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Health & Fitness

Keeping an Open-Mind, And An Open-Heart...

     Sometimes, when we experience 'hurt', inflicted by others, or, situations, which, occur, in our lives, we, out of a need to protect ourselves, and, insulate our hearts against, any, future, 'disappointments', can allow ourselves to 'harden'; we can convince ourselves, that, we are 'better off' without others, as to keep ourselves 'safe' and, 'invulnerable'. To some, degree, this need for 'self-preservation' is understood, and, depending on the severity of the incident(s), which lead one down such a path, can be essential to our, natural need to feel 'safe'. Our brains are capable of providing us with a 'safety-net' when our emotional, well-being, is 'at stake', and, for our, own, 'survival' enables us to 'block-out', bury, and, sometimes, altogether, 'forget' the 'trauma' we have experienced; yet, the feelings, associated to and with such events, are always, there, still, roiling 'below the surface, and, impacting on our choices, especially, with respect to issues of 'trust'; And, as much we may try to 'avoid' the impact of doing such, the negative and residual, damaging-effect(s) of past, hurts and disappointments, will not go away til dealt with. Most, frequently, the only, successful way to regain one's ability to trust in others is to just, 'go for it'...give yourself the opportunity to 'try'. If there still exists 'emotional-baggage' to deal with, believe me...it'll surface; and, it is in these, moments and experiences, when this occurs, that, we are 'reminded' that there is still 'work' to do, to aid ourselves in getting back to an ability to let others in. Healing is not linear, we do not begin at 'point A, and, get to 'point Z, without things 'circling-back around, and...it is a lifelong process. Each time we endeavor an 'opportunity' to engage in a situation, which requires a trusting-nature, if, STILL there, our, emotional, 'stuff' WILL come up; with each of these, moments a chance to 'peel-away' another, 'layer' of our 'wounded-self'. Hardening one's heart against the potential for pain and disappointment is nature's way of protecting a soul; but, allowing one's -self to 'live and learn' and move forward, with an 'open-heart' is the only way to go...and, grow. Just Sayin'...

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