When the heart speaks

JASON NUTTING shares his reflections on the nature of thoughts, and how to move from a first reaction in any circumstance to allowing space for the heart to speak and wisdom to emerge from within by slowing down, clearing the noise, removing the weight of the past, and connecting and aligning with something greater.

“The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your thoughts.” 

—Marcus Aurelius

But what if the thoughts that shape your life aren’t truly yours?

Every moment, a thought arises. It comes fast, automatic, familiar. This is the thought shaped by past experiences, habits, and subconscious conditioning. It’s not a choice; it’s a reflex.

Let’s call this your First Thought.

But what happens after that?

The moment between the first thought and your next move is where freedom lives. 
That is where transformation happens.
That is a space where the heart speaks.
The first thought is not necessarily wise, true, or aligned with who you ought to be. It is simply familiar.

Your habitual state, your baseline level of energy and awareness, shapes this first thought. It’s how you normally feel, think, and respond to life.

But when stress, pressure, or unexpected challenges arise, you enter an activated state, a surge in energy where emotions heighten, the mind speeds up, and old survival patterns take control.

This is when fear, self-doubt, and defensiveness arise most strongly.

Without awareness, the first thought in this state feels like the truth. But it’s just a reaction. 

This is why space matters. This is where freedom begins.
It is the mind on autopilot, reacting to life based on past programming.

• You feel resistance before trying something new.

First thought: “I can’t do this.”

• You get triggered in a conversation.

First thought: “They don’t respect me.”

• You set a goal and doubt creeps in.

First thought: “I’ve failed before. Why bother?”

The first thought often comes from fear, survival, or the ego’s need for control. It is the conditioned self, the closed mind, repeating its old stories.
And if you act on it immediately, you reinforce the closed mind.

Now, here’s the shift:

You don’t have to obey the first thought.

Imagine a moment of struggle… perhaps frustration, doubt, or the pull of an old habit. 
The first thought arises automatically.
But then, there’s a pause. A breath. A heartbeat. 
And from that space, a new voice emerges:

“What if I try?”
“What if I respond with love?” 
“What if I trust?”

This voice is quieter but deeper… more like a whisper. 
It does not push or force like the mind.
It simply knows.
That is the heart speaking.
The heart does not rush. It does not react. It does not repeat old patterns. 
It responds from a place of wisdom, presence, and truth.
But to hear it, you must create space.

The heart’s wisdom is always present, but most people never access it because they move too fast.

They react before they receive.

The heart’s wisdom is always present, 
but most people never access it 
because they move too fast.

This is why Heartfulness practice is helpful, as it slows you down so the heart can lead. Each aspect of the practice helps cultivate this awareness:

1. Meditation—clears the noise so you can hear the heart.
2. Cleaning—creates space by removing the weight of negative thinking, and old conditioning.
3. Prayerful Connection—aligns you with something greater, attuning the heart to wisdom beyond the intellect.

Through daily practice, something deeper happens:

The Second Thought, the one shaped by awareness, intuition, and deeper intelligence, begins to arise more effortlessly.

This is the blooming of the lotus flower within you. 
And over time, it replaces the first thought.
This is the path of transformation.
At first, this process requires conscious effort.
You must pause. You must listen. You must choose to let the heart lead. 
But as you practice, the shift becomes natural.

One day, you realize:

Your first response to a challenge is trust, not fear.
Your first reaction to stress is calm, not panic.
Your first impulse in relationships is love, not defensiveness.

The second thought has become the first. 
This is the true integration of heart and mind.
It is no longer a battle between impulse and wisdom. 
It is harmony.

This is the work…

Slow down.
Clear the noise.
Remove the weight of past conditioning.
Connect and align with something greater.

Each practice helps to recognize the space between thoughts and allows the heart to lead.

And over time, the heart’s voice is no longer the second thought.

It is the first. We learn how to lead from the heart once again.

Each practice helps to recognize 
the space between thoughts and 
allows the heart to lead.

This is not a theory.
It is a practice. 
The question is:

Will you listen?

If this resonates with you, take a moment today to pause. 
When a thought arises, don’t react immediately.
Connect to your heartbeat for a breath or two. 
Create space.
And listen.

The heart has always been speaking. Slow down, and you will hear it.

Ready to experience this shift?