Do you have healthy heart connections?
Last year I wrote about how our brains are wired for connection.
We have this amazing tool called our brain that seems to be evolving to reward social connection. My blogging journey has definitely been an evolution of social connection. My blog started as a creative outlet and I’ve enjoyed exploring various forms of writing, but by far, the best gift from my blogging journey has been the wonderful connections with people from around the world. Thank you again to all my blogging community!
Yet no matter how wonderful our brains are, the real gift of life is connecting heart to heart. If we are lucky, we have a few friends, family members and/ or co-workers who nurture us on a deep heart level. They understand us, listen with open minds and hearts and offer a safe space to simply be ourselves. Sometimes these relationships last for a lifetime, sometimes for a moment. I’ve had brief encounters with people that were life changing and soul satisfying. I’ve also enjoyed the beauty of building relationships over time that are big enough to hold the pains and the joys of life. In fact, they are enriched and more resilient for having weathered the storms of life together.
And truthfully, I’ve allowed many relationships to slip in the last few years as I got stuck in my personal fears, doubts, emotional pain and losses. Through blogging, I’ve started new and rekindled old relationships that feed my soul. Being an introvert, it’s good for me to remember that I need people, especially ones that feed and nurture my deepest being. And if we don’t have those kinds of relationships, then we need to accept responsibility to create them by nurturing ourselves and others. Slowly, I’ve been taking steps to love again. How about you? Are you stuck or is your life full of loving relationships?
How are your heart connections?
I’ve been reading a book on heart health called Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum’s Heart Book. I was already familiar with most of herย diet and lifestyle ideas, but I’m struck by her emphasis on good heart connections. According to Dr. Steinbaum, and I agree, the most important thing that we can do is move out of our heads and learn to live in a heart-centered way. This alignment with our hearts creates a deep level of self-care that blossoms out to restore peace, love and joy to our lives.
In honor of Valentine’s Day and the season of love, I invite you to join me in aligning our lives more with our hearts and love. Let’s join Matt Kahn and the Love Revolution by offering more love and kindness to everyone, starting with ourselves. ๐
I hope in this season of love you have the gift of many healthy heart connections. Blessings, Brad
I didn’t know you were an introvert. You don’t seem like it ๐ But I have never liked labels. I am quite open and always willing to share eveything, but if I dont feel safe, if there are lots of loud people, I get shy and scared. It is funny, I am okay speaking infront of a big crowd, but if I am alone in a crowd I get scared and shy. I dont fight for attention. If people want to hear what I have to say I talk, otherwise I dont ๐ I think it is easy to make friends when you are open and outgoing, but I think those soul-connections are quite rare, and therefor should be treasured when they appear ๐
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Thanks for sharing more of your heart and preferences Trini. I agree that any soul connections are treasures. ๐ I re-learning to be open and outgoing. I have to do it for sales, but don’t enjoy it at least for this job when it’s mostly about money and sales. Writing and online connecting are easier for me.
to treasuring heart connections. ๐
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You absolutely nailed it on the head with this beautiful, timely post, Brad! From the words in the image to the following lines: (that I’d like permission to reuse in the near future, pretty please?) “The real gift of life is connecting heart to heart.” “…by offering more love and kindness to everyone, starting with ourselves.” Grateful for our connection and wishing you an open heart filled with an abundance of love!! ๐
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Thanks my dear friend. Your words washed over me like a soothing shower. I appreciate your kindness, support and friendship. Absolutely use whatever of my words, posts, links that you want. HUGS! ๐ โค
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I have had the same experience as you Brad – the blogging world has allowed me to make connections with others. Some of them have lasted, others have not. But, as you say, each of them has impacted me in some unique way.
In a world dominated by head connections and social media connections, I totally and completely embrace the heart connection that you speak of so eloquently. Less thinking and more feeling equals happy hearts ๐
Thanks for sharing Brad and best wishes, as always, for an inspired day!
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There have been times when this community was my anchor to love and connection with people. You have lifted me up and I’m grateful. Thanks for being part of my happy heart connections! ๐
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Mucho mahalo for the encouraging reminders and your connective candor. Andrea and I recently listened to an interview with Seth Godin by Tami Simon on her Insights at The Edge podcast. We found it both encouraging and catalytic. Seth has shifted his emphasis from marketing to connecting, which can complement each other, it turns out in many cases. (I think of putting that link here, but I’m unsure if posting links is good behavior on blogs. What’s your take on that?)
Love you, brother. Looking forward to seeing you again in person.
p.s. I still plan to resume my blog posts, and also figure out how to enable comments, as you wisely recommended.
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Thanks for the mucho hugs and love brother Dave. ๐ I’ll check out Tami’s interview. That’s a good reminder for me having just started back to sales. Links are fine when I know the person and it’s not marketing! I’d love to connect in person. ๐
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Hi Brad, I really connected with your post. There’s nothing more beautiful than the human heart and our capacity to love. I saw your tweet… I am enjoying my break from blogging thanks. I’ve made a decision to not carry on with The Life of a Baby Buddha but will be back online at some point with something new ๐ It’s still great to connect with you during this break and I want to thank you supporting my journey. Blessings, Lisa
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Hi Lisa, I’m glad to hear from you and delighted that you’re enjoying your break. Thanks for being part of my extended blogging community. I look forward to hearing about your new venture. hugs and blessings,
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slowly science is learning, or rather relearning ancient wisdom. That a healthy, positive, unstressed mind is one of the keys to physocal health, esecially that of our hearts ๐ Without these attribites we leave oursleves wide open to ill health. The easiest way is simply to embrace love; for all and all of nature ๐ And I too love our blogging connections ๐
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Well stated Robert! Simple and to the point; love for all. ๐ Thanks for contributing. ๐
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Yes Brad…Heart to Heart connections…they are so important. I feel such sadness for people who don’t have this. A few come to mind immediately and I pray for their souls to know love. This community has been such a wonderful source of support for me…and you have been with me almost from the beginning. I cherish you and wish all good things for you. And if you ever doubt yourself just try to remember how GOOD it feels to lead with your heart and to make the connection with another one!! Much love Brad โค
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You are such a kind and loving soul Lorrie. How wonderful that you offer your love and compassion for others in pain. Sometimes I doubt myself and often you and other friends here help lift me up. I am most grateful for our heart connection. ๐ Thank You. โค
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As am I dear Brad! And don’t EVER underestimate your power of love!! I have never read a comment by you that wasn’t kind, loving, and supportive!! โค โค
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Thanks Lorrie. I’m practicing here where it’s easier so I can bring that love and encouragement out to the world. ๐ โค
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I like the sound of the healthy heart connection ๐ Thanks for sharing Brad!
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You’re welcome Neha. Me too and I’m still working on it. ๐
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This is very thought provoking. I think as we age, we become a bit more cynical (with politicians around the world, how could you not…), and I think we become less thoughtful in terms of connecting with the heart. The one area that saves us at at times, is when we do give a bit of ourselves to others. As you say, โThe real gift of life is connecting heart to heart.โ
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I agree Randall. Maybe if we could inject more heart in our work and politics, we could shift things toward common good.
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Great post. Thank you for sharing your writing, especially your Fridays Awesome Stories section. It is rare that I find a blog that routinely has me wanting to come back for more, every week. For that reason, I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspirational Blogger Award (reachingjoythree.wordpress.com). Have a great almost-weekend!
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Thanks for reading, commenting and nominating me. I appreciate that you enjoy my Awesome Stories and hope they inspire you to live more fully. I also appreciate the nomination and probably won’t post about it. blessings, Brad
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