by Ronna
Prince
Creator,
Executive Producer, Songwriterof the Film "Sacred
Journey of the Heart"
DIVE in, TUNE in, LIGHTEN up!
It seems that now we are inundated with messages
about living in the heart. It's the latest catch-phrase. But really, what does
it all mean? It means living in balance with emotions and thoughts. It means
allowing one's heart to lead the way in decision making and actions. It does not
mean letting unchecked feelings rule your life. But it also means, not letting
unexpressed feelings limit your interaction and connection with others.
Most of us have been brought up to be logical and
rational. To hide our emotions and just "get over it". The problem with this is
that we really can't solve today's problems that were created by analytical and
mind-based approaches. I'm convinced that the analytical approach is what got us
to where we are today, in many of the distressing situations we see in our own
lives, communities and on a global scale.
So the question is: how do we really embrace
heart-based living and be effective as leaders and decision makers in these
times of change? I believe we can do this by using a heart-based approach
which has been distilled down to 3 simple steps: Dive In, Tune In, and Lighten
up. It really is a simple process. It starts with a choice to go into the
heart-based feelings and explore what is there. If you can't or won't do that,
I've found that you're putting a veneer over the truth of your existence.
Mastering our emotions through the heart is the key to this time of intense
transition. When we check into our hearts, we tend to make wiser and more
compassionate choices. And with that, live more peaceful and connected lives.
STEP 1: The first step is to have the willingness to
dive in to the emotions locked inside the heart. This does not mean
re-experiencing the traumas of the past. Rather it is to acknowledge that your
heart had to shut down in the past as a way of dealing with the hurts all humans
experience to one extent or another. In diving in to the heart (step 1), we are
really just allowing the awareness of feelings and emotions to surface. In this
step, we dive in to touch what's been locked inside. We follow the breath into
our hearts and listen. We can ask "what's in my heart?" Usually it's a two or
three word message that bubbles up, like: "I'm afraid", or "be careful", or "go
for it!"
STEP 2: The next step is to tune into the feelings
behind these initial pearls of heart-wisdom. "What is my heart telling me?" If
you hear: "I'm afraid" or "be careful", that's informing you that you need to
spend some time allowing the associated emotional imprints to emerge. We do that
by feeling whatever is there and accepting the feeling no matter what it is:
Fear, anger, sadness, depression, happiness, joy. Tune into it, and allow it to
move and flow.
As we allow ourselves to tune into these emotional
states, we move the energy. When energy moves, there is room for heart-wisdom to
emerge. Tuning in to the heart is what takes practice, because we're used to
turning to the mind to find our answers. But the truth is, our hearts know. Our
minds will rationalize or justify. But the authentic tuned-in feelings of our
hearts, will always lead us to compassionate and wise choices.
The FINAL STEP in this 3 part formula is: Lighten up!
This is an essential part of the 3 step process. It means that after we do some
intense emotional healing, we consciously choose to relax, enjoy and embrace the
gifts in life. At first, we have to really focus on this and make it a priority.
Because in dealing with emotions, we can easily get stuck in a state of
perpetual healing and forget to enjoy each day.
So in this final step, we commit to looking around us
and seeing beauty and joy, even if it's just a small thing, like a flower or a
bird's song or the smile of a loved one. Living in the heart is a balanced
place, and in that balance, we make room for more joy and peace, not by
ignoring, but by embracing the wisdom of the heart.
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