Definitions
Embody – be an expression of or give a tangible or visible form to (an idea, quality, or feeling).
Consciousness – the state of being awake and aware of one’s surroundings.
Compassion – a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for other people’s suffering and a desire to help.
Karuna – a Sanskrit word translated to mean any action that is taken to diminish the suffering of others and could also be translated as “compassionate action.”
Heart-Centered Consciousness – Choosing to See Everything through the Eyes of Love
The foundation of heart-centered living is love – pure and simple. When we choose to embrace and practice heart-centered living, we are allowing love to be the guiding force for all that we think, say and do. In doing so, we are moving out of a fear-based paradigm and into a love-based paradigm.
To understand what heart-centered living comprises, there are three main areas that are the basis for implementing a heart-centered approach on every level of our existence. These areas are compassion for self, compassion for others and compassion for nature.
Compassion for Self
To begin with, heart-centered living involves practicing self-love, which is compassion for self. Subsequently, we actually start to put ourselves first; not from an ego-perspective, but from a heart-perspective. When we choose to accept and practice heart-centered living, we understand that we are the central point of creation of our personal reality – we are the center of our Universe. Until we are able to fully understand love, both personally and experientially, which includes learning to love ourselves, we are of little value to those around us. Of course, this has nothing to do with selfishness, but with being awake and aware enough to know that we can only give what we are and what we have. Therefore, if we do not have love within us and for ourselves, how can we give love, kindness, respect or compassion to others?
Compassion for Others
Secondly, heart-centered living includes a unity-centered attitude in how we interact with others. We place a value on connection and community. We come to understand that we are all from the same source, and thus one human family. We begin to see ourselves in all, especially those whom we come into contact with every day. Discrimination, judgement, and prejudice get released as we come into full awareness of what it means to be one. We stop fearing our differences, and instead we choose to acknowledge, embrace and even celebrate our unique diversity.
Compassion for Nature
Lastly, the concept of heart-centered consciousness entails a high degree of stewardship when it comes to all of nature and our planet. The more we love ourselves and love the communities that we share this Earth with, the more we make sure that our home is kept in the healthiest state it can be. We begin to show the highest level of compassion for all animals, plants and other species of life on this planet. We begin to take a high degree of reverence for nature knowing that it has a sacred balance. We learn to work with it; rather than against it.
Shift to Living from the Heart
As we shift to living from the heart-space, may we remember doing so does not mean that we abandon the power of our mind. We cannot deny any part of ourselves to live from our highest potential – not our mind, not our heart and not our soul. We are truly multidimensional beings, both on a physical and spiritual level. Ultimately, at our essence, it is important to remember that we are love. As we continue to awaken and evolve, may we continue to grow in love. Furthermore, may we always focus on the solutions, rather than the problems, and truly be the change we wish to see.
Practicing heart-centered consciousness is worthwhile and reminds us that love is always here regardless of the situation or circumstances. Being the embodiment of love involves having compassion for ourselves and those around us as well as staying in a space of grace when facing adversity. Whenever possible (and it’s always possible), just be love!
*An excerpt from my February talk at Unity of Fayetteville.
