A heartsong doesn't have to be a song in your heart. It doesn't
A heartsong doesn't have to be a song in your heart. It doesn't have to be talking about love and peace. It can just be your message. It can be your feeling. Some people might even call it a conscience, even though that's not really what it is. It's your message, what you feel like you need to do.
Hear the tender yet mighty words of the child-poet, Mattie Stepanek, who spoke with wisdom far beyond his years: “A heartsong doesn’t have to be a song in your heart. It doesn’t have to be talking about love and peace. It can just be your message. It can be your feeling. Some people might even call it a conscience, even though that’s not really what it is. It’s your message, what you feel like you need to do.” These words came from a boy whose fragile body was afflicted with illness, yet whose spirit burned bright with eternal strength. He revealed to the world that within every human being dwells a heartsong, a unique voice that cries out to express truth and meaning.
What is this heartsong of which he speaks? It is not merely melody, nor lyric, nor even poetry. It is the innermost expression of one’s soul, the call that cannot be silenced. It may take the form of art, or service, or kindness, or courage. It is not limited to speaking of love or peace, though those are noble; it can be the raw expression of a truth felt deeply. It is the spark within each person that says: “This is who I am. This is what I must do.”
Throughout history, the greatest figures were guided by their heartsong. Consider the prophet Jeremiah, who confessed that though he tried to remain silent, the word of God was like fire in his bones—he could not hold it back. His message was not of comfort, but of warning and truth. So too with Mattie’s teaching: your heartsong may not please everyone, it may not always speak of harmony, but it must be expressed if you are to live truly.
We see another example in the life of Joan of Arc. A young girl from a humble village, she heard the call of her heartsong, a divine summons to lead France in battle. Many mocked her, many doubted, yet she remained faithful to her inner voice. Though her path led to suffering, her courage inspired generations. Her message, her feeling of what she “needed to do,” changed the fate of her nation. This is the power of living by the heartsong—it shapes history, not just the individual life.
Mattie also speaks to the confusion of the world, which often tries to label the heartsong. Some call it conscience, others call it intuition, some dismiss it as emotion. Yet Mattie tells us it is more—something uniquely personal and yet deeply universal. It is the compass that directs a person toward their purpose. To ignore it is to betray the self; to follow it is to align with the deepest truth of existence.
O children of tomorrow, learn this lesson: do not silence your heartsong. Seek it, nurture it, and let it guide your steps. It may not look like another’s; it may not follow the patterns of tradition or the approval of the crowd. But it is yours, and in its sound lies your calling. Some will paint it in color, others will heal through it, some will lead with it, and some will whisper it in small acts of kindness. However it manifests, it is sacred.
Thus, the words of Mattie Stepanek remain a living flame: the heartsong is your truth, your message, your task in this life. Find it, sing it, live it. For in doing so, you not only honor yourself—you add your note to the symphony of humanity. And when each soul raises its own heartsong, the world will resound not with chaos, but with harmony born of authenticity.
JSJennifer Seligsteinwitz
Mattie Stepanek’s definition of a heartsong is a reminder that personal expression doesn’t always fit into neat boxes. It’s more about being true to what we feel we need to do, which makes me think: how often do we suppress our own heartsongs because they don’t align with societal norms or expectations? How do we find the courage to speak our truth, even when it’s not the most popular message?
HTHoang Thu
Stepanek’s take on a heartsong is a beautiful way to frame personal expression. The concept that it’s not just about love and peace but also our unique message or feeling resonates with me. But what happens when that message is hard to articulate or feels disconnected from what’s going on around us? Is a heartsong still valuable if it's not understood or accepted by others? How do we keep our message alive in a world that might not always understand it?
ATVu Thi Anh Tuyet
The idea that a heartsong is your message, your feeling, is so empowering. It gives voice to something deep inside that might not fit traditional notions of what it means to communicate. But I wonder, can a heartsong sometimes be difficult to express, especially when it goes against the grain of what others expect or want? How do we navigate expressing our heartsong in a world that often values conformity over individuality?
HTDao Thi Huyen Trang
I find it interesting how Stepanek broadens the definition of a heartsong. It’s not just about traditional concepts of love or peace; it’s about expressing what you feel deep inside. This makes me wonder: how often do we act on our heartsong? Do we even recognize it when it comes? How can we distinguish between what’s truly our heartsong and what society might expect from us? It’s a thought-provoking concept.
PPPham Pa
Mattie Stepanek’s perspective on a 'heartsong' is fascinating because it challenges the conventional idea that it must be about love and peace. I love the idea that it could simply be our message or feeling. It makes me think: how many of us truly listen to our inner heartsong? Is it something we hear clearly, or is it buried under the noise of daily life and external expectations? What does it really mean to follow that inner message?