There is a concept that is closely associated with mindfulness and should be practiced alongside mindful techniques. This is the concept of heartfulness, or the ability to meditate on the heart, on strong emotions within, and to feel and show compassion and empathy toward others.
Those who have ego-centric behavioral disorders, such as narcissistic personality disorder and other closely associated cluster B personality disorders, as well as those diagnosed as sociopathic or psychopathic, are not able to feel empathy toward others. They are entirely self-involved and unable to look beyond their own needs to identify when others need help. In other words, they are inherently ego-centric rather than others-centric.
However, the majority of individuals are able to practice techniques that will help them understand what, in the heart, is driving their emotional state of mind and how they can reach others. We listen to our heart when making decisions and allow it to guide us when practicing heartfulness.
There are a number of heartful meditations that can help an individual dig deep inside and garner the energy necessary to better understand oneself and the surrounding world, while considering the emotions of other people. With practice, a sense of calm is induced within. This leads to better concentration, self-reflection, and better interactions with others.
Some consider the practice of heartfulness and heartful meditation a scientific approach to spirituality. This is a spiritual practice that relies on the ability to harness our own internal positivity and transmit this to the world around us. By being able to control the heart, along with the mind through mindful meditation, we are simply accessing another piece of self to elevate us to a new state of being. We are not only connecting with this piece in our healing journey but using it to emit positivity to those we encounter along the way.
When we access this inner positivity, we can begin to share it with the world. We will be better able to feel and show compassion toward others. We will recognize when others make us sad, angry, fearful, happy, joyful, or content. Then, by separating the energies of others into each compartment, we will recognize what we can do to build balance.
If, for instance, someone has made us very angry in the traumatic state and we continue to harness this energy well into the post-traumatic aftermath, instead of constantly acting on this emotion and allowing resentment to overtake our heart, we can learn to channel this energy and act more positively. We might choose to pray for this individual to heal. And, in doing so, we, too, heal from the energy they’ve projected onto us. We do not allow resentment to hold us prisoner.
Heartfulness, like mindfulness, takes time and practice to master. It takes a total commitment to self and to healing, and a drive to better our lives one step at a time. When it is mastered, it becomes a useful tool for ensuring we move forward into a brighter future. Heartfulness and mindfulness work together to allow us to be the best version of ourselves possible.