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Have you got a heart

Written by: Andrew Campbell-Watt

Article Overview: Like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, we all need a "heart". Not the pump thing that keeps us going, but something more subtle. This heart is the seat of our emotions, of empathy and of love. We need to recognise its existence and to find a balance between our heart and our head. Only with this balance will we find harmony in our lives.

Have you got a heart

What is meant by heart? I do not mean the blood pump thing that keeps us going. There is a subtle meaning that goes deeper than this – we use it all the time, maybe unconsciously. We say “My heartfelt thanks”; “She has a loving heart”; “My heart sank at the news”; “He has no heart”; “My head says one thing, my heart another”. There are many more similar sayings in the English lexicon.
Traditionally it is considered to be the seat of the emotions - compassion, kindness, generosity, humility and, above all, love. Importantly the “heart” is the seat of feelings (gut feeling) and empathy.
It is needful to recognise that we all have a “heart”; but do we listen to it? Is it submerged by the “necessities” and pressures of work, or the idea that we have to be in control, to have it done “my way”? The ‘heart” is important and to bring it back to its rightful position we need to exercise reason to acquire or regain a balance between pure “head”(a cold logical thought process) and pure “heart” (running on feelings and emotions). We forget that “head” is often a euphemism for ego. This is our view of ourselves, and the steps we take to maintain or boost that feeling of importance and power that many of us seem to crave, often tend to over ride our true feelings as expressed by our heart. It can take a real effort to step back, find some space to examine our reasons for the proposed activity and think, “Is this the best course of action for the result required or anticipated?”
Reason has to do with choice – and choice, in many instances, is really an ethical issue (certainly in business). It has to do with determining what our principles or values are (which are from the heart), and then using reason to discriminate (in any given situation) between right and wrong, correct and incorrect, truth and untruth. In business, in government and in life generally, there are five main levels of discrimination:
1. Discrimination to determine the best course of action for the Family (or me).
2. Discrimination to determine the best course of action for the Community (or firm).
3. Discrimination to determine the best course of action for Society.
4. Discrimination to determine the best course of action for the Nation.
5. Discrimination to determine the best course of action for Humanity.

Each level is a significant step up from the previous one and always incorporates the previous level or levels. Not many of us ever experience the burden of discriminating at levels 3, 4 or 5. But no matter what the level, we have to consider our “heart”, and reflect on the effects our actions will have on others - we need to look at the bigger picture.
We now come to the nub of the bigger picture which is ethics. This is an amalgam of our heart (feelings and emotions) and our head (thoughts). It is necessary, to be ethical, to remember two things:
(1) to always treat others as you would like to be treated, and
(2) to ask yourself, “if EVERYONE did what you are doing (or propose to do) would the world be a better place”? (Refer to the five levels mentioned above).
There is no other viable option.
The effects that thoughts have are profound, if not generally recognized. One may wax poetical and say that as an arrow is released from a bow, so is a thought formulated and ‘released’ from the mind – it cannot be recalled. It cannot be ‘unthought’.
In fact we are made or unmade by ourselves. In the armoury of our thoughts we forge the weapons with which we could destroy ourselves and others. Alternatively we may fashion the tools with which to build for ourselves all that is necessary for happiness, prosperity and peace.
It may seem a strange or whimsical statement to make, but thoughts are things. They are creative, they have substance. Everything we have began first as a thought. I do not mean the casual or passing thought, but thoughts with some emotion (some “heart”) behind them. Anything conceived, or made by man originates with a thought, be it a bridge, a book, an action or a concept. The flow is Thought, Word and then Action.
Every idea or thought becomes, as it were, a seed; this seed idea is sent out, or held in the mind; it then becomes a concept or word, later to be brought forth or expressed in physical forms. Good hearted thoughts or ideas of perfection result in perfection; heartless thoughts or ideas which are in essence imperfect, result in imperfection. It cannot be otherwise – the law of cause and effect cannot be evaded. I am not talking about, as I said before, the passing thought, but the general trend of your emotive (or heartfelt) thoughts – if the general trend is positive then you will be a positive person with generally positive outcomes – if the trend is negative then the chances are that you will be negative in your outlook and outcomes.
It is the thought behind the action; the intentional (heartfelt) thought, from which the action arises, which is important and must be examined.

