Valentine’s Day was yesterday.
And while the world was focused on flowers and chocolates, I found myself thinking about something much deeper.
The heart.
Not as a romantic symbol.
Not as a marketing holiday.
But as an instrument of leadership.
Because true leadership is not a head-only exercise.
It is a heart-centered endeavor.
The Heart Is More Than a Metaphor
Through my work with HeartMath®, I’ve come to understand something profound:
The heart is not just a physical organ. It is an intelligent system.
Research from HeartMath Institute shows that the heart has its own neural network, communicates directly with the brain, and sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends to the heart.
Let that land for a moment.
The heart influences perception.
Decision-making.
Emotional regulation.
Clarity.
When a leader is stressed, reactive, overwhelmed — the heart rhythm becomes chaotic.
And when the heart rhythm is chaotic, the brain’s ability to think clearly decreases.
But when a leader intentionally shifts into heart coherence — through breath, intention, and emotional regulation — something powerful happens.
Clarity increases.
Emotional steadiness returns.
Confidence stabilizes.
Leadership becomes aligned.
Horses Know When You’re Not Aligned
Now let’s bring in the horses.
In equine-assisted leadership work, there is no hiding behind titles, résumés, or carefully crafted messaging.
Horses don’t respond to your strategy.
They respond to your state.
They read coherence.
They read authenticity.
They read the congruence between what you say and what you actually feel.
When a leader walks into the arena dysregulated, guarded, or disconnected from their own internal truth — the horses reflect that instantly.
They move away.
They resist.
They disengage.
But when a leader softens, regulates, and connects to the heart — when they become grounded and clear — the horse shifts.
Connection forms.
Movement happens.
Alignment appears.
It is one of the most honest forms of leadership feedback available.
And it always begins in the heart.
The Heart as an Instrument
We train the mind endlessly in leadership.
Strategy.
Metrics.
Communication techniques.
Execution plans.
All important.
But the heart is the instrument that determines how those tools are used.
A coherent heart produces:
- Courage without aggression
- Confidence without arrogance
- Authority without control
- Influence without force
When leaders operate only from the mind, they can drive results.
When they operate from heart coherence, they create impact.
There is a difference.
Valentine’s Day as a Leadership Reminder
Valentine’s Day is often about love directed outward.
But leadership requires love directed inward first.
Self-regulation.
Self-awareness.
Self-trust.
When you lead from the heart, you are not becoming soft.
You are becoming stable.
You are less reactive.
Less defensive.
Less ego-driven.
And more intentional.
The heart-centered leader can make bold decisions without losing humanity.
They can hold boundaries without shutting down compassion.
They can move forward without abandoning their values.
That is powerful.
The Call Back to the Heart
In every equine session I facilitate, whether with entrepreneurs, executives, or leadership teams, the work inevitably comes back to one thing:
Where is your heart in this?
Are you leading from fear or alignment?
From scarcity or sufficiency?
From pressure or purpose?
The horses will show you.
Your physiology will show you.
Your results will show you.
Leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room.
It is about being the most coherent presence in the room.
And coherence begins in the heart.
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day.
Today is a reminder.
Your heart is not just for love stories.
It is your leadership instrument.
And when you learn to regulate it, listen to it, and lead from it — everything shifts.
Steadier.
Clearer.
Stronger.
That’s heart-centered leadership.
— Lora
P.S. If you’re ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and heart-centered alignment, I invite you to join me for the 48 Hour Breakthrough. Over two powerful days — alongside the horses — you’ll experience what it means to regulate your nervous system, sharpen your focus, and make bold moves from a place of true coherence. Learn more at www.48HourBreakthrough.com
