Happiest February! This month is all about the heart. When we live from our heart, we experience deep joy and love and attract it to us more freely. Our heart chakra, in the middle of our chest, is our energetic center for love, joy, gratitude, and compassion. The key to living a joyful and love-filled life is to release what blocks us from opening our heart center. Issues, such as self-criticism, a feeling of unworthiness, holding grudges, and unresolved grief, are indicators that we have a blocked or deficient heart chakra.
Want to learn more about releasing blocks to your heart chakra and living life more freely with joy and love? Below, learn 10 keys to unblock your heart and open to greater joy and love this month <3
#1 Forgive yourself:
We all make mistakes. It’s only human. Holding onto regret and ruminating on past mistakes only blocks our capacity for joy and love. Take time to think about a mistake that you need to forgive yourself for. Recognize that you are not alone. In fact, repeat this mantra, “I am not alone,” while taking deep breaths with one of your hands on your heart chakra (center of your chest). We often think we are alone in our faults and imperfections when it is something that greatly connects us in our common humanity. Give yourself permission to be human and forgive yourself.
#2 Forgive that person who hurt you:
Even if it’s the worst thing in the world that someone did to you, when you continue to hold onto it, it only hurts you. This quote,“holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die” by an unknown author explains it perfectly. Don’t continue to hurt yourself over someone who hurt you. Learn to forgive them and let their hold over you gone for good.
#3 Treat Yourself kindly:
Along the same line as forgive yourself, take it further. Speak to yourself as if you were speaking to a small child or a good friend you greatly respect. Compelling research by self-compassion expert Kristin Neff states that those who experience greater self-compassion toward their mistakes and imperfections experience greater well-being than those who constantly judge themselves. It’s been shown that they even experience less episodes of anxiety and depression. Turn your inner-critic into your inner-nurturer and experience greater well-being.
#4 Speak and Act with COURage:
The word “cour” actually means “heart.” Therefore, to have courage literally means to live with heart. Living with courage is not easy because it means that we have to embrace vulnerability, which is difficult for most of us. Being vulnerable means that we risk rejection, disapproval, and failure.“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome” says Brene Brown, best selling author and expert on courage and vulnerability. While hiding your most courageous self may keep you “safe,” it truly holds you back from experiencing true joy, happiness, and love.
#5 Write an I Trust List:
Adapted from bestselling author and inspirational speaker, Danielle Laporte, an “I Trust list” is a great way to open our heart chakra. Through writing an “I Trust List,” we reinforce mental thinking patterns of trust and faith and can better rewrite ruminating mental spirals of self-doubt. Here’s how to write one: at the top of a blank page, simply write, “I Trust" and then list everything you can. Here’s an example: I Trust: 1) that my partner loves me. 2) that my mother loves me. 3) that I will end up exactly where I am meant to be. 4) that the sun will shine tomorrow. 5) that I will be ok. Continue for as long as you’d like and when you’re finished, feel for effects.
#6 Do Something (or aLot of Things!) to Bring You Joy:
Experiencing joy is incredibly healthy for our heart chakra. In addition, many Law of Attraction believers say that when we do more of what brings us joy, we naturally attract our deepest desires to us. Whether you believe in the Law of Attraction or not, experiencing the emotion of joy releases all sorts of endorphins helpful for a healthy brain and body. What makes you smile, feel free and have fun? Go do that!
#7 Release Grief:
When we hold onto grief, we cause energetic and emotional blocks. In fact, the Latin origin of the word “emotion” literally means “energy in motion.” We must let the energy of grief move for physical, mental, and emotional health. Engage in appropriate channels for grief release by doing what works for you. For instance, you can speak to a professional or a trusted friend. Don’t be afraid to cry it out or find a same space to howl and sob.
#8 Create Heart Boundaries:
Living with a healthy heart chakra does not mean that we spew out our heart to everyone. We need to practice self-care in the process. We need to be thoughtful, stand in our values, and choose our battles worthy of our time and energy. Be intentional and, especially with your most tender feelings, always be sure to share them with someone you trust.
#9 Practice Gratitude:
Gratitude is the open door to abundance and it certainly is key to heart chakra opening. List your top 5 gratitudes from each day in the evening or simply write about what you’re grateful for as a free-write. Get up each day and find some gratitude for having woken up, for the day to begin a new, and for whatever you have planned that day. Any chance you get, be grateful.
#10 Practice Compassion for Others:
A sure way to get out of our own misery is to recognizing that we have the power to help someone else. “Help someone and you will help yourself” says spiritual teacher and best-selling author Gabrielle Bernstein. Pick up the phone and call someone who might need it, go volunteer, or just do some very simple and small to make someone smile. Get out of your own way and help others in whatever way you can!