I had many logical reasons why I couldn’t go to Hawaii this year. Money. Time. My brain and my heart were having a disagreement on this subject. Who’s going to win?
While carrying out this inner argument, I remembered several ideas I’ve read recently. When I get the same message from several unrelated sources, I have learned to pay attention to it.
John Mayfield, in his book Body Intelligence, says that our first feeling about something is our innate intuition. He says we often have an immediate reaction in our body that lasts for only a second or two and if we don’t pause and feel that first feeling, it can disappear. In this situation, I had definitely noticed my first feeling. My body wanted to go to Hawaii.
Malcolm Gladwell, in his book blink, talks about an experiment in which they found that the subjects were 30% less likely to solve a problem that required insight or intuition when they were asked to explain the rational reasons for their decisions. In some situations, we are more likely to make good decisions when we don’t try to give a rational explanation. He says “that it is possible to know without knowing why we know and accept that – sometimes – we’re better off that way.”
Both of these authors seemed to be supporting that the heart should trump the head. When I got home that night, I did some research and discovered that one of my favorite places to stay in Kauai was available as a trade for my timeshare condominium. I’ve been looking for that for about 10 years. It felt like confirmation from the Universe that I should go. I made reservations.
Other parts of the trip have fallen into place with synchronicity and I am going to Kauai in March/April. It’s been years since I’ve taken a vacation and my mind is finally giving up the battle. Rational reasoning isn’t what is important here. My heart won this one and I feel like the weight of life’s decisions has gotten lighter.
What is often supported in our society is science, research, and rational thinking. If we give rational thinking the final word, at the expense of ignoring our heart’s longings, we will suffer. Our bodies will give us stronger and stronger messages until we learn to trust ourselves. What are your feelings about this?
Leave a comment, or read comments left by others.
In the spirit of healing,
Jan Adrian, MSW
Founder and Executive Director
Thank you for taking us through this process with you. So lovely.
I turned to Eastern Spirituality and the Vedic tradition when I was diagnosed with leukemia. Your reflections demonstrate one reason why.
In comprehensive, multidimensional teachings of the great sages of India, intuition is prized above all else because it is the result of being fully integrated, of being conscious, aware. The Inner Scientists of the Vedic tradition show that logic is too small to capture or reflect the vastness of who we are and all that we can express. Our healing depends upon this.
Slowly western science is beginning to get a glimpse of this!
Have a beautiful trip!
Christina
I know that first impulse, a small excitement in the belly, a tug on the heart, a smile that blossoms and doesn’t fade.
Hurray for you, Jan!
So glad Healing Journeys has Beth DeLashmutt-Poore in the wings to be Executive Director one day, so that Jan can nourish herself.
Aloha
Have fun in Hawaii 🙂
Regards
Jaime
Dear Jan,
Thanks for your incredible work, your beyond inspirational seminars, your website and your emails of hope.
I have had the incredible blessing of attending all three of your events in Greenville, SC and have been able to hug you in person.
And your email this morning about following your intuition was the needed nudge and just another message from the universe that I need to follow my heart’s tug these past few days despite what everyone else feels I should do. I tend to wait too long and don’t need to… Because whatever I have sensed in past situations (when things look smooth on the surface with my son, yet I wake up at night with the same concern that something is not right again,) has always been right on target.
Thank you for your incredible inspiration, hope and joy that you manage to infuse in all of us.
I am sending loving energy for all that is ahead of you today. You are loved.
Kay Raheja
Listening to my “body-knowing” and then learning to trust it, to really connect with it has been a “learning process” for me. I recall being connected to it as a young girl but lost it along the way…I’m back on track and remembering how to listen…not all-ways easy however. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Jan.
YES!!!! Body, mind, spirit have all triumphed, all will be nourished.
I am so happy for you Jan and I see you there enjoying the beauty of that wonderful island. Travel well, celebrate!
Love, Susan
So glad to hear you gave yourself the gift of Hawaii. I too experience it to be a place for nurturing and it feels like such a healthy place. Kauai is my favorite island.
Enjoy every moment, breathe deeply into the luscious warm air and put an orchid behind your ear to celebrate your aliveness.
You go girl. Have a great vacation. I love you and wish you the best time ever. Eat well, take walks, read books and enjoy life.
Love, Pam
Good Morning Jan, I appreciate you and all that you are!!! I have been present for many of your presentations since a wake-up call back in 1999.
I always receive helpful “food for thought”. We always experience Joy, encircled by the souls that follow you and yours.
Thank you for sharing your good news. I trust that you are blessed everywhere you go!!!!!!!
With Love, Peace, and Joy, Marilyn
Yay!! Hawai’i is one of my favorite places on the planet. When your heart calls, it is important to pay attention. Not that we can always go to Hawai’i when we get a yearning. But we do manage to go about every other year.
Have a restful time!! We listen to Hawai’ian music all the time at home!!
Jan, I am so glad you listened to your heart and I wish you a wonderful, healing trip to Hawaii.
It seems to make life much more simple when we stop arguing with ourselves and just listen…
How lovely for Body and Soul that you listened and turned a longing into a nourishing action. I’ll bet your body started healing the moment you bought the tickets 🙂
I find that listening is one of the best ways to receive, to be nourished, and to then see where to give and place my energy. Through listening, especially to myself, I access a wisdom that comes from within and guides the way home. Thanks Jan for describing the journey and paving the road.
