Yes, I can feel the peacefulness of that. The patience. The unhurried willingness to let it be what it is and to have faith that it will be okay. Thank you, Patti.
I'm excited for your next book! I know that when my heart is most open, I'm more grateful. It's symbiotic somehow--the more I practice gratitude, the more open my heart is and the more open my heart is, the more grateful I am. An open heart is receptive and I feel I have more compassion for the people who cross my path.
Thanks, Lisa! And thanks for naming the synergistic nature of openheartedness and gratitude. I feel like openheartedness and laughter are the same way. I wonder what else happens to be in that synergistic relationship with openheartedness? All are welcome to weigh in with ideas!
Todd, that is music to this author's ears. I offered virtual author appearances for book clubs reading my last book. Considering the same this time. If so, I'd love to coordinate something!
I’ve been focused on the words “integral” and “proud” lately. I’m trying to take back the word proud to its purest form and to not tangle it up with ego, shame, or guilt. I’m proud of you Kelly and it’s been so cool to see the initial stages of your open heartedness journey to where you are now. The impact you have made on me I’ve felt in my core. I’ve been unpacking what is integral to me. When I feel in my body and aligned with my core I feel what I think it means to have integrity, because I’m focusing on what is integral to me. I think the next step/focus for me is open heartedness and allowing my true self to interact with everything it comes into contact with. Good luck on your retreat and again very proud of you my friend!
Aw, Mitch, I really appreciate that. I receive it.
As a words guy, I have to tell you the connection between "integral" and "integrity" is not one I've thought of before, but it speaks to me. I'll be doing some digging on Latin roots. I love your attention to it.
Also, that's a pretty amazing definition of openheartedness: "allowing my true self to interact with everything it comes into contact with." Thank you!
I’ve spent some time plumbing integral and integrity and for me it’s captured in the word “one”. When my inside world and my outside world are in harmony-are one. And further, when my world and the world around me are connected, they become one, or rather whole.
What shows up for me in the open hearted conversation Kelly, is that if we are to connect ourselves - from our core to the world around us - we must do so by opening ourselves up. Not our brains, but our hearts. And because that’s so scary, we close parts of ourselves off, and/or meet the world outside ourselves with our heads, not our hearts.
One practice I have for doing this - in a world where people are polarized by differences is to ask another “to tell me about something or someone they love”. Everybody loves something. And to hear what they describe, my heart can be touched by their heart. We may have completely different views of the world, beliefs, etc - but to hear what somebody loves connects me to their act of loving, which contributes to our becoming “one” in that moment.
Ok - my apologies for the short riff - Mitchell, thank YOU for stimulating it 🙏❤️ and Kelly - for all that you are. 🙏❤️
Thank you, Nancy. I notice how presence, listening, perceiving, and noticing all sort of cluster together in awareness. Willingness is maybe a prerequisite. Flexibility perhaps the reward.
Kelly, Yet again your writing has supported the opening of my heart.
So much so that tears fill my eyes. As I allow the tears to bubble up, I notice that I can't see straight anymore.
Then the words on my screen disappear behind the tears. My eyes close because what's the point in having them open if they don't see the truth of what's in front of them.
And then I chuckle as I hear God say, "now you're getting it kid".
The first thing that comes to mind for me is courage. And then I recall a practice I began a few months back where I envision embracing whatever situation I'm in (whether preferred or non-preferred) until it dissolves into me and I include it as myself. Perhaps this is my version of openheartedness. Thank you so much for this beautiful post. I look forward to your book!
That is a BEAUTIFUL image of openheartedness, Jenna, thank you for sharing it with us!
With regard to courage, I just came across this quote yesterday by David Whyte: "To be courageous is not necessarily to go anywhere or to do anything, but to make conscious those things we already feel deeply."
What comes to mind thinking of open-hearted living is that it requires us to first and foremost love ourselves in our truest, most authentic form.
Also...once again you're right on time. My morning coffee and self-care choice was a video on self-actualization. I've been actively working on some things after navigating difficult times. I'm realizing there are more than a few spiritual awakenings as we experience the ebb and flow of this thing called life.
I'm glad there was some synchronicity again with your spiritual journey, Nicole! And I think you're right on when you note that openheartedness requires our own interior journey before we can truly offer it to others.
