Our Heart

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." ~ Helen Keller

Have you ever felt a heartbreak? A break so intense that your heart shatters into a million pieces, and your whole body succumbs to its need for comfort? Our heart is the primary receptor and indicator of how we feel about a person, a situation, or an experience. This is why many phrases and quotes refer back to our heart's innate function, such as "Do not take it too to heart," "I wear my heart on my sleeve," "My heart aches," "This experience is heartwarming," "You have touched my heart," "Home is where the heart is," "That is heartbreaking to hear," "From the bottom of my heart," "Follow your heart," and "Put your heart into it."

Everything we do comes from our heart, for it is where love resides. The heart is the center of love and emotion. Moreover, it is a remarkable organ that tirelessly works for us every day of the year—365 days, 7 days a week—playing a crucial role in maintaining our health by providing the blood circulation necessary to keep our senses, organs, and entire body functioning optimally. Without the heart's continuous rhythm, our lives would not be possible, underscoring its vital importance to our overall well-being.

This single organ possesses limitless power to serve us, and the key essence is that we have one heart only. Experiencing heartbreak is a quintessential journey that everyone must undergo at least once in their lifetime. There is something transformative about heartbreak if we allow it to break us completely. Letting it break means allowing your heart to feel all the emotions deeply and thoroughly, without withholding or suppressing any of it. It requires shifting our focus to tend to our heart's needs instead of trying to rationalize our feelings with our minds. While this process may shatter your entire being, it is also the most crucial step in moving through heavy emotions.

When our heart is breaking, our body instinctively seeks to protect us. You may find it hard to focus, feeling a strong desire to retreat from your surroundings. Your sensitivity to what’s happening around you may heighten, and tears may well up in your eyes. Tears, triggered by intense emotions, can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to calm the body after stress. They play a critical role in regulating our emotions, releasing endorphins that provide a sense of relief or comfort.

Physically, your body may feel tired, prompting a need for more rest or sleep. You might find yourself wanting to curl up in a fetal position, seeking comfort. Additionally, your appetite may fluctuate—either increasing as you turn to food for emotional solace or decreasing as stress diminishes your desire to eat, impacting your body’s ability to function. All of these responses are natural processes that accompany heartbreak, reflecting the deep connection between our emotional and physical well-being.

Heartbreak is a natural part of grieving, which encompasses a range of complex emotions. We must learn to feel these emotions to understand what they are trying to communicate. Our powerful organ knows exactly what it needs to heal us if we allow it to connect with its natural process—and that process often involves letting it break. I used to see any ounce of pain as my enemy, doing everything to avoid it—numbing it with substances, distracting myself with positive podcasts, or rationalizing my feelings to get over them quickly. Little did I know that the simplest and most effective way to heal was to sit with my heavy emotions and allow my heart to break into a million pieces. I learned to let my tears drown out the words and just feel.

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” ~ Rumi

When our heart breaks, it is the outer layer that shields our true understanding, wisdom, and insights. The act of breaking is not intrusive; it is akin to discovering treasures by cracking open a shell. These treasures are often hidden in our vulnerabilities. To be vulnerable means to embrace our emotions, even when it’s difficult and disheartening. It takes courage to feel, even when we are scared of the pain that may arise.

When heartbreak occurs in your life, remember that it is happening for you. It is a gift from your heart, allowing you to break, no matter how many times it happens. Each heartbreak offers a lesson, and we must approach these gifts with grace and compassion, ready to reap the joy and wisdom they have to offer us.

With love,

AMA