Your heart’s desires are divinely inspired, and if they matter to you, they matter to God. However, following your heart’s desires is not always easy, and for many people, it can be one of the most challenging things they will ever do. Why will most people never follow their hearts? In this article, I want to share eight of the most common barriers that might be preventing you from pursuing what truly matters and ways to overcome them.
Following your heart can be one of the most rewarding things you can do in life, but there are many barriers that can hold you back. Being disconnected from your heart, lack of clarity, fear of the unknown, limited beliefs, the ego’s need for safety, a lack of support, and financial constraints are some of the common obstacles that prevent most people from pursuing what truly matters to them. Let’s take a look at each of these obstacles and what you can do to overcome them.
Reason 1: Disconnection
The main reason most people struggle to follow their hearts is that they are disconnected from their hearts and are not even aware of what it is they truly want. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the demands of daily life and lose touch with our innermost desires.
To overcome this barrier: Set aside some quiet time for reflection each day. Take a walk in nature, pray, meditate on your heart, or journal about your thoughts and feelings. Ask yourself, “What is my heart longing for? What brings me joy? What am I passionate about?” Listen carefully to the answers that come up, and be open to exploring new paths and possibilities.
Reason 2: Lack of Clarity
Another barrier that can prevent people from following their hearts is a lack of clarity about what they truly want. Sometimes, we have a general idea of what we want but are not clear about the specifics, or we may have conflicting desires that make it challenging to choose a path. This lack of clarity can lead to indecisiveness and feeling stuck in our current situation.
To overcome this barrier: Take time to reflect on your values, passions, and long-term goals. Get clear on what matters most to you and what you want to achieve by creating a vision for your life. Make a list of your priorities, and then consider how you can align your actions with those priorities. Breaking down your desires into smaller, more manageable goals can also help you gain clarity and make progress towards following your heart.
Reason 3: Fear of the Unknown
Another significant barrier to following your heart is the fear of the unknown. It’s natural to feel scared when you’re about to step outside your comfort zone and pursue something new and unfamiliar. However, it’s important to remember that fear is just an emotion designed to keep you safe, and it’s not always a reliable indicator of what’s best for you.
To overcome this fear: Give yourself permission to acknowledge and feel the fear. Then, have a conversation with the part of yourself that is afraid of the unknown. Ask yourself, “What is this fear trying to tell me? What am I afraid of?” Once you’ve identified your fears, try to address them one by one. For example, if you’re afraid of failure, remind yourself that failure is a natural part of the learning process and that every successful person experiences it.
Reason 4: Limited Beliefs
Another common barrier to following your heart is having limited beliefs. These are the beliefs we hold about ourselves, others, and the world around us that limit our potential and keep us stuck in our current circumstances.
To challenge these beliefs: Ask yourself, “What do I believe about myself and my abilities? Are these beliefs really true, or are they just stories I’ve been telling myself?” Once you’ve identified your limiting beliefs, try to reframe them in a more positive light. Instead of thinking, “I’m not good enough,” try thinking, “I have the potential to achieve great things if I work hard and believe in myself.”
Reason 5: Our Ego’s Need for Safety
A common barrier to following your heart is the ego’s need for safety. Our ego is the part of us that wants to protect us from pain and harm, both physical and emotional. While this can be helpful in some situations, it can also hold us back from taking risks and pursuing what truly matters to us.
To overcome this barrier: Have a conversation with the part of yourself that is holding you back. Ask yourself, “What is my ego trying to protect me from? Is this protection really necessary, or is it holding me back from living my best life?” Once you’ve identified your ego’s mechanism of defense, try to reframe your thinking. Instead of thinking about the risks and potential downsides of following your heart, focus on the potential rewards and the fulfillment you could gain from pursuing your desires.
Reason 6: Lack of Support
A lack of support can also be a significant barrier to following your heart. Whether it’s from family, friends, or coworkers, not having the support you need can make it challenging to pursue your dreams.
To overcome this barrier: Have a conversation with the people in your life who are not supportive of your goals. Explain to them why this is important to you and how it will benefit your life. If you still don’t receive the support you require, seek like-minded individuals who share your passions and can provide the support and encouragement you need to succeed. Join a group or community centered around your interests, or find a coach or mentor who can guide you along the way.
Reason 7: Prioritizing Other’s Needs
Prioritizing other people’s needs over your own can happen when you feel responsible for the happiness and well-being of others, whether it’s your family, friends, or coworkers. You may feel guilty or selfish for pursuing your passions when it means taking time and resources away from others.
To transcend this barrier: Practice emotional self-awareness and self-compassion. Start by identifying the reasons why you prioritize other people’s needs over your own. Ask yourself if it’s based on a fear of rejection, guilt, or a desire to please others. Challenge your limiting beliefs and mindsets with positive affirmations and self-talk, such as, “My happiness and self-realization are important to me.”
Reason 8: Financial Constraints
Finally, financial constraints can also hold people back from following their hearts. Pursuing your passions often requires a financial investment, and not everyone has the means to take that risk. This manifests as thoughts such as, “I can’t follow my heart until I have the money.”
To overcome this barrier: Ask yourself, “Is there a way to start small and build your way up? Can you find creative solutions, such as crowdfunding or finding part-time work to support your passion project?” Remember that money is not the only measure of success, and pursuing your passions can often lead to other forms of abundance, such as happiness and spiritual fulfillment. Start with the money you have and use your resources effectively!
Your Heart’s Desires
Your heart’s desires are divinely inspired. If they are important to you, they are important to God. You owe it to yourself to follow your heart and see where it takes you. Who knows? You may just surprise yourself and discover a whole new world of possibilities and opportunities that you never imagined possible. There may be setbacks and challenges along the way, but these experiences will help you grow personally and spiritually and help you become the person you know in your heart you came here to be.
Conclusion
Being disconnected from your heart, lack of clarity, fear of the unknown, limited beliefs, the ego’s need for safety, a lack of support, and financial constraints are some of the common obstacles that prevent people from pursuing what truly matters to them. And, like most obstacles, they can be easily overcome when you make it your top priority to follow your heart and become the person you’re destined to become.
By identifying and overcoming these eight common barriers, you can take the first step towards following your heart and pursuing what truly matters to you.
Listen to your heart, trust in yourself, and have the courage to take action. You’re here to live the adventure of a lifetime!
From my heart to yours,
