It’s only the second month of 2021, and already, our hearts are right back on that roller coaster ride.
Given the political climate of our nation, it’s time for a heart check. And while February is American Heart Month (which is a great opportunity to speak with your doctor about heart disease), I’m not talking about a physical check of your heart muscle. I’m talking about inspecting your central, innermost being.
So, take a deep breath, close your eyes and look within your heart. What do you see?
Hate?
Malice?
Frustration?
Bitterness?
Envy?
Pride?
Arrogance?
Where is the love? Can you see it? Or has it been smothered by the hate so many of us are experiencing? In tough times, it is imperative that we make a conscious decision to find that love – and nurture it.
Let’s start with what I call “intense moments.” These moments reveal what’s in the deepest parts of your heart. For example, if you say, “I’m going to stop cursing,” you will never know if you’re really going to stop cursing until someone steps on your toe. That intense moment triggers your pain point. And when you reach that pain point, what’s in your heart will rise to the surface and most likely come out of your mouth.
This can be challenging work, and it can take weeks or months before you experience an intense moment and revelation. But we need these true tests to discover where we are – and how we can make progress.
Once your intense moment occurs, you have two choices:
Confront what’s in your heart, take a different path and let love in, or
Dismiss what’s in your heart, and remain the same.
What will you choose? This decision is about self-awareness. We can’t expect true freedom until we are willing to get to the heart of the matter. Dr. Angela Davis says it this way: “We must not shy away from complexity.” The thing that is most difficult to face is sometimes the very thing that leads to your healing. Get there…
“If you never know truth, then you never know love.” – Black Eyed Peas
Comments