Why not?
Should you just “follow your heart” as you date, in your marriage, while you work, as you socialize? No. At least not most of the time. That’s because when most people say, “follow your heart,” they’re really just saying, “follow your feelings.” And yes, feelings by themselves can sometimes lead you down a smooth road, but more often than not, they’ll lead you on a road full of potholes and maybe even a fatal crash.
Think about it
How many times have you heard about husbands divorcing their wives of many years to get that “loving feeling” with a new “trophy wife?” How many women have said to you, “I just don’t feel in love anymore.” They’re leaving their husbands for a man who “really listens, understands and cares.” And how many have left their job on a whim because they “felt” like it in order to start a new business that quickly went out of business?
The Problem
We live in a culture where people make major decisions solely in response to their feelings, regardless of who they hurt or what promises they break. Authors Stephen and Alex Kendrick in their book, The Love Dare, say the problem with “following your heart”, as most people define it, is that you are just chasing whatever feels right at the moment, even though it may not be right. It means throwing caution to the wind and pursuing your latest whim, even though it may not be logical. The Kendricks further note that, “People forget that feelings and emotions are shallow, fickle, and unreliable.” Emotions can fluctuate depending upon circumstances. The Kendricks further suggest that instead of following your heart, lead your heart.
I’ll share how to lead your heart in my blog post tomorrow.