Greatness of Heart

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BY: T. Franklin Murphy | June 2018

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Greatness of heart is being kind to the world, extending beyond our own boundaries, with empathetic understanding to others.

Our hearts beat moving life-giving blood through the organs, feeding them with nutrients and oxygen. When the flow stops, the organs die, killing the host. The heart, literally and metaphorically, is essential to life—of the individual and the society. We live in demanding environments; our well-being depends on a constant flow of energy feeding the mind and refueling disciplines. Without the flow of energy, we quickly deplete and succumb to surrounding demands.

Tender Kindness

Tender kindness and compassion metaphorically flow from the heart. Self-directed kindness lessons the impacts of the constant attack on our stability. We tend to engage in an unwinnable war with ourselves, attacking our feelings, thoughts, and actions.

We judge ourselves as flawed and continually demand perfection. The battle within drains precious resources that could be directed towards the opposing outside forces. We need tenderness. We can compassionately attend to inner conflicts with compassion, releasing the demonizing judgments that tear down our self-image, and engage in a gory war we cannot win.

Kindness with Others

Self-directed kindness is only the beginning. Our spiritual practices nurture much greater results than compassion with the self. Greatness of heart extends beyond the boundaries of self. Greatness of heart beats, pushing life giving energy to the surrounding world.

Spiritual evolved person is no longer confined to the pettiness of self; but her heart has enlarged, feeding others. Greatness of heart isn’t achieved through forced compliance but simple progressions of loving kindness, recognizing our shared emotions and histories with all.

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."
Saint Basil

Difficult Lives and Selfishness

Difficult lives tend to suck us inward, directing attention to our own turbulent emotions. This survival mechanism of selfishness serves a purpose but easily morphs into a limited existence as we deepen the divide between ourselves and the richness of the world surrounding us. Oddly, careful attention to expanding our connections, giving kindness to others, and widening our perspective, we lighten the impact of our painful emotions.

As we serve, and kindly respect human life—from the homeless, to the drug addicted, and even the self-absorbed politicians—we beat the life-giving love so desperately needed in the expanding loneliness of our times. With greatness of heart, we change; and subsequently we change the world.

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A wave of pop psychology, suggesting happiness is paramount,often neglects the importance of others. We can improve the feeling states. But science is clear, rich and fulfilling lives include healthy connections with others.

Emotions can be powerful--so powerful we may avoid them and the people expressing them. Empathy is gained through openness to experience, one on one contact with the feeling experience of others.

A Flourishing Life Society article link. Gestalt Prayer

Five Life Changing Wellness Discoveries. A Flourishing Life Society article link

Example of Kindness. A Flourishing Life Society article link

We need connections; but the world doesn't need vaguely hidden intentions. We need soul felt kindness.

FLS Links. Dislike: Our Autonomous Right. We want to be accepted; but to establish boundaries of ethics, and personality, we will rub some other people wrong. Liking isn't necessary to respect.

Internal FLS link. Victim Consciousness: We learn patterns of engagement. Transactional Analysis defines many of these patterns, giving greater clarity to misguided human transactions. The perpetual victim often overlooks avenues of escape, relying on superficial support for strokes of attention. We can recognize these patterns and provide a more healing response.

FLS Link. Patronizing Toleration: Toleration is better than discrimination. However, toleration suggests refraining from acting on objectionable differences. We can do better.

FLS link. Mean People. Why are People so Mean?

They Deserve the Pain; Learning from Others. A Flourishing Life Society article image link

A Flourishing Life Society article link. Legacy of Love

Greatness of Heart. Expressing Compassionate Kindness. A Flourishing Life Society image link