How often do you follow your heart? If your answer is “always”, you are definitely a rare breed. For most of us, rationality takes over our gut feel and we let it drive our choices in important decisions. Changing career, finding soul-mate, starting a new business and this list goes on….our minds are processed to think rationally, analyze “what-ifs” scenarios and connect dots into the future. And technology takes it to a whole new level by automating the decision-making process.

But then why are most people still not happy with their decisions?  Why don’t we feel right about such decisions. Mind and heart aren’t aligned and gut feel seems to overpower —- and all of a sudden, our “rational” decision feels like a compromise.

Steve Jobs sums it up in a great speech (see Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish). Our rational mind connects the dots in the future….creating apprehensions, fear of unknown to venture into something new. So we settle for less. Problem is not with connecting dots….it is impossible to connect dots into the future. You can only connect dots looking backwards. Even our stupid or irrational decisions make more sense when we connect dots looking backwards years later. So then aren’t we better off listening to our gut. I am not against rational decision-making but if it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.

No point compromising…follow your heart and trust me, as Steve Jobs would say, you’d be able to connect the dots looking backwards ten years later.