Meeting Thoughts with an Open Heart

Your thinking mind is always active, bringing thoughts that range from peaceful to unsettling.

Some feel light and fleeting, while others are heavy and consuming. But no matter what arises, an Open Heart meets each thought with kindness, not resistance. Imagine you’re about to start something new—a job, a creative project, or even a conversation that feels important. Suddenly, your mind fills with self-doubt: What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough?

It’s easy to get caught in these thoughts, believing them as truth. But what if, instead, you simply noticed them? Rather than fighting them or pushing them away, what if you acknowledged them with kindness?

You could say to yourself, Ah, here is doubt again. I see you. But you are just a thought, not who I am.

A Simple Open Hearted Practice

1. Pause & Notice – When a thought arises, take a deep breath and simply acknowledge it without judgment.

2. Label It Gently – Instead of saying I am anxious, try I am experiencing an anxious thought. This creates space between you and the thought.

3. Respond with Kindness – Imagine speaking to yourself the way you would to a dear friend. ‘It’s okay to feel this way.’ I am more than this thought.

4. Return to the Present – Bring your attention back to your breath, your surroundings, or your heart. This helps ground you in the now, where thoughts lose their grip.

When you meet your thoughts with kindness instead of struggle, they begin to loosen, like echoes fading into the distance. The more you practice, the more you realize—you are not your thoughts. You are the awareness beneath them, vast and free.

With an Open Heart, even the heaviest thoughts become lighter.

Live Life Open Hearted 🩷

Love, Suzi