The Deceptive Heart: When Protection Becomes Misguidance
"Follow your heart." It's a phrase we've heard countless times, often given as the highest form of wisdom. But what if our hearts, in their effort to shield us from pain, actually lead us away from truth?
The human heart is powerful. It drives our passions, fuels our dreams, and helps us form deep connections. But it is also deeply intertwined with our ego, the part of us that craves security, approval, and self-preservation. When truth threatens the ego, the heart—if left unchecked—can act as a deceptive guardian, steering us away from discomfort rather than toward what is right and good.
The Heart’s Protection Mechanism
Our hearts are wired to protect us from pain. When confronted with hard truths—about ourselves, our relationships, or our beliefs—the heart’s instinct is often to retreat. It will rationalize, justify, or even rewrite reality to avoid the sting of self-awareness. This is why people stay in toxic relationships, defend harmful behaviors, or resist growth that requires humility.
In Paulo Cohello’s The Alchemist, the young man is on the end of his harrowing journey to find treasure when his heart advises him to turn around, that this journey has been for not. With the guidance of the wise alchemist he is able to learn how to discern the difference between his hearts’s protection and his true wishes, and does (SPOILER) find the treasure.
The Danger of Emotional Decision-Making
Because the heart is so deeply connected to emotions, it can lead us to make choices based on what feels good in the moment rather than what is true. Feelings are real, but they are not always reliable guides. Just because something feels right does not mean it is right. Our emotions, influenced by fear, pride, and past wounds, can cloud our judgment and keep us stuck in cycles of dysfunction.
Our hearts and emotions are not based in truth alone. This doesn’t mean we should ignore our hearts, but rather that we should approach them with discernment. Instead of blindly following our emotions, we must weigh them against wisdom, reason, and divine truth.
How to Align the Heart with Truth
If we can’t always trust our hearts, how do we ensure that they don’t lead us astray?
Seek Wisdom Beyond Yourself – Surround yourself with voices that challenge your perspectives. Scripture, trusted mentors, and wise counsel can help illuminate blind spots your heart wants to ignore.
Examine Your Motivations – Ask yourself: Is this desire rooted in truth, or is it an escape from discomfort? Am I seeking what is right, or what is easiest?
Search Your Heart – Is this a continual pattern of mine? Have I been here before? Where does this ultimately lead?
Embrace Discomfort for the Sake of Growth – Growth often requires pain. When our hearts resist truth, it’s often a sign that truth is exactly what we need.
Conclusion
Our hearts, though beautiful and essential, are not infallible. They can deceive us in an effort to protect our ego, keeping us from seeing reality as it is. Instead of following our hearts unquestioningly, we must seek to align them with truth. This means being willing to face discomfort, examine our motives, and allow God to reshape our desires. Only then can our hearts truly guide us—not away from truth, but deeper into it.