Quit playing games with my heart….. my heart…. my heart…

If you ever have been a fan of the famous boy band group “The Backstreet Boys” back in the 19’s and of course in the current era too, then you already know that these few lines or to be particular these phrases are from their famous song “Quit playing games” released in 1996.  

Now you might be wondering how it is even related to me and today’s blog. But, I must tell you that you would be shocked to know that not only me, but we all have been quite good at playing the same game, called quit playing games with our hearts.

Now, you might question and even disagree with that statement. We might feel that how is this even possible that we play such games with ourselves? You may find it ridiculous and even impossible.

 It’s overwhelming, but it’s true, friend. We all know and agree there exists some kind of connection between our brain and heart. But what is that? Here, we aren’t looking for some scientific explanation because we all know they must be well connected to keep our body functioning normally and regularly. But here we are on the verge of seeking a philosophical approach along with psychology. So tell me, how is your connection? Is it for real? Is it authentic? or even lovable and kind? If it is so with your case, then you don’t need to cheat or manipulate your heart or sometimes even your brain, that might be difficult, yet we do it anyways.

But in this modernized world, a fast-paced and ever-growing one, the worst sufferer is our heart. You will ask me why? In this blog, I shall tell you why.

Most of the time, we all manipulate our hearts with excuses and even false promises. We always try to become more practical and sound more logical instead of listening to an intuitive heart’s sayings. Our brain has been cultivated in such a way that it puts more emphasis on reasons, and this rationality approach sometimes, or rather many times, overshadows the emotional inputs from our hearts. On the other hand, emotions are often considered subjective and less reliable in the face of objective facts and evidence.

Societal expectations and pressures play another dominant role in this game. It doesn’t matter what and how our hearts feel, yet we need to adapt to society’s standards and expectations. These expectations can include pursuing specific career paths, conforming to societal ideals of success, and adhering to cultural or social norms. The brain often prioritizes and overshadows the desires and passions of our hearts to meet these external expectations. We all know that in today’s time, how much value and emphasis we all are putting on getting societal approval and validation.

The influence of technology and information is nowhere less when it comes to encouraging such games. Our brains get exposed to constant streams of information that can sway our decisions easily. This information overload can overpower the intuitive guidance of our hearts, leading us to rely more on external sources and logical reasoning rather than listening to our inner feelings and emotions.

We all have our fears, and to top all is the fear of uncertainty and the risks involved. The brain is cultivated and wired in a way that it seeks safety and security. On the other hand, to aspire and dream big, as per your heart’s calling, we all need to take a certain amount of risk and dive deep into our passion. But, as we know, taking risks and pursuing our passions involves stepping into the unknown, which can trigger fear and uncertainty. Thus, the brain’s desire for comfort and security can overpower our heart’s yearning for exploration and personal growth.

In today’s time, we all desperately seek self-awareness and self-help to improve our emotional intelligence as we desire growth but not at the stake of losing our mental peace and ourselves to it. Think about the way we have been educated and conditioned to cognitive and critical thinking skills. While these are valuable, they can sometimes overshadow the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

Thus, finding a balance between our brain and heart seems difficult and the most intriguing task of our lives. It looks like a never-ending tug of war between our brains and  hearts. Where there would be more of a win or lose situation but hardly a win-win situation, as many times we try to cover or weigh down the popping thoughts of our heart. While the brain’s practicality and logic are valuable, it’s even important to listen to our hearts, honor our emotions, and align our decisions with our values and authentic desires. By integrating both the rational and emotional aspects of ourselves, we can lead more fulfilling and purpose-driven lives in the modernized world. I have always found this connection intriguing and sometimes get myself pissed in between. If you too share an interesting relationship like mine, I would also like you to check my Heartless Brain topic which is more of a poetic version of this. Check it out if you further like reading this connection between our brain and heart.