Recently my three-year-old grandson advised a family member who was feeling lonely, “Listen to your heart. It will speak to you.” A profound truth, it seems to me. Today when I sat for meditation I decided to try listening to my heart. It was a wonderful experience. What I “heard” was softness. In the mental health technique of Focusing, the term “felt sense” is used. So I felt into the softness and sweet memories began to flood me. Feelings of love - loving and being love. I continued to meditate on this feeling in my heart. A great way to begin the day!

Photo by contributor Susan Scott Morales

For me one of the biggest changes that has come from meditating is feeling loved. I used to know I was loved, but it was hard to accept it. I struggled with experiencing it, fully receiving it. I’ve been reading the book Will Yoga & Meditation really change my life? (edited by Stephen Cope.) It’s a compilation of stories from leading yoga & meditation teachers around North America. Over and over a similar theme appears: compassion. It seems the more we feel loved, the more love we have to give.

This month I’ll be focusing on meditating on the heart. So I invite you to take the journey with me. If you’d like to dive deep into the experience right now, there’s a great book to accompany you, The Heart of Meditation by Swami Durgananda (Sally Kempton.) This book is rich with stories and techniques and clear tips on going deeper into your practice.

As a mental health professional, an owner of a fitness studio, a writer and a wife, mother and grandmother, I have found meditation to be helpful in every aspect of my life. Let's talk... My novel, A Barroom View of Love, is in an online contest. To watch the video pitch and vote go to nexttopauthor.com/?aid=580 You can also contact me at susanmmorales@yahoo.com or check out my websites: susanscottmorales.com and bodiesinbalancefitness.com