The Great Divide, by Mark Vandeneijnde

The great divide:

On the left there is business
It loves to think and problem solve
Move fast and talk with resolve
Perform so hard it wears you down
If only it would stop to breathe and look around

On the right there is Heart
Gently offering to play its part
It looks around from 10ft above
And knows deep inside
The time has come to think out wide
But this seed of possibility
Dream of a new reality
Will wither away on its own
If it sits there all alone

These worlds seem so far away
Many think they don't belong
But like a lover gone astray
Who says that with the right song
They won't come out to play?

More than ever they need each other

One to listen and one to talk
One to pause and one to walk
One to dream and one to act
One to trust and one with facts
One to flow and one to plan
One to focus and one to expand
One to think and one to feel
One to stretch and one to heal
One to sense and one to see
One to Do and one to Be

Together they are whole
Like partnering the Ego and the Soul

Deep inside my Heart
I feel I have a role to play
In uniting these worlds so apart
Help them see a way

But where do I start?
I'm tired going it alone
Do you feel the same
Out there on your own?

Together we can heal, make it real
We can hold hands, reach out, build bridges
And when new perspectives are revealed
Like with a master piece of art
Our minds will open
To business with a Heart

Mark Vandeneijnde is an organizational consultant who nudges command-and-control efforts to move inspired leadership.

Seed Questions for Reflection

What does business with a heart mean to you? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to integrate both head and heart in a key decision in your life? What helps you remain aware of the need to integrate both aspects of the divide?

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Add Your Reflection

7 Past Reflections

Slina

Dec 20, 2024

I believe that the combination of the mind's thoughts, soul (inner voice), and action is necessary. That is to say, under the guidance of the soul and with the help of mental experience or theory, taking action and putting it into practice to serve the same goal.

Debbie

Jul 27, 2024

I wasn't sure if you were at the beginning talking about left versus right brain because on the picture when I look at left is the heart and on the right is the brain so???

If you were talking about left and right brain that's actually a myth I'll put the link to the new well it's about 10 years old research below. If you mean just in general as far as those pictures are hurt versus our brain I tend to agree with the rest of the poem. And similar to the brain that it does both I agree we need to be using both our logic and our heart although I would also contend that our perception of what we think as far as an organ the heart is still in our brain haha.
Oops it says links aren't allowed so go to the APA monitor 2013 and Google and put left right brain myth and you'll find it

ashwini

Jul 19, 2024

I appreciate the stanza that has rhythm of "One to... and one to...". Initially, the first action represents what the "left" (heart) would do, while the second embodies what the "right" (business/logic) would do. For example, actions like "to listen, to pause, to dream, to trust and flow..." align with the heart and logic. However, as the poem progresses, these roles become intermingled, blurring the lines between them. This confusion peaks in the final line of the stanza, juxtaposing "to do" versus "to be." Traditionally, doing is linked to business, and being to the heart, creating a poignant and poetic conflict with the preceding lines ; Integration feels necessary and sort of automatic; with this. This just jumped at me as i read it, so sharing :)

Stream

Jul 13, 2024

My “business” is physical therapy. My spiritual path is “ the path of the heart”.
Easy to combine. As a wholistic physical therapist I feel may role is to open others to self care and self love.
Following our bliss to wholeness.

Jagdish P Dave

Jul 13, 2024

I love the way Mark Vandeneijende shows the integration of Head and Heart. I will quote a couple of statements made by the author. One to listen and one to talk. One to think and one to feel. One to sense and one to see. One to Do and one to feel. This saying reminds me of the Zen Koan: What is the sound of one hand clapping? My response to this Zen question is that we need both hands to make the meaningful sound. They are together. By togetherness of sound and silence, a melody of oneness is created. The greeting Namaste comes to my mind as I am reflecting on this writing. By joining my two hands you and I are becoming one, a Divine Union or Unitive Cosmic Consciousness. Like any new significant learning, realizing the Divine Oneness requires time, patience, and perseverance. With non-judgemental awareness I have been able to integrate both head and heart. Practicing Mindfulness Meditation has been very helpful to me to integrate both aspects of the divide. By holding my... View full comment

Aj Jul 19, 2024

By holding your hand and touching your heart, spiritually … I say Namaste, in return!

David Doane

Jul 13, 2024

My business partner and I worked together for 20 years never having a legal contract or any written agreement between us -- we were dear friends and what we had, did, and built was based on our relationship. That was business with heart, and we consulted our heads. We integrated heart and head, with heart being primary. We discussed, agreed, fought, and worked together. We had wonderful, creative, alive times, and we had difficult times. My assessment in hindsight is that the best times were primarily heart, and the difficult times were primarily head. What helps me remain aware of the need to integrate heart and head is knowing they are different but not separate aspects of one whole, they each provide important contribution, and they integrate best with heart having priority. Head makes a valuable servant and a terrible master.