The Very Big Problem with Being "Head-Centered"

It took about six decades, but I have finally come to understand why being head-centered can be a big problem.

Let me rephrase that: why it can be a problem to always be head-centered.

When you are head-centered, there are always thoughts between you and reality. Instead of experiencing the world directly, you are backing away at least one level, because there is a constant stream of commentary in your head:

"This is good"

"This is bad"

"So boring"

"I wish this line wasn't so long"

15 years ago, a very perceptive friend summed it up it this way, telling me, "Bruce, you are always one thought away from reality."

In contrast, when you are heart-centered, your tendency is to feel rather than think. You experience reality without a stream of commentary running through your head. If you are in the midst of beauty, you feel gratitude for the beauty and experience it deeply. You don't just think, "This is beautiful." You feel its beauty.

I can imagine that you may be thinking, "Huh? What does it mean to feel beauty?"

Congratulations, you are head-centered.

When I finally came to understand the difference between head versus heart-centered, it also made me realize that so many of us also misunderstand the concept of "being present".

The present moment isn't about time. It isn't about the past or the future.

Being present means to have nothing between you and your experiences. No thoughts. No narration. You experience reality without separating from it.

To put this into the simplest possible terms, if you want to have a deeper and richer appreciation of the wonders of life, get out of your head more often.

Spend less time thinking, and more time being.

My clients are successful entrepreneurs who want to unlock their incremental potential. You can learn more at Kasanoff.com.