“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”  ~ Rumi

We all build walls around our hearts.

Usually, we’re not even aware of it — we’re just trying to protect some part of our being that feels like it could use a break.

Sometimes we call this “setting boundaries.” Sometimes we even think of it as self-care (note: for a true self-care technique, see below).

But I have to side with Rumi here. While the heart does need a bandage from time to time, when that hardens into stone, we no longer have protection — we have a problem.

Often what we think is protecting us is, in reality, just blocking something beautiful. (click to share)

Just let that sink in.

Take a deep breath and think about a “protective” wall you maintain. Is it doing its job? If not, could you save some of your precious energy reserves by bringing it down?

Yeah, me too.

• Breathe.
• Once you feel yourself you’re stacking up stones around your heart, practice mindful awareness and visualize. See their weight, their gray surface, their edges.
• Stop, and be still with them. Resist the temptation to protect, to judge.
• Keep breathing.
• Slowly see each stone turning to sand, collecting softly at your feet, as you stand (or sit) with a tall spine, relaxed shoulders and a gentle, strong, steady heartbeat.
• Let yourself rest in the safety of the new space you’ve created inside your body.
• Yep, breathe.