Life is challenging. It is filled with ups and downs. People are afflicted with illness. They suffer psychologically and emotionally. Job worries, relationship problems, family strife- rarely, does a person make it through life without being confronted by disturbances of the heart. Difficulty it seems is a part of the human condition.

Yet, somewhere within all of us lies a place that is not troubled. It isn’t fearful, anxious, or vexed. The maniacal comings and goings of modern life don’t touch here. The hurried ten minute lunches eaten at our desks, and our frenzied rush to make it to our children’s after school events, these feverish mental states don’t penetrate into this space.

Where is this place of calm, this bastion of solace?

It lies deep within us, deep within our own heart. Our hearts are a place of refuge. They are a berth, a comforting spot where we can lie back and retreat from the disturbing issues that distract and perplex us.

Our hearts also contain wisdom. They have a unique intelligence, what can be called “heart intelligence” that can guide us. We all know this knowledge. We’ve all experienced this wisdom. It’s the “gut feeling” you have that makes you feel queasy about a person who doesn’t have your best interests in mind. It the subtle intuitions that pop up into your consciousness periodically- that if you listen to them lead you correctly.

The trouble is we don’t always listen to our hearts. We’re too busy. We run here. We rush there. We live our lives on the outside, centering our thoughts and feelings outward, searching for the answers to what perplexes us. When what we really should be doing is shifting out attention inward.

If we can learn to live what I call, A Heart Centered Life, then many of the problems that trouble us can be lessoned. We can learn to overcome the inner frenzy that grips so many of us. Anxiety, despair, and lack of joyousness- many of the psychological issues that seem so prevalent in these hectic times can be overcome. Their overpowering grip can be loosened from our psyches.

The key to Living a Heart Centered Life is to find the time to make a deep heart connection. We have to discover ways to slow down our lives and really explore the depths within. Reflection, contemplation, journaling, prayer, meditation- these are just some of the methods that can be beneficial in finding our heart’s center. It isn’t always what we do but do we do it?

You can overcome the challenges of your life. You can find the peace, joy, and comfort you deserve. If you choose you can learn to live and move from a heart centered place, a space that will give you what you need. Why wait? Begin the process now!

Dr. Laman is a board certified, cardiologist interested in heart disease prevention. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Michigan State University. He offers a free monthly newsletter on his website called “Mending Hearts. ” His book, “How to Heal Your Broken Heart, ” is designed to help people struggling with issues of the heart. To purchase his book go to: http://www.healingyourbrokenheart.com For further information: http://www.drlaman.com