Modern life can be stressful. Our lives are busy, we are pulled in many directions at once. The media loves to tell us about all the things that are wrong in the world: the economy is in crisis, terrorism is a threat, and schools are dangerous for our children. People wonder what to do about these and other problems in their lives. Sometimes they feel overwhelmed with fear and worry. They get caught up in negative thought patterns. Too much thinking can generate anxiety, fear, worry, and dissatisfaction, sometimes making you feel like a hamster stuck on an exercise wheel. Thinking, thinking, thinking, the mind is trying to figure it all out. Getting off that wheel can be challenging at times.
If you find yourself in such a state, the best thing you can do is stop thinking and reconnect with your heart. As you open your heart, you change your perspective, making it easier to let go of negativity and relax in the moment.
3 keys to open the heart:
1) greeting from the heart
Extend your arms toward the ground, palms together. Inhale as you bring them to your heart with your palms still together. Exhale and lean forward, acknowledging the Divine with the Sanskrit greeting Namaste. “Namaste” means, “I see the Divine in you as a reflection of the Divine within me.” (In this example, you are recognizing the world as a mirror to see the Divine within you). Inhale as you straighten up. Finally, exhale as you allow your hands to return to the starting position, pointing toward the ground.
2) breathing heart
Bring your awareness to the center of your heart. Now, begin to breathe deeply into your belly for a few minutes, letting go of any tension as you breathe. Scan your heart, noting if it is open, closed or somewhere in between. Focus all your awareness on your heart. Allow your heart to begin to relax and open as you breathe into the center of your chest. Close your eyes and allow a feeling of unconditional love to fill your heart. Breathe love into your entire being. When you’re ready, open your eyes. Look around you and notice how you feel.
3) Offer gratitude and blessings
Offering gratitude and helping those less fortunate is a great way to shift our attention and appreciate all that we have. Think of 7 things in your life that you are grateful for and say them out loud. Think of someone less fortunate than you, someone who is suffering and might need your support. Send them a blessing. Ask them to receive what they need to transform their situation in the best possible way.
Practice these 3 keys whenever you get lost in negative mental patterns, such as fear, anxiety, or worry, or if you feel disconnected from your heart. Opening your heart allows you to remember that love is your true nature. It helps you love yourself and appreciate your life. It reminds you to send love to those less fortunate and feel gratitude every day. If you practice these 3 Keys regularly, you will find that living from the heart is much easier than living from the mind’s idea of what life is all about.
Namaste’