Is Your Heart Open?

by Laurie Richardone

Have you ever had one of those moments where you’re doing everything right, setting clear intentions, showing up with all your heart, and yet, something still feels just out of reach, like your desires are hanging in the air, so close, but not quite landing?

I’ve been sitting with that space between wanting and receiving, and a conversation with a friend brought it into sharper focus. He didn’t ask me what I wanted or if I wanted it; he asked if I was genuinely open to receiving it.

That got me thinking. What does it mean to have an open heart?

Spiritually, the heart is our portal to the divine. Psychologically, it’s where healing, connection, and personal truth begin. But the heart can close subtly, through disappointment, fear, or even the quiet voice of self-protection.

And it’s not just a metaphor—there’s science behind it.

Studies in heart coherence have shown that when we are in a state of gratitude, love, or compassion, our heart rhythms become more harmonious, which has a positive effect on the brain and nervous system.

It’s as if the heart isn’t just responding to our inner world, it’s guiding it.

In that sense, an open heart isn’t just about emotional vulnerability—it’s the gateway to intuition and true alignment with our purpose.

So what we’re really asking: Are you available for the fullness of life? Let’s explore how we notice when our heart is open, what blocks it, and practices that help us return to this sacred center.

Let’s examine a few ways the heart can close: Past Hurt and Unresolved Grief, Control and Perfectionism, and Trauma (Personal or ancestral). These experiences and emotions can quietly lead us to build walls around our hearts.

We do it to protect ourselves, but over time, it can also prevent us from experiencing love and connection.

Now that we have identified how we close off our hearts, how can we begin to open them?

Find a quiet space. Place one hand over your heart and the other on your belly. Close your eyes. Take three slow, intentional breaths. Gently ask yourself: “What am I holding in my heart right now?” Just notice.

No judgment. Maybe it’s love, perhaps it’s grief, maybe it’s a longing you haven’t spoken aloud. Next, whisper silently, “I soften. I allow. I open.”

Let your breath move in and out of the heart space, imagining it as a warm light expanding with every exhale.

To finish, place a simple intention in your heart: “May I be open to giving and receiving love, just as I am.” Remember, an open heart doesn’t mean never getting hurt; it means choosing to stay soft, even when it would be easier to shut down. “It’s about trusting that what is meant for you will find you when you are open and willing to receive it.”

I invite you to carry this simple awareness into the rest of your day: Is your heart open, not just to love, to joy, to the life that’s unfolding in this very moment?

Wishing you all your heart’s desires

If you are a curious person or cook join me on my Podcast- A Taste for All Seasons

Listen to the latest episode - Is Your Heart Open.

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Laurie Richardone is a seasonal chef, teacher of gluten-free cooking, and Wellness Coach

To work with Laurie, visit LaurieRichardone.com/contact