What does follow your heart mean – does it involve the conscience or the soul?
Answer Podcast
What Does “Follow Your Heart” Mean – Does It Involve the Conscience or the Soul?
What does it really mean to “follow your heart”? Is there any relationship between the heart, the conscience, and the soul? When we’re told to follow our heart because it will guide us properly—does that refer to consciousness, or is it connected to the soul?
The word “heart” can have many different meanings depending on the context. Clearly, when we say “follow your heart,” we’re not referring to the biological organ inside the chest. Often, we use the word “heart” to refer to the seat of our emotions. For example, when someone says “You broke my heart,” it usually means, “You hurt the core of my feelings or affections.”
When we’re advised to “follow our heart,” it typically means to follow our innermost aspirations or the deepest part of our being. It’s about pursuing what feels most meaningful or fulfilling to us.
On the other hand, conscience is more often associated with ethical decision-making—it helps us distinguish right from wrong. While the heart can play a role in such decisions, “follow your heart” usually refers more to emotional alignment than to moral choices.
For instance, if someone is choosing between two career paths, or deciding between two spiritual mentors—both of which are good options morally—it’s not primarily a matter of right or wrong. Instead, it’s about where one feels more emotionally connected or internally inspired. In such situations, “follow your heart” means to align with what deeply resonates within you.
Now, does following the heart involve the soul? In one sense, yes—because nothing happens without the soul. The soul is the source of our consciousness; it’s what enables all choices and experiences. But the soul is not the only factor involved in inspiration or decision-making. The soul functions through the body and mind, which filter our perceptions and inclinations.
So, when we feel a strong pull or attraction toward something, it’s often due to the soul being conditioned by the particular body and mind it inhabits. For example, a soul in a brahminical body may naturally gravitate toward study and knowledge, while a soul in a kshatriya body may be drawn to leadership or combat.
Therefore, at the spiritual level, “follow your heart” could mean, “follow Krishna, the ultimate object of the pure soul’s love.” But at a practical level, it means: follow what feels most natural and fulfilling based on your current psycho-physical nature. That doesn’t mean chasing fleeting emotions, but rather responding to deep, stable inspirations that align with your core disposition.
In conclusion, to “follow your heart” means to act in harmony with your inner calling—guided by a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment. And as we purify our consciousness through spiritual practices, we can better distinguish those deeper callings from mere emotional noise.
Thank you.