How To Follow the Path of Your Heart
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It can only lead you somewhere wonderful
“Follow your heart. Life is too short to be sidetracked by things everyone else wants you to do.” — Anonymous
It’s simple. You were born for a reason. You are meant to be here. You have a purpose. You’ll find it in what you love, what lights you up, and what makes you happy.
I’ve spent a few decades helping people figure out who they are, why they’re here, and how to follow that path. And I can’t help but be surprised by the number of times I’ve asked, “What do you love? What lights you up?” and the response is a blank stare. I am always astonished to hear, “I don’t know what I love. I don’t know what lights me up.”
Sadly, sometimes people have been so suppressed and stifled throughout life — for various reasons — they’ve become disconnected with that inner essence, that little voice, the spark that says, “Hey, you! Yeah, YOU! This is who you really are! This is what you’re meant to be doing!”
Many years ago, Carlos Castaneda shared a particularly brilliant message about this in The Teaching of Don Juan. He wrote:
“Anything is one of a million paths. Therefore, you must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if you feel you should not follow it, you must not stay with it under any conditions. To have such clarity you must lead a disciplined life. Only then will you know that any path is only a path and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you to do. But your decision to keep on the path or to leave it must be free of fear or ambition. Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary.
“Does this path have a heart? All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. They are paths going through the bush, or into the bush. In my own life I could say I have traversed long, long paths, but I am not anywhere. Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn’t, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn’t. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.
“Before you embark on any path ask the question: Does this path have a heart? If the answer is no, you will know it, and then you must choose another path. A path without a heart is never enjoyable. You have to work hard even to take it. On the other hand, a path with heart is easy; it does not make you work at liking it.”
Best. Advice. Ever.