Have you been hurt before?
Oh no! That’s terrible! What a cold, cruel world!
To make sure that never happens again… just shut down your heart.
Oops! It actually turns out that isn’t the solution. And it’s having an open heart that truly protects you.
Also, you can’t get out of this life if you live it without having hurtful things happen. And you can’t always control this. But you do get to choose what you do with them. And there’s really only one thing to do… just be. Be in the moment. If you are sad, be in the sadness… because from there it can come to the surface so you can see it and release it… and you can create art from it… and it can become a great gift. And all there is is the present. Unless someone is hurting you right now, you are the only one hurting yourself.
This is actually awesome, because it means you have the power to transform your suffering and sadness. And this can actually create more love and connection and happiness. Unlike shutting down your heart. Don’t do that. Nooooo don’t do it.
Guru Aama recently told me this story of a mango tree. Every year a mango tree makes mangos, and mangos are soft, and sometimes when you’re soft everyone wants to eat you, so people pick and eat the mangos. The mango tree doesn’t say ‘Oh woe is me, everyone is hurting me, I’m going to stop making mangos.’ It keeps giving its gifts every year. Though you know maybe if they want to eat the mangos they should help it grow and give back to it, but you get the point.
I’m glad to give my mangos. Though I’m still just a tree trying to survive.
For the child’s spirit and heart is free
And finds immunity
In the invulnerability and innocence
Of openheartedness
So the slings and arrows can pass through
Without turning into wounds
The most powerful protection
#Hardened hearts hurt. Open hearts heal.