HEART, center of Joy

What and Where is Our Heart?

Our heart is our center of ‘feeling’. By contrast, our head is the center of thinking and the center of ego. A happy fulfilled life is lived immersed in Love, joy, and gratitude. These are feeling, not thoughts, so this is why knowing your heart is crucial. By learning to follow our heart we learn to utilize our heart intelligence which guides us to make loving wise choices, thereby supporting us to be successful on all levels of life. The heart we are referring to here is not our physical heart. It is our non-physical heart that resides in the center of our chest, at the level of our armpits.

When we first learn to become centered in the heart, we usually need to help our heart become more active. So, it is very helpful to touch the heart at the exact point at the center of the chest at the level of the armpits using one or several fingers without applying pressure. Touching it will make your heart become more active. At the core of our heart is our True Self, the spark of Light and Love. It is our true identity and who we really are at the deepest level of being, beyond all boundaries of space and time. This spark is the purest aspect of our deepest self and is directly connected to the Ultimate Source of Light and Love, The True Source.

(Note: We prefer the term ‘True Source’ because it is a neutral term which does not have a charged history. Feel free to replace the term True Source, with whatever phrase for you represents the Ultimate Source of Love and Light).

Our heart, is therefore, the:

• Key to our connection to True Source
• Center of peace
• Center of calmness
• Center of true happiness/joy
• Center of love
• Key to our physical, mental and emotional health
• Key to our spiritual growth
• The center for heart intelligence

Why Heart?

• Our heart is special because it is at the core of our heart that we have the direct connection with the Ultimate Source.
• Our heart is, therefore, the door to our True Home, and our ultimate destination. This is why it is so important for our hearts to realize and remember that the True Source is the Source of Love and Light, and the Source of our existence.
• Our heart is the center for receiving the blessings of Love and Light from this Source.
• Our heart is the center of feeling the peace, calmness, love, gratitude and joy because the blessings of Love and Light are radiating every moment of every day.
• Our heart is calling us, and inviting us to relax, smile, and enjoy all of the gifts that Love and Light offers. Moreover, our heart wants to be free to be an instrument of this Light and Love.

Why Follow Our Heart?

When our hearts become dominant we begin to utilize our heart intelligence, which is the innate loving wisdom of our heart. This is our deepest level of intelligence that supersedes intellectual or emotional intelligence. Heart intelligence guides us to make choices which allow us to fulfill our deeper purpose and to learn life lessons that we may have been failing to integrate. While it takes our needs into consideration, it is not self-centered, for it accesses the bigger picture that is often beyond the perceptions of the brain and guides us to make loving wise choices. Heart intelligence helps us to have greater clarity about situations. It gives new insights, perspectives and attitudes about efficiently managing whatever challenges that come up in daily life.

While our heads/brains often just react to situations, our hearts respond in a way that can turn stressors or obstacles into learning opportunities. However, becoming heart centered does not mean that we stop using the brain. We still need to utilize the brain to help us function in the world - instead, it comes under the influence and guidance of the wisdom of our heart:

Typically, though, we allow the brain to dominate. This results in our actions, behavior and responses being influenced by our mind/brain and ego:

When this happens the heart closes, and life is experienced more superficially. When the brain is dominant, one of its tendencies is to judge people or size them up into categories that often fall into ‘good enough’ or ‘not good enough’, ‘like’ or ‘dislike’, ‘approve’ or ‘disapprove’, ‘worthy’ or ‘unworthy’, or other dualistic concepts. As a result, relationships lack substance, quality and authenticity.When our hearts are open, we are not bothered by idiosyncrasies or differences in people. Relationships bring great joy, we are more accepting of others short comings, we easily forgive, and sharing love becomes our treasure. Open hearts live authentically and genuinely with love, humbleness and gratitude. And the more that we are able to open our hearts, the more we are able to experience peace, joy and connection with The Source of All.

(source : www.heartsanctuary.org)