
Wholehearted Connections Begin Within
So many of us push difficult emotions aside. As a result, we shut down or have our guard up around other people.
The quote below from Pema Chödrön is an excellent reminder of why staying in touch with our feelings is essential to connecting with another person deeply.
“To relate with others compassionately is a challenge. Really communicating to the heart and being there for someone else – our child, spouse, parent, client, patient, or the homeless woman on the street – means not shutting down on that person, which means, first of all, not shutting down on ourselves. This means allowing ourselves to feel what we feel and not pushing it away. It means accepting every aspect of ourselves, even the parts we don’t like.”
When we can accept our whole selves, we can accept and empathize with others around us. Our vulnerabilities are what make us unique. It can be a powerful tool to connect with others.