Willingness to experience, not only to learn and be influenced by an experience but also to potentially embrace it and delve deep into what an experience has to teach you.
I was struck by you introducing that season with a physical injury. I had a recent injury to my hip suddenly while playing tennis a little too aggressively LOL. Beyond it being a little too poetic turning 40 and almost needing a cane, the experience right now is teaching me a lot about mindset, patience, and embracing a literal slow next season, in what is my busiest season professionally and personally.
It sounds to me like you're already practicing some openheartedness with regard to your injury and current limitations, Kristin. While I celebrate the spiritual growth that is entailing for you, I also hope you recover as quickly as possible! 😊
I struggle to keep my heart open toward a person in my community whose attitudes and words have wounded several people I love, causing them to leave the community. But that person is carrying a father-wound from their childhood. I want to feel love for this person, not just sloppy agape but actual open-hearted compassion. Kelly, you make this feasible. Can’t wait for your book. Shalom shalom.
"Sloppy agape." You always have a way with words, Michele.
It does feel like openheartedness, at its most fruitful, may be more like an intentional, working-man's agape. Blessings upon you as you do the work with that person in your community. Shalom.
When faced with a situation, event or person who has offended my ego, I step back and choose to see the offense with eyes of empathy. I realize my ego tries to protect me with pride, anger and resentment but through empathy can be taught to respond with forbearance, forgiveness and love. Choose love, always choose love.
Powerful, Mary. That choice between ego and empathy is exactly what we want to restore, as so many of us, myself included, are in the habit of racing through that window of choice, and may not even know it's there. Thanks for this excellent articulation of it!
I think of like Luke 6:45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Also John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Both the analogy of a flowing river and a healthy fruit bearing tree makes me think of openheartedness. Jesus used both these symbols for a vibrant life.
Great connections to scripture, Teresa, thank you. It makes me want to go back and mine other passages for ways Jesus may have been speaking of an open vs closed heart. Thank you for the inspiration!
When I hear the word openhearted, I feel hopeful. It gives a positive, other-centered focus to my ongoing work on my inner self. Instead of trying to stop doing or being something, keeping my heart open feels not only doable, but something I want to do, am eager to do. And to be a person with an open heart assumes it is open toward others. It is not just part of a self-improvement project; it is a way of being in the world toward people. It takes the focus off myself and emphasizes my connection with others. At the same time, the first person to open my heart to is myself. What a lovely way to approach introspection. My current daily thought is: "Seek the heart of God," knowing that there is where I will find the infinitely open heart to embrace and sustain me in my desire to keep my heart open to myself and others.
I'm a little blown away by this reflection, Brenda. It had not occurred to me that the practice of openheartedness is a beautiful intersection of self-help and other-care, but it's quite true. It takes a certain interiority to open up, but then everyone is blessed by the opening. Thank you for this, and for your daily mantra.
First of all, congratulations on your new book that is going to be published in 2026. I will be looking forward to reading it.
Second. How do I view openheartedness? As I thought about it, I was taken back to the Serenity Prayer in its entirety. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is and not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next. Amen
On my own, I cannot be openhearted, but as I trust Him, I can accept all circumstances and all people with an open heart because I am open to Him.
Thank you, Ginny, I can't wait for you to read it!
And thank you for the connection to the Serenity Prayer. It's a lovely parallel, and I was struck by your phrase, "as it is and not as I would have it." The acceptance of circumstance, tempered by the challenge to change what is ours to change, but no more. Thanks again!
I love the tie-in to Michael Singer's work. Reading that quote again was an excellent reminder that I will carry with me. One thing I see a lot in myself as well as my clients, friends and family members is that keeping one's heart open toward oneself may be the most difficult thing of all.
Being still….no judgement or expectations….. Trusting God’s plan.
Yes, I can feel the peacefulness of that. The patience. The unhurried willingness to let it be what it is and to have faith that it will be okay. Thank you, Patti.
I'm excited for your next book! I know that when my heart is most open, I'm more grateful. It's symbiotic somehow--the more I practice gratitude, the more open my heart is and the more open my heart is, the more grateful I am. An open heart is receptive and I feel I have more compassion for the people who cross my path.
