The Power of an Open Heart
We’ve all done it. You’re walking down the sidewalk or hallway and notice someone you want to avoid, and before you know it, your heart closes. Perhaps you had an uncomfortable encounter with them the last time you were together, or maybe you forgot to email them back when you said you would. These are prime opportunities for you to close your heart. You may not even be aware it happens, but the moment you decide to avoid what you’re feeling, your heart closes and it may take awhile for it to open again if you resist the feeling that’s arising.
My spiritual teacher once said there is never a reason to close your heart. This statement took me aback. What about the murderer, the abuser, the manipulator, or the person that violates our boundaries? Aren’t these justifiable reasons to close and protect our hearts? If we want to live the spiritual truth that we are all one, it becomes apparent that we must keep our hearts open to everyone, especially ourselves. With an open heart, we can find compassion for the murderer, the abuser, the manipulator, and the violator, while still wanting them to he held accountable. The open heart can hold paradox and it’s within this openness that we can access our higher self and see both the humanity and divine in every being.
How do we keep our heart open? We bring awareness to every moment. When we see a person we want to avoid approaching us, bring your focus to your heart and if you feel it begin to contract, breathe into your heart space and relax the area. This allows you to remain open and access your higher knowing.
This practice also works when you notice you are closing your heart to yourself. Perhaps fear arises within your body when you think of doing something you dread. Before you begin your task, bring your focus to your heart and breathe into it and relax the area around it. You may even notice the dread begin to dissolve. Keeping your heart open takes practice, patience, and a heaping dose of self compassion for those times when we notice our heart closing despite our best efforts.
An open heart makes for a beautiful and fully connected life. It’s the way we are intended to live and the means to being a fully alive human being.