If this originating thought is really examined, it will be seen that the root causes of all ego driven (head not heart) or unethical conduct is either fear or desire. Fear of it being discovered that you have done something inappropriate; fear of being rejected by your partner or by your peers; fear that the company may lose market share; fear about job security; fear about not being able to control the situation – the list is endless. This fear is always brought about by the perceived threat of personal injury, physical or financial loss, or loss of ‘face’ (damage to the ego). This is all head not “heart”.

There is also desire. This is the flip side of fear. Desire is fed by the ego (head). The image you have about yourself that has to be maintained (and a fear that it may not last). ‘I want this,’ ‘I must have that,’ ‘I simply cannot live without it.’ Again, it is the originating thought that must be examined.
So, have you got a heart? Recognising that you have a heart and using reason to balance it with the head (ego) is necessary if you are to grow to your full potential as a human being and to ensure that harmony is to be brought about (or maintained) in your life, be it in the work place or the home.

Related Articles
  In the Beat of a Heart
  The Risk of Heart Disease in Professional Women
  A Great Life Starts in Your Imagination
  The Art of Heart-Listening
  How Heavy is YOUR heart?

Article Tags: balance in the work place, big picture, choice, empathy, ethics, fear, heart, power creative, thoughts, tin man, wizard of oz



Related Forum Posts
Re: Quote of the Day - "Have the courage to follow your heart an - [quote="GT Bulmer":102twzd2]Hi, Evan: I haven't yet managed to capitalize on the longings of my heart as successfully as Jobs did[/quote:102twzd2] Hi GT - I woke up thinking about this post and I have a challenge for you for May if you're up to it. Here it is: Write the blog post / article you were born to write. Write something that you can pour your heart and all your passion into. Write something where you can change the life of the person reading it. Write something where if you look back in 10 years you'll be really proud of what you created. Can you do that? I'd love to read it (and I bet a lot of others will too!)
Re: Books You Wish Had Been Written - How did I miss this topic for so long!! haa haa I love it. Ok - procrastinate constructively - I'd probably buy that but then put off reading it...haa haa Hmm...I think someone should write a book about being a sometimes reluctant entrepreneur, or perhaps the reality of business ownership and PMS as a woman in business. kidding aside...I have an extensive library but I would love to see a book that really lays out the emotional side of business ownership. What to prepare for etc. I get the tools and information from reading a lot of biographies but somedays, I would love to go to my library and pull out a reference for 'one the days you dont feel like being the Boss etc..."or 'how to keep your game face on for your staff when stuff doesnt go right. I had a meeting today with a prospect and he was really candid, he said "i want my business to be doing better but I'm not sure if I have it in me today...." Instead of a sales meeting - we went for a heart to heart entrepreneurship coffee. Best 'meeting' I have had in forever!!
The Virgin - Richard Branson is the one that always comes to my mind and I know there are loads of others. Well done - where your heart is is where success is - in whatever shape or form it takes. You'll do well - even if we all have to hold you to account now that you've told us! Regards
Re: Quote of the Day - "Have the courage to follow your heart an - GT - congrats on following your heart and making that courageous decision after so many years - the longer you stay entrenched in something the harder it is to break free. And we're so fortunate that you did because your support and great ideas are so valuable to this community! Thanks for sharing your story!
Re: help wanted in u.k. - Thanks David and everyone who took an interest in my little project, It is a real ignored lost stray puppy dog of a project, but its got a great heart and soul, only God knows whats going to happen ,but its got a foothold in the states now and I am satisfied with that or anything really. cheers Brendan


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