Our heads can play some pretty nasty tricks on us. Our minds are so powerful they can trick us into thinking this is what our heart wants, in fact we can go for years on this information. This can put us into some strange and hurtful situations. It is almost hard to believe that our mind can make us believe our heart is open, but it happens more often than you think.

Have you ever chased after something in your life that you thought you truly wanted , then once having it, you realize it is only bringing you grief. In the beginning you really thought that was what your heart wanted, what you truly desired. At some level this may have been true. Somewhere along the path your mind took over, and you stopped listening to the signs and signals your body was trying to tell you.

It is true that in this life time you can have anything you desire, you simply have to focus your thoughts, emotions, and actions towards that. These actions have to come from the heart and not the head. The journey to getting what you desire in life, really has nothing to do with obtaining that desire, it is more about the lessons your learn along the way. It’s about learning who you really are and preparing yourself to receive it. Yes, there is work to do, steps to take to obtain your goal, but the real work is on the inside. When you get to this realization in the journey you find out just how much fun it can be to obtain that which you desire.

So how do you know if you are actually in your heart, or that your mind is telling you that you are? The first indications are the signs your body is telling you.

When I am acting from my head I feel restricted, almost like I am in a box, stuck and not knowing how to get to where I want to be. It’s a very heavy confusing feeling. The questions continue to come, but there are no answers. I feel more stressed about my goal and seem to concentrate more on what I don’t want than what I do want. My actions feel pushy, like I have to work hard and push my way through to get what it is I want. My body feels tight, sometimes a cloudy heavy feeling. My sleep tends to be restless or broken up. I can still picture my goal, but it always seems distant from me.

When I am acting in my heart, I feel light, comfortable, safe, almost as though I am walking on clouds. I can daydream about my goal, and it all seems so possible, in fact the ideas that come to me during the day dreams are actual steps I can take. I don’t seem to question myself, in fact answers seem to show up from out of no where. I don’t seem to get short with myself, or with others, I have more patience and compassion. The dream just flows to me, as I take a step, the feelings come more to life. The journey does not seem life work at all. As I go along I learn more about who I really am, and how this dream can help me to help others. The rough times are not about physically working to get my dream, they are more about letting go of what is blocking it from coming to me. Releasing what is in my way. When I ask for assistance with this, it just shows up. Being in my heart is simply a more loving comfortable place to be.

Here are a few meditations that will give you an indication of how different it feels to be in your heart with your mind still in gear, and one simply being in the heart.

With all meditation it is important to be in a comfortable position with your back straight and relaxed. Follow your breath in order to bring your body into a place of quiet balance.

1. Take a long slow deep breath in through the nose, and release it out through the mouth.
2. Repeat, this time releasing any thoughts and tensions on the out breath, just let it go.
3. Repeat.
4. Bring your attention to your feet, imagine roots growing out of your feet and into the earth.
5. With your breath allow this energy to flow through your body, grounding you with the earth.
6. Now slowly bring your attention to your heart area.
7. Feel your heart open, feel the warmth and compassion in this area.
8. With your breath allow this energy to flow throughout your body.
9. Sit an enjoy the energy of love and compassion as it flows through you.
10. When you are ready, slowly and gently come back into this time and this place.

Notice how you feel, how it feels to connect with that heart energy. Now move on to the next meditation. We will repeat steps 1-8 from the above meditation and add these steps.

1. Bring your attention to your mind.
2. Allow your mind to slowly drop down into your heart.
3. Continue to breath slowly until you feel this happening, don’t force it just allow it.
4. Continue to breath and stay in this energy as long as you can.
5. Pay attention to your feelings as you breath into this energy.
6. When you are ready, slowly and gently come back into this time and this place.

Notice what a difference it feels from the first mediation. When I do this, I feel an expansion all around me, I start to get beautiful pictures in my mind, I feel comforted and protected. With either of these meditations you can add some quiet music in the back ground, light a candle, or burn some incense, just what ever adds to the experience for you.

Either way you may still reach your goal, one way will bring you comfort and joy, the other will bring you stress, possibly some enemies, and not much joy. We always have a choice, we simply have to be aware of the intentions we set each day. May living from the heart be the one you choose.

Author's Bio: 

Jenn Prothero is a certified Angel Therapy Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner, Intuitive Life Coach, Author, Teacher and Radio Personality.

She offers clients healing and coaching sessions tailor made to what their needs are. Sessions can be done either in person, or via phone/email including healing.

New author of Fairies Teach Forgiveness, a children's book to assist children in living in harmony with themselves and others.

You can contact Jenn at
www.jennprothero.webs.com/ or
www.sjlightworkers.com

Listen live Tuesday evenings at 8 Pm Est. for discussions on spiritual topics and techniques. Souls Journey Radio