More "Heart Awareness"

thoughts.  Tom posed a good question in yesterday’s "Heart Experiment" blog.   "Does our liking to be more alone mean we do not have an open heart?"

Desiring and enjoying solitary time is definitely not being closed-hearted.  In fact, I think finding a contentment with aloneness is a blessing.  You can't do everything and please everyone.  That's why the second rule (opening your heart in the encounters that are already in the natural flow of our lives) is important.

If I had decided not to attend the events I was invited to (which are opportunities that come in the normal course of all our lives), I would not have been hard-hearted. (See previous blog entry if you are totally confused).   But by changing my attitude (another word for heart?), I opened myself up for new experiences, growth, and stronger relationships. It also opened up the possibility of supporting, and perhaps making a difference, to someone else.  Sometimes it's the difference between asking, "What will I get out of it," and "What can I contribute?"

OK, I know this is getting way too philosophical. It shouldn't be this hard. But I guess being aware is what it's all about. I'm realizing that it is really more a matter of looking at people and situations through different lenses--more loving, forgiving, and understanding lenses. It may not even change what we do. It just means that wherever we are, whatever we are doing, and whoever we're with, that we are tuned in and present.


I'll end this too-lenghty discourse with another quote from the book:

“My friends from India greet each other by bringing their hands together, bowing slightly, and saying the Nameste. It means, roughly translated, “I honor the Deity within you. “That is precisely what we do when we open our hearts to another; we honor the fact that he or she, like us, is a child of the same loving Father, worthy of all respect and careful attention.”

Before I started Yoga I had never heard of that word. But that is how we end each Yoga session. As we sit in the lotus position, we put our hands together, bow our heads, and say "Nameste."

NAMASTE  

Heart Awareness Experiment

A few years ago I read the book, “A Heart like His.”  In the book, Virginia H. Pearce chronicles the experiences of a group of women who experimented with the simple concept of opening their hearts. To quote in the introduction,

“Because this experiment is more about becoming than doing, it is simple, doesn’t consume time, actually creates energy, and is therefore self-perpetuating. Although the suggestions are modest and quite easy to implement the outcomes could not be more profound, for we are, after all, in search of a new heart—a heart like His.”

I re-read the book several times last week.  We are using its concepts as the theme for our December Relief Society activity and encouraging everyone to take part in the experiment.    

There are 3 rules to the experiment:

1. 1. Be more aware of the condition of our hearts, and with that awareness keep your heart more open toward others. 
2. 2.  Do this in the encounters that are in the natural flow of our lives, in other words, don’t put extra activities into your day. 
3.  3.  Notice how you feel, and be willing to honestly report what happened or didn’t happen.

This last week, I've thought a lot about those rules as I've tried to be aware of my heart.  In one part of the book, it has you look for "red flags" or "stumbling blocks" that stop you from having an open or soft heart. Stumbling blocks could be feeling hurried or busy.  They could be that you are afraid of being hurt, are self-conscious, too tired, fearful, or unforgiving.  

I'm becoming aware that one stumbling block for me is thinking, "It will take too much mental energy."  I was invited to two different events last week that I would liked to have begged out of.  I really had no good reason not to go, other than it made me tired thinking about the energy it would take to go and socialize.  Talking myself through that, and determining that I was closing my heart, I went to both of these events.  I left both events feeling better for having gone and interacting with others.  It seems silly and simple, really, but to consciously think through it was enlightening.  

This is kind of a hard concept to wrap your mind around.  A couple of quotes from the book that help me are these:  

"Opening one’s heart creates energy.  Closing one’s heart depletes energy."

"An open heart looks outward.  A closed heart looks inward."

PS  Ironically, Gary and I are watching the movie "Pay it Forward" right now.  It is a very sad movie.  I really wish it had a different ending.   But, the message is strong, and fits right into the "Awareness Experiment." 

The experiment continues . . . ..