up in a thought that... Read More

Overcoming Bad Moods

From experience, one of the biggest stumbling blocks for people... Read More

Fear Is Nothing To Be Afraid Of

Several years, I was listening to a radio talk show... Read More

I Know I Can, I Know I Can

I'm sure most of you remember the children's book about... Read More

Having the Attitude I am the Greatest!

While trying to ignore my teen daughters rap music a... Read More

Possibilities

When you look at your future in terms of your... Read More

Quick Tips On Making Change Work For You

Facing a change and want to make it work for... Read More

Courtesy In The Workplace -- Can You Say, Thank You?

Thank you is such a beautiful phrase. When you say,... Read More

Theres No Negative In My Program - Part 1

Imagine the what you could achieve if:You were 100 %... Read More

Be Thankful for What You Have Got

Did you know that the 911 equivalent in the UK... Read More

How You Treat People Matters

I encountered several interesting people that really taught me something.... Read More

Prescience

"The knowledge of actions or events before they occur; foresight."You... Read More

Who Controls Your Mind?

Few people are aware of the thoughts that pass through... Read More