I loved hearing your story of all the coincidences that helped you know it was time to go to Kauai – not only listening to your body, but the messages that the universe was broadcasting to you- beautiful! I hope that you have a wonderful, healing journey! Thank you for sharing it and showing us something about how to find our own maps for healing!
Alooooohaaaaa! Well, Jan, you know my feelings about trusting your feelings and noticing syncronicity — that’s what I did when I was diagnosed with my first cancer in 1997. We’ve been trained out of trusting our feelings and it feels risky to trust . . . but it is so worth it.
Have fun.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful process of following your heart. How inspiring. It gives me the urge to do same.
Thank you, Helen
Aloha Jan,
Thanks so much for writing this! So often I have wondered: Why interrupt the creative process with rational questions? Now the answer occurs to me: Oh, but of course, jumping in with rational questions does stop the creative process…so the rational mind (mine or someone else’s) is getting tons of feedback that rational interruptions are effective…and it assumes that’s a good thing.
I am feeling so grateful for the outpouring of support for me, for the idea of trusting ourselves, and for Healing Journeys. I’m feeling held and supported by this special community.
Christina, I especially love the phrase you wrote – “logic is too small to capture or reflect the vastness of who we are and all that we can express. Our healing depends upon this.” I am taking that thought with me into the future when logic will try to trump the heart again. Thank you!
I have learned to listen to my heart and I am a much healthier survivor because of it. I too just had an opportunity to visit Kauai and thought about the finances for a minute and decided it was the right thing to do because it felt right and like you everything fell right into place. I am so glad I went and wish you a wonderful time. It was a healing time and a time to connect with cousin and aunt.
Aloha!
Dear Jan:
Good for you! You have always known that you need to follow your heart. Welcome back to Hawaii. I’ve lived here on Maui now for over 4 years. It is wonderful. I know you love Kauai – know that you and Michael had a special place there. So have a wonderful time. If you come to Maui, let me know. When specifically are you coming to Hawaii? Perhaps could fly over and see you. Aloha, Joyce
Absolutely, Jan!! I just finished listening to a video by Bruce Lipton talking about the energy field that so influences us. I think that ties in so much to the intuitive voice you speak of, the “gut” feelings are called the second brain, and many times are the most powerful.
Have a great trip.
Warmly,
Lynn
Dear Jan, For myself, I resonate with your listening to your intuition about what is best. Taking care of myself is a learning edge for me, and key to my progress is listening to my intuitive “hits” whenever I recognise them! By taking care of myself, and following my heart, I know that I am able to be more present and loving to others as well as myself. Have a wonderful healing time in Hawaii. Jane
Hurrah for you, Jan! Have a wonderful time!
I hope you enjoy your time in Hawaii. You work so very hard & help so many others and you deserve this time to relax!
I’ve been told, repeatedly, that I need to go someday – have never been. But I did help my parents go; x2, before my father died. My mother said, “The look of glee on his face was worth it all; he relaxed completely and played – as a child would. And, except for the time he ate far too much pineapple (burned his tongue) and suffered consequences he seemed as if it was his ideal place to be. The trips to Hawaii are some of my fondest memories.”
Matter of fact; I think I’ll take her with me when I go …. thanks for bringing it up ! Again Enjoy ! Hugs, A.
oh sweet Jan, Aloha over and over. Mahalo for your insight into your heart. yes, I love those synchronistic messages. You really need to recharge. blessings on your glorious respite.
May God bless your trip with continual confirmation, Love, Light and healing, Jan – what a joy to even read all the fantastic comments here – It’s so cool how your life itself is such a loving affirmation to the rest of us – thank you, sista –
did you know that scientists as well as metaphysicians are Now convinced that the Heart has its own little “brain”, or, at least, some kind of “intelligence” capability, separate from the brain in our heads? So to merely be fully functional Now, requires us to learn to listen to our Hearts as well as our heads – I heartily (pun intended) recommend spending some time at the amazing research website at Stanford. –
Peace –
Hi Jan, I loved your story. It spoke to me because of the intuition and synchronicity elements. My feeling is that it is very important to listen to our first feeling that overtakes us. It can pass quickly and that does not mean it is not meant to be heeded. Quite contrary. Whenever I have doubted that first feeling I have been proven wrong. So now I trust it and go with it bless it.
Synchronicity was sure at work for you with the Kaui condo exchange being available, where it had not been before. I believe the Universe is calling/inviting you there and there is going to be much that comes out of your stay. It may be pure rest and relaxation however it may be more than you can even imagine.
Bless you Jan and all that you do!
A Healing Journeys Fan and Supporter,
Teresa Grandon-Garcia
Dear Jan,
A friend called me this morning and invited me to go to Mexico during Jan-March 2012. It was so perfect to have read your e-mail just now. Enjoy and thanks for the inspiration and motivation to plan for next winter!
Aloha Jan,
I am so glad your heart won this one. I strongly believe the body knows what it needs and when we pay attention everything else falls into place. I understand the need to pay heed to the practical things in life but once in awhile we need to listen to what our hearts and souls need. Take care and have a wonderful trip.
I’m glad you are going to Kauai. I spent a week in Reno and had a fantastic time. Reno does not sound like a fun spot but it’s really amazing what is available there for r and r. I took an 89 yr friend. We did yoga everyday and the entire week was sunny. My favorite part of that trip was taking Marion to see the Kings Speech at her request and leaving the theater with her saying “I was there that Day.”
I could take Marion to Hawaii. She has never been there. She has actually been to many other places and will be going to Israel in May for her 90th.