A Practice To Nurture Your Heart
Love is essential—it completes our lives by allowing us to truly appreciate the people, things, and beauty that is all around us. But amidst judgement, expectations, and opposition, it can be challenging to appreciate the beauty that is in every individual, and thus to let our heart love to its full capacity.
Therefore, learning to experience love to its fullest extent can take practice. By nurturing your heart, the source of all your love, compassion, and gratitude, you can begin to unite yourself with all those around you.
In this post, we’ll share a simple practice that you can do anytime, and anywhere to nurture your heart.
Practice
1. Find a comfortable and quiet place to sit. Close your eyes and take deep breaths, allowing your stomach to rise and fall. As you continue to breathe, quiet your mind and notice your body relaxing.
2. Place your right hand over your heart and feel its warmth and rhythm. Now, imagine that you are breathing in and out through your heart. Breathe slowly, gently, and calmly.
3. As you continue to breathe through your heart, think of something or someone that you love or appreciate. It could be a person, a pet, a place, or anything else that makes you feel love. Feel this love in your heart as you inhale and exhale.
4. Now, think of yourself and say silently or aloud: “I love and appreciate myself.” Feel the love and appreciation for yourself in your heart as you breathe.
5. Next, think of someone who needs your love or support. It could be a friend, a family member, a colleague, or anyone else who is going through a difficult time. Send them love and compassion from your heart as you breathe deeply.
6. Finally, think of the world and all the living beings in it. Send love and peace from your heart as you breathe.
7. When you are ready, gently open your eyes and return to the present moment.
Now, notice how you are feeling. In addition to feeling a greater sense of love, you may feel more relaxed, compassionate, optimistic, grateful, and inspired.
