4 Simple Ways to Support and Open Your Heart to Live Fully
Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray. — Rumi
Imagine you are sitting in a park on Saturday evening. As the sun is setting, a feeling of loneliness and sadness is wrapping you. When you are on the verge of crying, a stranger pops up out of thin air. He sits beside you, asking about your well-being.
An incredible wave of love and acceptance sweeps over you. With no fear of judgment, you open up quickly, even shed a tear. Vulnerability disappeared when you felt his acceptance and deep love for a fellow human. He hugs you as he bids farewell.
Beautiful, isn't it? Now imagine you doing all these things for others. Again, it’s lovely. Right?
This is the world of love, empathy, and intense connection. Your heart has felt many moments of love. But intellect sucks you back into the safety of survival mode repeatedly.
The world starts with you. You perceive the world from the heart. Life is full of sorrow if you have sadness inside the heart. The same life becomes joyful when you have happiness within you.
Outside Judgments Hold Your Heart From Expressing Itself Fully
Society trains you to operate from the intellect. It praises the sharpness and cunningness of mind. But the beauty of life does not need any medals or recognition.
You express anger and care easily. But in expressing profound love, deep insecurities, and anxieties, you step back. The harsh judgments and sarcasm from society restrain you from expression.
A few years back, I was changing metros at a junction in Delhi. Walking slowly and mindfully, a lady interrupted me. "Can you please tell me from where I should take the metro? I want to go to Karol Bagh station. I am new here and can't figure out where I am right now."
I was myself new at that junction but knew how the system functions. So, I went along with her to find the platform. I also guided her on reading metro maps and finding out the platforms to help her in the future. Before bidding goodbye, she shook my hand for the kindness.
In a moment of deep love, I hugged her. Tears welled my eyes in reverence and heart in surrender. She hugged me back, took my number, and thanked me.
After a few minutes, my phone beeped. The message said, "Ruchi, a gentle hug from a beautiful stranger will stay in my memories forever."
A few moments of love are enough to touch hearts.
Your heart wants to express itself. Either you do it consciously or under the influence of alcohol, addictions, or dreams. It does not matter. No matter how hard you try, you can not hide the feelings for eternity.
When you hold back the heart, you shut down the life within you. But in full expression, life flowers through you. Like a flower, love radiates its scent to every being without distinction.
Become closer to your heart to experience life fully. Drop out from comparison game. Listen to your heart. You may feel vulnerable. But in that vulnerability lies the true and total living.
And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. — Abraham Lincoln
1. Smile as Much as You Can
Remember when you were traveling all alone, engrossed in some thoughts. Suddenly, you notice a baby pointing and smiling towards you. His smile immediately sucks you back at the moment. You forget every tension and enjoy looking at him.
Many scientific studies claim a smile is contagious. It takes a conscious effort not to smile back. Also, humans are wired to get attracted and trust people who smile rather than frown.
Experimental Psychology reveals even a fake smile triggers the positive brain chemicals release. A smile is a natural painkiller that decreases the stress hormone and releases endorphins (happy hormones). Making you feel boosted from within.
Smile is a universal, welcoming language of hello. It breaks the barriers of human-created boundaries.
You connect to everyone instantly. A smile puts you back on the right track.
A smile is a natural mechanism of connecting with people. A mysterious door to the heart opens and becomes available to the other.
A smile makes the world a beautiful place. When you lose your smile, you lose your way in the chaos of life. — Roy T. Bennett.
2. Stop Taking Everything Personally — Give Others the Benefit of The Doubt
People don't always respond as we expect them. Sometimes an irritated reply comes. An unagitated fight may start without provocation. Instantly, you steam with anger and frustration.
It is so easy to take everything personally. But difficult to detach and give others the benefit of the doubt.
People are dealing with hundreds of things at the same time. Their response is not always because of you. It may be due to other pent-up frustration they are dealing with at home, health, or personal issues.
Give them the benefit of the doubt. You may talk to them afterward about what happened. Be gentle and act kindly.
There is no point in proving your point every time the other acts aggressively. Staying calm is always an option. It may be hard in the beginning, but it is worth it.
Slowly, as you give others the benefit of the doubt, compassion flows effortlessly. You become less reactive. Instead, then you respond intelligently.
Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek. — Dalai Lama
3. Laugh Without Restriction
Laughter is my all-time favorite medicine. It connects you with everyone who hears it. My laughter is a roaring one. It intimidates some, but it is a source of laughter for others.
Once I was standing on my friend's balcony in my old hostel. A girl came out from the adjacent room and started talking to me. The first talk we had was of my laughter. When she left, my friends said, "It is strange how long you both talked. She never talked to me." I again laughed hard.
Often people came to interact with me because of my weird laughter. My acceptance of weirdness convinces them to become more open and honest.
Accept your peculiar laughter. There is no reason to change it for people. Some will become irritated, but some will genuinely connect with you.
It is acceptance towards self that attracts and inspires others. Don't let your superpower die slowly at the hands of fakeness.
Your body cannot heal without play. Your mind cannot heal without laughter. Your soul cannot heal without joy. — Catherine Ripperger Fenwick
4. Explore Your Passion and Creativity
Creativity is the lifeline in the monotonous life. It colors your daily routine. Something you look forward to.
During childhood, you had many passions. Be it singing, dancing, painting, gardening, or anything. While growing up, those passions dissolved in the swamp of responsibility.
Remember the time when you used to do things for fun. The awe of watching colors getting mixed up. The excitement of dancing or singing aloud or getting dirty and rolling on the ground with friends.
Be child-like again. Re-live the thrill of exploring your passion, whether in games, dance, pottery, gardening, or anything.
There is no need to master anything. Enjoy the process. The fun and joy satisfy your heart. Creativity brings one closer to life. It opens the door to silence deep within you.
The really creative person is not interested in dominating anybody. He is so utterly rejoicing in life — he wants to create, he wants to participate with God. Creativity is prayer. And whenever you create something, in those moments you are with God, you walk with God, you live in God. The more creative you are the more divine you are. To me, creativity is religion. Art is just the entrance to the temple of religion. — Osho
Takeaways
A world full of acceptance and love starts with you. Intellect will always give excuses to behave like others. While heart will open avenues, you never thought were possible.
Experience the love within you. Only then can you feel love in every interaction with the world. Life changes drastically.
Only the mind holds you back from living life fully. You can earn comfort through intellect, but life happens when you live through the heart. Don't restrain yourself from experiencing life.
Don't fear judgment. Smile and laugh often. Explore the creativity within. Be kind and give others the benefit of the doubt. When you become closer to your heart, you experience life in totality.
Do what makes you happy, be with who makes you smile, laugh as much as you breathe, and love as long as you live. ― Rachel Ann Nunes
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