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February is the month of “love” on our calendar, with Valentine's day — the day of love and lovers — being right smack in the middle.
I've often wondered why we dedicate just one day of the year to love when every day would be more fulfilling if we woke up with a “love consciousness.”
So let's look at February as the month of the heart instead. If we use this month as a segue into the next 11 months and practice heart opening daily, we will develop a love consciousness that will guide us throughout the year…throughout our lifetime.
When our hearts are closed or we are hard-hearted, it is like carrying a closed fist around in our chest area. We may be unable to feel compassion or empathy for others or ourselves, and we may feel disengaged, unemotional and unable or unwilling to trust our hearts. We may experience depression, loneliness, sorrow and anger. Physically, we may have cardiovascular problems, tightness in the neck, upper back and shoulders, respiratory problems or hypertension.
Our hearts may be closed for many reasons. Typically, it is because we allowed someone we loved to hurt us and we are afraid to be hurt again, so we build a wall around our heart to keep pain from entering again. The thing is, when we continue to carry the past around in our heart, we don't allow love to enter in the present. A heart that is closed makes it impossible to make a space for happiness, new opportunities and people to share this life with. It is a lonely, painful way to live.
Now, in contrast when our hearts are open we feel expansive. We think in terms of “we” rather than “me.” We feel a profound unity with all that is — we feel compassion, kindness, hope and inspiration. We are able to give and receive love. We don't live in that place of fear that causes heartache. We feel a real sense of wholeness in our being and we are creative and alive. Our spirit wants to dance and sing, laugh and play. We have healthy relationships and we have a real sense of personal empowerment.
“Open-heartedness is a physical feeling as well as an attitude. Since the body-mind is one whole, whenever we create the physical sensation of open-heartedness our thoughts automatically shift to reflect the body's reality.” — Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.
How do we practice open-heartedness? Start by finding a time every day to get quiet and listen to your heart. What is it telling you? This is not easy or simple and it takes a lot of commitment and courage to do this practice. The more you listen, however, the more clarity you will have. Be patient with yourself and most importantly, love yourself. Get to know yourself and what you really want.
Next, you can start with any number of activities that will render your heart open. For instance, you could volunteer or get involved in some way with a charitable cause of your choosing. You could find an inspirational book to read or even read or write poetry. One of my favorites is watching a romantic comedy or a movie that is heartwarming and makes you feel good all over, inside and out.
Finally, you can search in the library of your mind for a reference memory of a time when your heart was completely open; a time when you felt connected to all that is, to your divine Self as well as your human self. For me it is the birth of my four children; the magical and mystical moment of birth when I literally witnessed the miracle of life. When you find that reference memory for yourself, notice all the feelings connected to it. Use all your senses to experience it now. You will feel your heart expand and fill with love, only pure love. It may seem paradoxical, but in a full heart there is such expansion that there is room for everything. In a closed, empty heart there is contraction and room for nothing in spite of its emptiness.
Open your heart and develop a love consciousness to be your companion today, this week, this month, this year, this lifetime! Here's wishing you a heart-y month!!
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Catherine Fenske Ph.D. (c) is the owner of Live With Intention Coaching. She is a certified life coach and Spiritual Counselor. She is also a Reiki Master/Teacher. Catherine can be reached at 970-985-4499 or email at catherine@livewithintentioncoaching.com. Please go to her website at www.livewithintentioncoaching.com or you can visit her blog at http://fromblocked2bliss.wordpress.com to learn more about her.
I've often wondered why we dedicate just one day of the year to love when every day would be more fulfilling if we woke up with a “love consciousness.”
So let's look at February as the month of the heart instead. If we use this month as a segue into the next 11 months and practice heart opening daily, we will develop a love consciousness that will guide us throughout the year…throughout our lifetime.
When our hearts are closed or we are hard-hearted, it is like carrying a closed fist around in our chest area. We may be unable to feel compassion or empathy for others or ourselves, and we may feel disengaged, unemotional and unable or unwilling to trust our hearts. We may experience depression, loneliness, sorrow and anger. Physically, we may have cardiovascular problems, tightness in the neck, upper back and shoulders, respiratory problems or hypertension.
Our hearts may be closed for many reasons. Typically, it is because we allowed someone we loved to hurt us and we are afraid to be hurt again, so we build a wall around our heart to keep pain from entering again. The thing is, when we continue to carry the past around in our heart, we don't allow love to enter in the present. A heart that is closed makes it impossible to make a space for happiness, new opportunities and people to share this life with. It is a lonely, painful way to live.
Now, in contrast when our hearts are open we feel expansive. We think in terms of “we” rather than “me.” We feel a profound unity with all that is — we feel compassion, kindness, hope and inspiration. We are able to give and receive love. We don't live in that place of fear that causes heartache. We feel a real sense of wholeness in our being and we are creative and alive. Our spirit wants to dance and sing, laugh and play. We have healthy relationships and we have a real sense of personal empowerment.
“Open-heartedness is a physical feeling as well as an attitude. Since the body-mind is one whole, whenever we create the physical sensation of open-heartedness our thoughts automatically shift to reflect the body's reality.” — Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.
How do we practice open-heartedness? Start by finding a time every day to get quiet and listen to your heart. What is it telling you? This is not easy or simple and it takes a lot of commitment and courage to do this practice. The more you listen, however, the more clarity you will have. Be patient with yourself and most importantly, love yourself. Get to know yourself and what you really want.
Next, you can start with any number of activities that will render your heart open. For instance, you could volunteer or get involved in some way with a charitable cause of your choosing. You could find an inspirational book to read or even read or write poetry. One of my favorites is watching a romantic comedy or a movie that is heartwarming and makes you feel good all over, inside and out.
Finally, you can search in the library of your mind for a reference memory of a time when your heart was completely open; a time when you felt connected to all that is, to your divine Self as well as your human self. For me it is the birth of my four children; the magical and mystical moment of birth when I literally witnessed the miracle of life. When you find that reference memory for yourself, notice all the feelings connected to it. Use all your senses to experience it now. You will feel your heart expand and fill with love, only pure love. It may seem paradoxical, but in a full heart there is such expansion that there is room for everything. In a closed, empty heart there is contraction and room for nothing in spite of its emptiness.
Open your heart and develop a love consciousness to be your companion today, this week, this month, this year, this lifetime! Here's wishing you a heart-y month!!
--------------------------
Catherine Fenske Ph.D. (c) is the owner of Live With Intention Coaching. She is a certified life coach and Spiritual Counselor. She is also a Reiki Master/Teacher. Catherine can be reached at 970-985-4499 or email at catherine@livewithintentioncoaching.com. Please go to her website at www.livewithintentioncoaching.com or you can visit her blog at http://fromblocked2bliss.wordpress.com to learn more about her.
