Close
Close

Receive “Word for the Day” each day in your inbox

See our Privacy Policy

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Menu Gratefulness Donate
Daily Question, February 26

How might I encourage myself and others to open our hearts?

  • Malag

    If I open mine first others often follow suit. I am more open than in the past but sometimes a little courage to take risk is helpful.

    • Ose

      done! followed your suggestion. Thank you! It´s astonishing what happens then.

  • Ose

    meeting and listening with gratitude; allowing vulnerability; with kindness and compassion for the other, which includes being compassionate with myself also; with joy and laughter.

  • Archana

    By creating trust with each other and being open minded. When you accept people for who they are, they will feel a sense of comfort around you and they will in turn trust you. When there is a sense of trust established, individuals can open their hearts and share whatever is on their minds.

  • Love Abundantly

    When thinking about opening my heart I can say if there was resistance it’s likely due to an experience that was uncomfortable. Being mindful about the state I want my entire well being to be in can encourage me to open my heart. When I open my heart it can encourage others to follow my lead who are amongst me. Opening my heart is required to receive all the beautiful things and I want to be open for such things as love and tenderness.

  • ADP

    Being understanding of others and genuinely listening helps open our hearts. It helps us connect with each other. Passing judgement and or ignoring others only closes your heart and leaves you and others cold and alone.

  • Melissa

    I am finding that I talk too much. Out of being too embarrassed and trying way too hard to make the person feel at ease. Which is having the opposite effect. When I stop and listen it opens other hearts and my own so much more. That is called “presence”. I am learning still.

  • Penny
    I am naturally an open person so it surprises me when others are not so. I do find that when I hear opposing views and I’m able to empathise and voice that to people, that allows them to also listen and become more open to other ways of seeing things. When I listen and talk less it takes down people’s ( and my) defences. Sometimes my hard stance on an issue is softened as I gain more insight and the people I am talking to also respond in that way. Either way, when I'm more focused on underst...

    I am naturally an open person so it surprises me when others are not so. I do find that when I hear opposing views and I’m able to empathise and voice that to people, that allows them to also listen and become more open to other ways of seeing things. When I listen and talk less it takes down people’s ( and my) defences. Sometimes my hard stance on an issue is softened as I gain more insight and the people I am talking to also respond in that way. Either way, when I’m more focused on understanding than being right I learn and those I’m talking to might as well along with me.

    Read More
  • Blossom

    When I come to the edge of all the light I know and am about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen….

    Either there will be something solid to stand on, or I will be taught how to fly

    The beautiful sunrise this morning filled me with anticipation and eagerness for this new day.

  • Mica

    I think I need to be better at practicing something from Pema Chodron that I found in an old journal of mine: Stay with the feeling and let the story line go.
    Those might not be Pema’s exact words; they’re just the words attributed to her in my journal.

  • Linda

    I am feeling more alone these days even though I have many friends and family who love me. I think it is the beginning of the reckoning with end of life issues like aging, illness and losing those I love. It is a recognition that all of us will face as we age.

  • Charlie T

    By building trust with others. By being careful with other peoples hearts. By getting to the real stuff, bit by bit, until there is a real sharing of thoughts and experiences.

  • Marnie Jackson

    By telling my story and admitting I don’t know many of the answers

  • Holly in Ohio
    This is a challenging question for me today, as it comes on a day when my husband and I are deeply worried about someone dear to us, and afraid that great hurt is coming. How do we open our hearts when we expect pain? Or... how do we not expect pain, though in this case I think anyone would agree that it is a bad situation? If I can open my heart on a day like today, then I can do it on any better day, too. Perhaps the issue is, how can I bear pain so I can not close down my heart or withdraw?...

    This is a challenging question for me today, as it comes on a day when my husband and I are deeply worried about someone dear to us, and afraid that great hurt is coming.
    How do we open our hearts when we expect pain? Or… how do we not expect pain, though in this case I think anyone would agree that it is a bad situation?
    If I can open my heart on a day like today, then I can do it on any better day, too. Perhaps the issue is, how can I bear pain so I can not close down my heart or withdraw? When you love someone it can be very difficult to watch them suffer, to watch them make decisions that are self-destructive. It can be unbearable to feel helpless to help them.

    “Do what you can and let go the outcome,” seems impotent right now, though I know there is truth in it.

    I know I need to calm myself and center myself to be of better use. Perhaps giving myself more of what I personally need emotionally will support better interactions. There is a paradox here of opening up and letting go at the same time.

    Read More
    • Laura

      Holly, I feel your pain and angst. While I have no words to soothe what you are feeling, it sounds as though you are already taking steps to help yourself, hard as that may be right now: “Do what you can” and “I need to calm myself and center myself.”
      Prayers for you and your dear one. 🙏🏻

      • Holly in Ohio

        Thank you deeply, Laura. Perhaps your prayers were heard. Though the situation has not altered, it did not become worse today, and I feel so grateful for it.

  • Laura

    Opening up can be terrifying, especially if we’ve been hurt in the past. I’m a firm believer in the adage that small changes add up. For myself I aim for small steps over time rather than leaps. To encourage someone else I try to listen quietly with my whole self.

  • sunnypatti

    For me, I like to pause and focus on the heartspace. I will often put my hand over that space to really connect to the energy of my heart chakra. When I do this, I can feel the love that emanates from my heart, and it cannot help but open up to give and receive. I encourage others to do just this. I did a chakra clearing meditation this morning, and while I can feel the energy of each chakra, this question has me feeling the heart big time! Open and ready to go thru this day 💗

  • Patricia

    I encourage myself by visiting this site almost daily and reading the insights of all of you who are also here. How do I encourage others? Just keeping doing what I do, and being who I am, I guess…

  • Cathie

    To me being able to trust and feeling like I am in a safe space emotionally helps me open my heart. So for others to be loved and open up their heart, I must try to be very careful with my responses to the thoughts and feelings of those whom I want to open up more.

  • Mary Pat

    The meditation today was for all beings everywhere. Those in pain, those still asleep, those awake, all beings everywhere in the world….praying that they all be filled with loving kindness opens my heart, because I think about our world, and I don’t feel powerless. I feel like my meditative prayer does touch all beings. And to know I am not the only one praying this meditative prayer? That in itself is encouraging for me.

  • EJP

    Let go of the past and live in the present with sincere gratitude for all that I am and all that I have.

  • Michele

    We must try and open our hearts even when a not guilty verdict came in when a guilty one was expected…. I’m referring to the Curtis Reeves case down here in FL. I am so sick over this verdict. I feel for the wife and daughter. ugh. I feel Justice was not served. How odd that this falls on National Set A Good Example Day.

    • Mary Pat

      I am sorry to hear this…..I will light a candle and offer prayers today….so sad!

This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A.

DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png

© 2000 - 2022, A Network for Grateful Living

Website by Briteweb

0

Your Cart