Thanks, Lisa! And thanks for naming the synergistic nature of openheartedness and gratitude. I feel like openheartedness and laughter are the same way. I wonder what else happens to be in that synergistic relationship with openheartedness? All are welcome to weigh in with ideas!
I'm excited for your book on Openheartedness! Looking forward to leading a reflection group in my church.
Todd, that is music to this author's ears. I offered virtual author appearances for book clubs reading my last book. Considering the same this time. If so, I'd love to coordinate something!
I’ve been focused on the words “integral” and “proud” lately. I’m trying to take back the word proud to its purest form and to not tangle it up with ego, shame, or guilt. I’m proud of you Kelly and it’s been so cool to see the initial stages of your open heartedness journey to where you are now. The impact you have made on me I’ve felt in my core. I’ve been unpacking what is integral to me. When I feel in my body and aligned with my core I feel what I think it means to have integrity, because I’m focusing on what is integral to me. I think the next step/focus for me is open heartedness and allowing my true self to interact with everything it comes into contact with. Good luck on your retreat and again very proud of you my friend!
Aw, Mitch, I really appreciate that. I receive it.
As a words guy, I have to tell you the connection between "integral" and "integrity" is not one I've thought of before, but it speaks to me. I'll be doing some digging on Latin roots. I love your attention to it.
Also, that's a pretty amazing definition of openheartedness: "allowing my true self to interact with everything it comes into contact with." Thank you!
I’ve spent some time plumbing integral and integrity and for me it’s captured in the word “one”. When my inside world and my outside world are in harmony-are one. And further, when my world and the world around me are connected, they become one, or rather whole.
What shows up for me in the open hearted conversation Kelly, is that if we are to connect ourselves - from our core to the world around us - we must do so by opening ourselves up. Not our brains, but our hearts. And because that’s so scary, we close parts of ourselves off, and/or meet the world outside ourselves with our heads, not our hearts.
One practice I have for doing this - in a world where people are polarized by differences is to ask another “to tell me about something or someone they love”. Everybody loves something. And to hear what they describe, my heart can be touched by their heart. We may have completely different views of the world, beliefs, etc - but to hear what somebody loves connects me to their act of loving, which contributes to our becoming “one” in that moment.
Ok - my apologies for the short riff - Mitchell, thank YOU for stimulating it 🙏❤️ and Kelly - for all that you are. 🙏❤️
Presence. Flexibility. Willingness. Listening, perceiving, noticing.
Thank you, Nancy. I notice how presence, listening, perceiving, and noticing all sort of cluster together in awareness. Willingness is maybe a prerequisite. Flexibility perhaps the reward.
Kelly, Yet again your writing has supported the opening of my heart.
So much so that tears fill my eyes. As I allow the tears to bubble up, I notice that I can't see straight anymore.
Then the words on my screen disappear behind the tears. My eyes close because what's the point in having them open if they don't see the truth of what's in front of them.
And then I chuckle as I hear God say, "now you're getting it kid".
Peace envelopes me.
I feel that peace too, when you share those words. Perhaps thinking we see something clearly prevents us from seeing it openly.
The first thing that comes to mind for me is courage. And then I recall a practice I began a few months back where I envision embracing whatever situation I'm in (whether preferred or non-preferred) until it dissolves into me and I include it as myself. Perhaps this is my version of openheartedness. Thank you so much for this beautiful post. I look forward to your book!
That is a BEAUTIFUL image of openheartedness, Jenna, thank you for sharing it with us!
With regard to courage, I just came across this quote yesterday by David Whyte: "To be courageous is not necessarily to go anywhere or to do anything, but to make conscious those things we already feel deeply."
Oh wow, what a gorgeous quote! 💖
What comes to mind thinking of open-hearted living is that it requires us to first and foremost love ourselves in our truest, most authentic form.
Also...once again you're right on time. My morning coffee and self-care choice was a video on self-actualization. I've been actively working on some things after navigating difficult times. I'm realizing there are more than a few spiritual awakenings as we experience the ebb and flow of this thing called life.
I'm glad there was some synchronicity again with your spiritual journey, Nicole! And I think you're right on when you note that openheartedness requires our own interior journey before we can truly offer it to others.
