This world works in mysterious ways but if one thing holds true in life, it’s that our heart and our minds can stretch and pull us in opposite directions. That’s what life is, it’s a balance between doing what you feel is right and doing what is socially acceptable. Our hearts have no boundaries, they can make us do things that can be looked down upon or potentially hurt others. Our minds function to regulate our hearts by using logic and reason. Sadly, our hearts control pain and emotion. When we don’t follow them our minds try to suppress the pain, but that never ends well. Following your heart is the key to happiness and we always manage to forget that.

Some of the greatest people in this world lie, cheat, and steal and it’s not because they are bad, it’s because the truth can hurt those they care about most. Lies allow us to follow our hearts while simultaneously allowing our actions to remain socially acceptable. They’re a part of life and sometimes we lie to the people we love most. We keep secrets because we don’t want to hurt those around us and also to protect ourselves. The sad truth is that the society we live in today does not condone following your heart. We are considered rebels for following dreams that don’t conform to the rules and regulations decided upon by the majority. I will be the first person to tell you that following your heart can be dangerous. Our minds are very risk averse; they use logic to calculate the ‘safer’ path that we should take. What is socially acceptable? What will not disappoint those around us? Our hearts are impulsive; they do whatever feels right at any given moment. They have no regard for risk, because risks are a part of life and if we never take them, we never truly live.

We can’t let the forces of our society push us in an undesired direction. Following your heart means to rebel, to give in to impulses and do what makes you happy, even if it means going against the grain. People follow the crowd because it’s easy, they do what is socially acceptable and suppress their own wants and needs so they do not hurt others, and when they reach their old age and a lifetime has passed them it all comes down to one thing; At the end of it all did you have a stronger heart or a stronger mind? Did you do what loved or did you settle for what is acceptable? The entrepreneur vs. the laborer, the artist vs. the student, the writer vs. the teacher, risky vs. safe? Follow your heart and people will eventually forget about any pain you could’ve caused them and actually be happy for you.

So it all comes down to one question…Have you been rebelling or are you conforming?