We all want more of something—more time, more space, more love. And wanting is a good thing. But to truly get what we want, our focus should shift from asking for what we want to reflecting on how much we are truly allowing the things we want into our lives.
One of the best ways to tune in to your ability to allow more of what you want into your life is to ascertain how open your heart is. Many of us unknowingly go through life with what I refer to as “closed heart syndrome.” When our hearts are closed, we cannot express our full potential, and, therefore, we limit what we allow into our lives. We limit our careers, our personal relationships, our health, and our overall wellness.
Let me explain. As a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I am trained to see how your emotions play a very significant role in your entire scope of wellness—from your physical health to your mental health to all the ways your life is unfolding. And when it comes to closed heart syndrome, there is an emotional block in your heart that holds you back from all you want in life. From a TCM perspective, the heart houses your spirit, which is seen as the essence of your authentic self. When your heart is flowing, open, and free of emotional woes, it provides a sacred, warm, and welcoming space for your spirit to reside. And, when your spirit is happily housed in your heart, your full potential is capable of being expressed and you are allowing all of your desires into your life.
When our hearts are closed, we cannot express our full potential, and, therefore, we limit what we allow into our lives.
However, when there are, as I like to say in practice, kinks in the system—unexpressed emotions, resistance, worry, fear, trauma—the heart becomes rigid and closed. It loses its luster and therefore the spirit, losing not only its zest for life but also becoming homeless, restless, and unable to authentically express itself. It is in this space that we are left with a disconnect between the heart and the spirit, and closed heart syndrome ensues.
How do you know if you have closed heart syndrome? It’s quite simple: Are you experiencing your true desires in life, or are you in a state of frustrated wanting? We all hover in and out of our hearts being truly open, so don’t be hard on yourself. But, do take some time and tune in to your heart center and gauge its openness. Ask yourself: Is joy more predominant than fear; love more than dislike; satisfaction more than discontent; appreciation more than frustration?
In the clinic I see how closed heart syndrome affects almost every area of a person’s wellness—whether it’s someone who is trying to have a baby, seeking their lover, wanting freedom from disease or pain, or needing better sleep or healthier digestion—our emotional blocks prevent our wellness. The bottom line is to fully allow your spirit to express itself, you must have more love, joy and appreciation in your heart. To open your heart, focus more on what you love and appreciate about your life and less on what you don’t have or what frustrates you. You have the choice to free yourself of the emotional burdens you are holding onto. Let go, choose love, and let your spirit soar.
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Author, acupuncturist and herbalist Aimee Raupp is a women’s health and fertility expert. Her mission is to educate and inspire women, improve their health, celebrate their beauty, prevent disease as well as increase their fertility. Aimee helps her clients reconnect to the presence of their optimal health. Aimee holds a Master of Science degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and a Bachelor’s degree in biology from Rutgers University.
Aimee is the author of Chill Out And Get Healthy (Penguin, 2009) and Yes, You Can Get Pregnant: How to Improve Your Fertility Now & Into Your 40s (Demos Health, June 2014), which was endorsed by Deepak Chopra.