Open Your Heart

She used to be someone who rejects all pain and dislikes inconveniences and problems. She had a detached life style to avoid dealing with the conflicts and struggles of others. Since she had difficulties putting her foot down and communicating with others, she felt her only solution was avoidance of stressful situations altogether. So she led a quiet life. When you don't meet inconvenient people, you can keep your opinions to yourself. A few select friends satisfied her basic social needs. However, a move to a new city took her support system away and she had to start all over again. Her well-established pattern was suddenly interrupted. Since she is a social creature by nature she suddenly needed to open up to make new friends.

Our friend experienced a struggle she had never before. She really wanted to enjoy the comfort, love, and support of friends but she also knew that they would soon ruin her quiet and peaceful life.  She was struggling. One day she came across one of Louise Hay's books and one theme resonated with her. It said, everyone is a messenger of God. Yes, once you understand that, you stop differentiating, rejecting and hate people who hurt you. God shows up in our life with the help of different messengers. Sometimes in loving and supporting form, sometimes in more aggressive, unfriendly, and troublesome forms. The lesson plan is simple, these friends are all here to expand and open our hearts; to love everything and everyone just as they are.

We are not that different from our friend. Everyone wants yo have it their way, but alas, then there is life that decides otherwise. We have no choice anyway. The sooner we learn to open our hearts and accept everyone who comes into our life, the better off we will be. Let the Tao decide who is meaningful and who is not. Our friends - the natural ones as well as the less convenient ones - will remove the limits we put on ourselves. At the same time, learn to put your foot down and define your personal boundaries in every interaction. Connect with your heart and your inner silence just as you connect with others. Connection and solitude both harmoniously complete and enrich each other. Life is wonderful when you open your heart and let others in.

By Christian and Su Zhen