Thin Space No. 18: Open Your Heart

The Question

How can you open your heart to others today?

The Intention

Compassion

The Meditative Moment

Place one hand on your heart and the other hand on top of it. Expand your hands out wide to the sides. Inhale your hands back to your heart. Exhale them wide. Do this a few more times. Bring the hands back to your heart, and allow them to rest there for a few breaths. When we’re struggling, it can be hard to give. And sometimes the best thing we can do is to focus on ourselves. But sometimes it also helps to focus on opening our heart to others: to their pain, their joy, their sorrow, their laughter, their needs. You don’t need to do all the things, but maybe try one thing that opens your heart to someone else today: an extra dollar in the tip jar at your favorite coffee shop; a text to a friend who you know is having a hard time; watching that silly show your partner prefers; picking up the litter that someone dropped; holding the door open for a stranger. Little things, perhaps, but have you noticed how the little things make you feel on days when you’re not quite yourself? They matter.

Originally sent August 18, 2023, to paid Substack subscribers. If you want to receive current Thin Space reflections, you can start a paid subscription here: https://laurenlmurphy.substack.com. You can choose to pay $75/year or $8/month.