Getting Out of My Head and Recharging

In the book, Breathing Under Water, Fr. Richard Rohr states that most people spend too much time in our head space and need to connect more with our heart space. The head space encompasses our logical brain where we think and plan. The other aspect of being human is to be connected with the heart space. He says “the heart space is often opened by ‘right brain’ activities such as music, art, dance, nature, fasting, poetry games, life-affirming sexuality, and, of course, the art of relationships itself.” The book discusses that many people are only in their head space but rarely in touch with the heart space. This disconnect can cause negative ramifications for ourselves, our spirituality and our community.

As an ASL interpreter, I work with language all day long. I also use computer spreadsheets and email to organize our schedules and communicate with collogues. My work skills and even my writing projects are a deep dive into the verbal linguistic realm. I love working in academia with language and learning, but it can leave my cerebral side overused at the end of the day. During my off hours, if I only did more of the same, I would burn out.

Many of my after hours activities are physical activity or hands-on creative work. I dive into the water and feel it flow past me as I swim in the sunshine. I feel the wool yarn in my fingers as I crochet. It allows my eyes, brain and hands to work in a different way and burns away the tension. It leaves me with a rush of endorphins or a feeling of beauty and provides me the work life balance I need.

In Fr. Rohr’s book, this kind of balance and grounding in the heart space is important to connect with deep spirituality and the divine. I often find my creative practices allow me to connect with the idea of a Creator God who has a plan for me as a creative. When I get out of my thinking brain, it’s easier for me to stay away from addictive behaviors like scrolling for hours on my phone, because my heart is more at peace and calm.

How is the balance between your head and your heart space? Do you need to add more to your life to connect with one side or the other? How could you design a connection between head, heart, body and spirit to feel more refreshed at the end of the day?