Remembering the vision of the heart: Balancing mind and inspiration

Lately, I’ve been immersed in preparing materials for some upcoming academic classes. I love diving into the world of ideas, but I’ve learned it’s not a place I want to live. It’s easy to get stuck in the mind, forgetting the beauty and vision that inspire us in the first place.

A wise guide once told me, “The mind’s job is to carry out the vision of the heart.” This has been a powerful reminder for me. Feeding my heart is what keeps the vision alive and the inspiration flowing. The mind, as brilliant as it is, can only follow directions. When I spend too much time in my thoughts, I start to lose sight of the world’s beauty and my larger vision. Eventually, fear even begins to creep in.

The truth is, our deepest wisdom doesn’t come from the mind. It comes from somewhere else entirely—from the heart, the soul, or the depths of our connection to something greater.

Remembering the Depth

I think this happens to everyone. We go on an incredible trip to places like Yosemite, the Canadian Rockies, or Glacier National Park (I used to live just 30 minutes from its western entrance). In these moments, we reconnect with our hearts. We remember the depths that are always speaking to us.

But then, we return to “real life.” We get caught up in the daily grind, and that connection fades. Over time, we forget.

The British poet Kathleen Raine captured this so beautifully:

“Strangest of all is the ease with which the vision is lost, consciousness contracts, we forget over and over again, until recollection is stirred by some icon of that beauty. Then we remember and wonder why we ever forgot.”

Finding Ways to Remember

So, how do we hold onto that vision? How do we stay connected to the beauty and depth that inspire us? Here are a few practices I’ve found helpful:

• Pause for Beauty: Make time to step outside, notice the light, or revisit a memory of a breathtaking place.
• Listen to Your Heart: Create space for quiet reflection. Journaling, meditation, or even a simple walk can help reconnect you with your inner voice.
• Feed Your Inspiration: Surround yourself with art, poetry, or music that stirs your soul.
• Return to Nature: Even a small dose of the natural world can remind us of the larger vision we carry.

May we all find ways to remember the vision of our hearts and stay connected to the beauty that continually calls to us.