Three weeks ago, I wrote about the difficulties I had in writing an article when my head got involved. This is an important concept and it bears repeating.

When I write because I want to do a good job, the ego gets in the way. Switching to my heart suddenly allowed the words to flow - I was writing for the joy of it, not for recognition, or validation or even because I had to. The difference was extraordinary.

I've been struggling with my writing the last few weeks. Some would say that the muse left. I know it had more to do with the pressure I put upon myself. As soon as I acknowledged it, I felt better about writing.

When we learn to quiet the voices "upstairs", and speak or write from the heart, we do better. The brain is important - it allows us to reason, to think, to decide, to problem-solve. However, without heart, those things are cold and often empty - without heart.

When we are acting from the heart, there is a quality that infuses our work and our play. It is joyful, engaging and full of love.

I've learned that my brain can be my own worst critic. Picking apart, reviewing, questioning and generally being a pain in other parts of the body! This is stress and also stress-creating behaviour.

There's a strange thing that happens when I am determined to write a great article. It seems that the more pressure I put on myself, the harder it is to write. The trick is in learning to allow the flow of words to stream - it's about getting out of my own way. Which, by the way, is one of my mantras!

If I just sit down and write, it happens. It's a weird and wonderful feeling - magical, yet practical! And, learn-able!

When I practice stress transformation techniques I activate the power of my heart. The more I do that, the more I am truly in the moment and I say and do the right things. After all, the heart is about love in its purest and simplest form.

Has stress taken over your life? When and how?