Willingness to experience, not only to learn and be influenced by an experience but also to potentially embrace it and delve deep into what an experience has to teach you.
I was struck by you introducing that season with a physical injury. I had a recent injury to my hip suddenly while playing tennis a little too aggressively LOL. Beyond it being a little too poetic turning 40 and almost needing a cane, the experience right now is teaching me a lot about mindset, patience, and embracing a literal slow next season, in what is my busiest season professionally and personally.
You had me at "willingness to experience."
It sounds to me like you're already practicing some openheartedness with regard to your injury and current limitations, Kristin. While I celebrate the spiritual growth that is entailing for you, I also hope you recover as quickly as possible! 😊
Thanks Mr Kelly
I struggle to keep my heart open toward a person in my community whose attitudes and words have wounded several people I love, causing them to leave the community. But that person is carrying a father-wound from their childhood. I want to feel love for this person, not just sloppy agape but actual open-hearted compassion. Kelly, you make this feasible. Can’t wait for your book. Shalom shalom.
"Sloppy agape." You always have a way with words, Michele.
It does feel like openheartedness, at its most fruitful, may be more like an intentional, working-man's agape. Blessings upon you as you do the work with that person in your community. Shalom.
When faced with a situation, event or person who has offended my ego, I step back and choose to see the offense with eyes of empathy. I realize my ego tries to protect me with pride, anger and resentment but through empathy can be taught to respond with forbearance, forgiveness and love. Choose love, always choose love.
Powerful, Mary. That choice between ego and empathy is exactly what we want to restore, as so many of us, myself included, are in the habit of racing through that window of choice, and may not even know it's there. Thanks for this excellent articulation of it!
I think of like Luke 6:45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Also John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Both the analogy of a flowing river and a healthy fruit bearing tree makes me think of openheartedness. Jesus used both these symbols for a vibrant life.
Great connections to scripture, Teresa, thank you. It makes me want to go back and mine other passages for ways Jesus may have been speaking of an open vs closed heart. Thank you for the inspiration!
When I hear the word openhearted, I feel hopeful. It gives a positive, other-centered focus to my ongoing work on my inner self. Instead of trying to stop doing or being something, keeping my heart open feels not only doable, but something I want to do, am eager to do. And to be a person with an open heart assumes it is open toward others. It is not just part of a self-improvement project; it is a way of being in the world toward people. It takes the focus off myself and emphasizes my connection with others. At the same time, the first person to open my heart to is myself. What a lovely way to approach introspection. My current daily thought is: "Seek the heart of God," knowing that there is where I will find the infinitely open heart to embrace and sustain me in my desire to keep my heart open to myself and others.
I'm a little blown away by this reflection, Brenda. It had not occurred to me that the practice of openheartedness is a beautiful intersection of self-help and other-care, but it's quite true. It takes a certain interiority to open up, but then everyone is blessed by the opening. Thank you for this, and for your daily mantra.
Joy
So true, especially in the contrast of joy and happiness I often think about. Thank you, Susan!
First of all, congratulations on your new book that is going to be published in 2026. I will be looking forward to reading it.
Second. How do I view openheartedness? As I thought about it, I was taken back to the Serenity Prayer in its entirety. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is and not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next. Amen
On my own, I cannot be openhearted, but as I trust Him, I can accept all circumstances and all people with an open heart because I am open to Him.
Thank you, Ginny, I can't wait for you to read it!
And thank you for the connection to the Serenity Prayer. It's a lovely parallel, and I was struck by your phrase, "as it is and not as I would have it." The acceptance of circumstance, tempered by the challenge to change what is ours to change, but no more. Thanks again!
Those weren't my words; they are part of the same prayer that was written long ago by, I think, Reinhold Niebuhr.
I love the tie-in to Michael Singer's work. Reading that quote again was an excellent reminder that I will carry with me. One thing I see a lot in myself as well as my clients, friends and family members is that keeping one's heart open toward oneself may be the most difficult thing of all.
Glad to hear Micky Singer's quote is a favorite of yours, too, Victoria.
And I think you're right on, the interior practice of opening to oneself is how we prepare to open to others.