Keeping Your Heart Open

Take a moment. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Focus on your heart.

What did you notice? How did it feel? Were you able to receive it? Or did you find it difficult to stay there?

Our heart energy is at the centre of everything we feel and experience. It is a place we naturally connect with when joy, warmth, hope, happiness, love and excitement are present in our lives. Equally, it is a place we can disconnect from when grief, loneliness, pain, fear and doubt find their way in.

When the heart is open, we can accept and receive with love and grace. The days feel brighter and kindness shines through.

This isn't always the case. In the depths of one of many periods of grief, I was shown during a healing that my heart was sealed shut. I was shocked. I thought I was still my loving, caring self. But the truth was, I was feeling both happy and sad, excitement and numbness, love and loneliness all at once. I hadn't realised I had quietly closed myself off as a form of protection.

Once I became aware, I knew I couldn't do it alone. My first step was to open myself to receiving support, and that support came in many forms; crystal energy therapy, counselling, shamanic healing and cacao among them.

For any of that to work though, I had to dig deep and search for answers from within. I had to be quiet and listen to the messages and memories that arose. Some days flowed with ease and others were harder to sit with. It has been a rollercoaster over the last three years as I had so much to unpack. When I have these moments now, I am equipped to befriend my emotions and release them with love and forgiveness. I know that suppressing emotions does not make them vanish. It just makes them much harder to meet when they eventually surface.

I acknowledge them, ride the wave, learn from them and release them. This may happen more than once and it can be intense, but once met with compassion my energy realigns and rebalances naturally. It takes a lot of courage and it is always worth it.

Sharing and talking about our experiences is something I believe in wholeheartedly. There is no shame or guilt here, only love, truth, vulnerability and compassion.

A special person who came into my life used to say "be kind to yourself" at the end of every phone call. I often forget this. But when I am reminded, I smile and feel it in my heart.

How are you going to be kind to yourself today? How are you going to show yourself some love?

I believe that sharing our stories helps others feel less alone and gives them the courage to share their own. So if you need an ear, I have got two and I am ready to listen.

With love and gratitude,

Emma x