“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, not touched . . . but are felt in the heart.”
Helen Keller
Happy Monday!
I hope you had a lovely weekend with people who make you laugh and things that make you happy! I know some of us don’t have to think twice about taking time for ourselves and rejuvenating. Others, however, need some prompting to step off the hamster wheel and engage in restful activities. For me, sitting outside in the sunshine was a game-changer this weekend.
Speaking of changes, when was the last time you paused to check your heart condition? No, I don’t mean that literally ~ that’s important, too! But have you checked the condition of your heart recently? Are you intentionally surrounding yourself with beauty? It’s essential to find things that make your heart smile. I like to have fresh flowers around the house to remind me to take a moment and admire nature.
Are you making time to meet with people you love? If your family doesn’t bring you joy, maybe you have some friends who help you feel wanted and appreciated. Are you spending some of your time giving back? Often, we appreciate the beauty in the world by extending a helping hand to others or maybe a listening ear. Sometimes, that means saying a prayer for someone we don’t even know.
As we prepare for Valentine’s Day, we may be thinking of an extraordinary love we have or have had with whom we’d like to share our hearts. (Or we may think about the cost of See’s Candies these days and try to decide if we want a pound or if half a pound will do the trick). February 14th conjures up all sorts of cupid-, sweets-, and romance-related images that reflect heart love, but what about the condition of our hearts?
What would it look like to check in with our emotional state? Our hearts need quite a bit of tender, loving care to function properly. Are we taking on things we shouldn’t or not doing enough self-reflection? Are we working so hard at making things look good that we’ve lost track of the depth of our feelings? Or maybe we’ve covered up wounds with so many layers of denial that we scarcely feel anything anymore.
I found this quote that seems an appropriate addition to our celebrations this year:
So, back to the question of the condition of your heart. In the literal sense, are you doing all the healthy things you can to make that muscle safe and strong? In the figurative sense, are you doing all the healthy things you can to ensure balance, protect yourself, and hold space for others?
Here are a few encouraging words:
“No beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart.” Shanina Shaik
“True navigation begins in the human heart. It’s the most important map of all.” Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey
“If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment.” Carlos Santana
“My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart’s meditation is full of insight.” Psalm 49:3 (CEB)
“Trust Him at all times, you people. Pour out your hearts in his presence. God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8 (GW)
Here’s a trick for checking your heart condition. Change your perspective if you’re not sure you’re aligned in the best way possible. Look in the mirror and have a frank conversation with the person facing you.
Determine whether you’ve made good decisions for yourself this week. Ascertain the validity of your choices. Consider the kindness and grace you offered yourself and others.
If something needs to be corrected or adjusted, do it right then and there, then smile at that lovely image and move into the week with the conviction to keep your heart aligned with your values, integrity, and purpose. The condition of your heart will then be ready for a fantastic week ~ enjoy!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
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