Looking out through the heart’s eye is like seeing through polarized sunglasses — the emotional glare is cut. Vision filtered through anger or fear, envy or resentment, distorts and highlights the flaws in everyone and everything. The heart’s vision does the opposite. We feel the difference when someone looks at us through their heart’s eye. It can be unsettling if we’re not used to being accepted, or accepting ourselves, for who we are.
Our minds often buzz with self-justification, judging and criticizing others, especially those closest to us. Blame, guilt, a desire for vengeance, can eat us alive from the inside and make for miserable relationships. Being cynical, sarcastic, or judgmental is about our own insecurities and fears, and is a waste of time. Let’s make the effort to exercise deeper intelligence.
As an experiment this month, try setting an internal alarm to flash each time you catch yourself judging someone (including yourself). We receive what we give out, so try breaking the critical cycle and see what happens.
I like this Qigong exercise: Put your attention in your heart center (the center of your chest, just over the right ventricle of your physical heart) and keep it there for a while as you breathe gently in and out. If it helps hold your attention, rest your hand there, too. This will make you more aware of your heart energy and help to open your heart’s eye.
You can practice maintaining the heart’s opening cycle in my Introduction to Qigong (“chee-kung”) and Personal Energy Work class. Call me at 541.390.9652 or email for scheduling and with your questions.
And deep, deep gratitude, Maya Angelou (4/4/1928 – 5/28/2014) for sharing your wide-open heart’s brilliant vision. May we find in ourselves some reflection of your light:
“We must support each other because each of us is more alike than we are unalike.”
“Lift up your hearts
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.”