When life isn’t working often we will find misaligned values at the heart of the matter.
The heart is governed by the limbic system, the part of the brain between (reptilian) primal instinctive response like fight/flight which creates a need to either stand and fight for what we believe to be true or a desire to run away from what we fear might happen or not.
And the neo cortex the area that integrates higher order thinking & experiencing, a combination of the process through repitian and limbic from where we can make integrated decisions that facilitate choice and behaviour.
In reference to “things” not working clarification of values can build awareness and help us to choose aligned emotions, thoughts