#154 Open your heart?

     Mindfulness may most succinctly be defined as “an openhearted, moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness".

        Kabat-Zinn J. Coming to our senses: Healing ourselves and the world through mindfulness. Hyperion, NY, 2005.

     How do you feel when I suggest "open your heart"?

     I've had very interesting conversations about this. For many, it's a great theory or aspiration, but impractical if not downright terrifying. "The world (people) would take advantage of me!" And indeed, most of us spend sometimes all, but certainly way too much of our lives with our hearts barricaded away, partially frozen to life and love. It takes one or more 'rude wake-up calls' from life for some of us to start intentionally shedding the armor from around our frozen hearts and start embracing life - so that real living can begin ...       Lesser E. “Broken open. How difficult times can help us grow.” Villard, NY, 2005.

     “The amount of happiness that you have depends on the amount of freedom you have in your heart.” Thich Nhat Hanh
 

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