Have you ever made a decision that felt right in your heart, only to find yourself second-guessing it the next day? If so, you’re not alone. The key to making powerful, wholehearted decisions lies in understanding and aligning the three levels of intelligence within you: your head, your heart, and your gut.
In this article, I’ll share a personal story of how I learned to make wholehearted decisions by tuning into the wisdom of my inner Emperor, King, and Samurai. As a leader on the path of heart mastery, you’ll discover the transformative power of listening to all three levels of intelligence and gain practical tools for applying this approach in your own life.
Most ancient traditions speak of three levels of intelligence or wisdom that humans are born with. The Chinese Taoist philosophy speaks of three energy centers within the body known as the Three Tan Tiens: The Upper Tan Tien, located within the head brain, the Middle Tan Tien, located in the heart, and the Lower Tan Tien in the abdomen.
Similarly, the Jewish Kabbalah has a spiritual conception that includes three distinct levels of soul, the Nefesh or lower animal soul, the Ruah associated with the intellect, and the Neshamah or Divine associated with the heart.
Ancient Sufi wisdom, synthesized in Gurdjieff’s Enneagram System, describes how we all have three brains: an intellectual brain, an emotional brain, and a body-ruling moving/instinctive brain. According to Gurdjieff, accessing these three brains holds the key to personal and spiritual growth.
Anthroposophy, the spiritual science behind Rudolph Steiner’s Waldorf Education system, also speaks about the three folds or intelligence contained in each human: the thinking, feeling, and willing.
The idea that we have three levels of intelligence is also found in a large cross-section of the world’s religions, including the shamans of Mongolia, Siberia, Central Asia, Africa, South America, and the Native American Lakota Sioux. Even the native Hawaiian occult tradition of Kahuna refers to a notion of a ‘lower self’, a ‘middle self’, and a ‘higher self’.
Can you see a pattern here? Most importantly, what does this all have to do with you?
Well, if you want to live more fully, authentically, and meaningfully, and if you want to make more wholehearted decisions, then failing to understand that you have three centers of intelligence, and using one to the exclusion of others, is the biggest mistake people make when attempting to follow their heart.
Getting to Know Your Three Amigos
So, who are these three amigos, and how do they guide us in making wholehearted decisions?
Your head, or the King, is your cognitive, rational intelligence. It’s the part of you that analyzes, plans, and weighs the pros and cons. When you say things like “I need to think this through” or “What’s the logic behind that?” you’re tapping into the wisdom of your head.
Your heart, or the Emperor, is your emotional, relational, and value-driven intelligence. It’s the part of you that feels, connects, and seeks meaning and purpose. When you say “I love that” or “This just feels so right,” you’re listening to the guidance of your heart.
Your gut, or the Samurai, is your instinctual, self-preservation intelligence. It’s the part of you that senses danger, mobilizes for action, and protects your well-being. When you say, “I don’t have the guts to do this” or “I’m going to go with my gut feeling,” you’re tuning into the wisdom of your gut.
Personal Story: The Emperor, the King, and the Samurai
A few years ago, I was facing a big, life-changing decision. After completing my studies and ending a three-year commitment to volunteer at a non-profit organization in South Africa, I needed to decide what to do next.
In my heart, I felt the calling to stay in South Africa, go deeper into my work as a heart intelligence coach, and build a training business around the topic of ‘living from the heart’. It felt like a ‘no brainer’ decision.
But shortly after making the decision, I began to feel uneasy. I’d wake up in the middle of the night having nightmares about missing my flight. I had failed to acknowledge the wisdom of my head and my gut.
To find clarity, I gave myself permission to truly listen to what each of my three centers of intelligence had to say. My head wanted to explore other opportunities and weigh the pros and cons. My heart wanted to ensure alignment with my higher purpose and values. And my gut was stressed about the uncertainties and challenges ahead.
By listening to and honoring all three voices, I was able to make a wholehearted decision to stay in South Africa. This time, it felt different. I was at peace, knowing I had made a decision from the core of my entire being.
All For One, and One For All
Making a wholehearted decision means listening to your head, heart, and gut, and then allowing your heart to lead the way. It’s a decision that makes sense to your mind, feels right in your heart, and activates your gut’s self-preservation instinct because you’re embarking on a transformational journey – the path of the heart.
As leaders on the path of heart mastery, when you learn to align your inner Emperor, King, and Samurai, you tap into a profound source of wisdom and power. You begin to make decisions that not only bring you joy and fulfillment but also create a positive impact in the world around you.
Implementation: Tuning Into Your Inner Wisdom
Now that you understand the power of aligning your head, heart, and gut, let’s explore how you can tune into your own inner wisdom when facing important decisions. Ask yourself these three questions:
- Head: Does this decision make sense?
- Heart: Does this feel right?
- Gut: Does this scare the hell out of me?
Remember, the Samurai’s job is to go to battle. Your gut is connected with your preservation instinct, so it’s natural to feel scared when stepping out of your comfort zone. But as author Derek Sivers coined, answering “yes” to all three questions ensures you have a “hell yeah” decision.
When the Mind Cannot Understand
What if something doesn’t make sense to your head? Sometimes, the heart has reasons the mind cannot understand. This is where deep alignment comes in. After asking the three questions, come back to your heart and ask, “What’s the deepest truth about this decision or situation?”
Your heart is your communication center with your soul, an ancient spiritual teaching from the Chinese Dao. If you’re receptive, it will reveal the deeper truth to you. Because your heart holds the deepest truth, and anything that calibrates as true will always make you stronger because it’s nurturing and supportive of all life, in the end, the heart will win. The heart wants what the heart wants.
When you add heart-brain coherence, or wholeheartedness, the head, heart, and gut intelligence begin to work as one, a house united instead of a heart divided. When your heart, gut, and head are aligned, you become unstoppable. Right thinking, right feeling, and right action become the natural way of being, and you tap into a wellspring of love, wisdom, and power within you.
When to Use Wholehearted Decision Making
Making wholehearted decisions is particularly useful when facing significant life choices, such as career transitions, relationship decisions, or personal growth opportunities. However, you can apply this approach to any decision, big or small, to ensure that you’re acting in alignment with your authentic self.
Some common situations where making wholehearted decisions can be incredibly valuable include:
- Choosing a career path or making a job change
- Deciding whether to enter, deepen, or end a romantic relationship
- Selecting a place to live or relocate
- Embarking on a new educational journey or personal development program
- Making financial investments or major purchases
By tuning into your head, heart, and gut in these situations, you can make decisions that honor your true desires, values, and purpose, leading to a more fulfilling and joyful life.
Final Thoughts
Making wholehearted decisions is a skill that requires practice, patience, and trust in yourself. By aligning your head, heart, and gut, you tap into a wellspring of wisdom that guides you toward a life of purpose, joy, and fulfillment.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. As a leader on the path to heart mastery, each wholehearted decision you make today, no matter how small, is a step toward becoming the change you wish to see in the world. So, trust the process, and let your heart lead the way.
The world needs your unique gifts and talents in service to the greater good. Take some time this weekend to tune into your inner Emperor, King, and Samurai. Ask them questions, then listen to what they have to say. Trust the wisdom within you and embrace the transformative journey ahead.
From my heart to yours,
