A Strong Mind and a Strong Heart Are Your Fortress Now

The mind's determination and the heart's courage, together they forge an unbreakable will empowering us to overcome the most difficult obstacles.

Photo by Buddy Photo on Unsplash

The mind and heart are like the Yin and Yang. They never meet, but they complete each other.”

Look around, and you will find plenty of people tormenting themselves with worries, regrets, and resentments. We can also use this capacity to create a world against ourselves. We might see a person who looks at us with a perturbed expression and thinks he or she is angry with us, but not knowing why, we fantasize. It is something we said or did, so we worry, and with our attention, we generate possible past and future stories, and arguments.

Though distracted and untrained, we are all creators because we do not fully appreciate the power of attention. We create worlds that become true and intense in our minds but disappear just as they have come into being.

I’ll never forget the ordinary morning drive to work, stopped at the traffic light, when a gentle voice within me whispered. “Yoli, there’s nothing to do but breathe into this moment.” In that instant, time stood still. The world around me melted away, leaving only the soft whisper of my breath. In surrendering to the present moment, my thoughts grew quiet, like a pond reflecting the sky above. I clearly understood that I’d been creating mental scenarios, fantasies, and distractions that had nothing to do with the beautiful scenery drive to go to work.

To strengthen my mind, I began approaching my daily drives with a newfound sense of intention. Sometimes, I’d repeat affirmations, allowing the positive words to seep into my soul. Other times, I’d feel appreciation spread through my heart. And often, I’d pay attention to the sights, sounds, and sensations around me, allowing the world to come alive in all its vibrant beauty.

It is a good feeling to be mentally strong, competent, centered, and able to face difficulties. To be mentally weak, it’s evident that it comes from fear. However, who teaches us to be strong? It’s the opposite I often see. I see people overcome by anxiety, insecurities, and devastation inside. They listen to the news and comments made by peers and form their lives according to what they see and hear. They can be creative and have the capacity to create greater love in their life, but they lack inner strength. Social media, the news, etc, drive their life. They have lost their way and do not know where they want to go.

Inner strength is tapping into our resources. It’s subtle, and we already have it. With this subtle energy, we learn to read reality in other ways, use new strategies, forge our character, and retrain forgotten abilities. In our inner world, there is a surprising new strength, and realizing this is tapping into the heart of our existence. This force is our will. Our will enables us to face difficulties without giving up. The will lets us see our limits and our possibilities. It gives us discipline, makes us more resilient, and leads us to freedom.

Think about it for a moment. Our will chooses; it allows us to rise and renew ourselves. What we choose to do or not to do defines us and shapes our lives. The capacity to stop an impulse can save us. It can free us from addiction or other harmful habits. The will is an affirmation to oneself. Our affirmation is often uncomfortable for others, since it draws on limited and sought-after resources like attention, space, time and energy. Self-affirmation means creating space for ourselves.

Over the years, I’ve learned to say no to people when it was easier to say yes. This was my act of will. I was no longer tending to the demands of others. What is it about us that we tend to go along when we don’t want to? Guilt? Fear? Saying “no” represents our identity, a self-discovery, and more than saying “yes,” which goes with the flow. “No” is to go against the current. It stems from an evolutionary stage because it expresses a drive to differentiate ourselves from the environment.

Also, on a journey of self-discovery, we have our second brain, our heart, which gently invites us to connect with our innermost selves. As we embark on this journey, we may find that our heart has a quiet voice, perhaps even silenced by the noise of daily life. We can learn to tune in to its wisdom with patience, self-compassion, and curiosity. I’ve asked myself a question that has helped me have a strong heart: Is this situation bringing me joy, comfort, and peace? Also, considering what is non-negotiable and my core values guide my decisions.

As I’ve explored these questions with nature and the world around me, I’ve found that my heart is not about personal resilience but cultivating compassion, empathy, and understanding—most of all, surrendering to the unknown. It is a journey that requires courage, vulnerability, and trust—trusting and having faith in your heart’s invitation will lead us to a more profound sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

In these changing times, I invite you to revisit your mind and heart, ask yourself, “What thoughts am I entertaining?” Instead of complaining, use your energy to create positivity. Everything changes; what is happening in your life right now is only temporary. Listen to the whispers of your heart, and create a fortress of strength that will help you find lasting peace. Remember your energy is always trying to flow. The only reason it can’t it’s because it’s blocked. What’s blocking it? Our ability to feel love, joy and inspiration is determined by how much energy makes it through the blockages.

Relax, we are all on the path of self-realization.

Thank you for reading.

May the flow be with you now and always! 🙏🏽

With love,

Yoli

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Thanks for reading The Art of Flow! If you enjoy reading, please show your support by liking ❤️ and sharing your thoughts in the comments. If you would like to support my work with a donation, you can do so HERE or buying my book The Art of Flow: 40 Reflections on Being Fully Present. Thank you for your kindness, generosity and engagement. This post is public so feel free to share it.