Open-Hearted…

That is my word for 2025, open-hearted! At first, I chose more of a phrase. I thought about what I wanted to create this year and kept saying to myself, deep love and connection. Then, an amazing spiritual teacher said to me, “with an open heart, you can create deep love and connection.” That hit hard. That deep love and connection I crave in every part of my life is created through approaching everything with an open heart. Approaching my business, my friends, my family, my acquaintances, myself, all who I meet along my journey and the number one thing I would like to manifest this year, a loving partnership, from a place where gratitude, receivership and joy lead.

Many years ago, my word for the year was also open-hearted. I started to mull over what was different this time, did I want to use the same word? When I used it before, I was focused on opening my heart. Taking off the armor that had built up over the years. Allowing myself to finally love me and others fully. It was about no longer being closed off. It was about allowing for some love to enter. It was about no longer needing to be the hard ass I had conditioned myself to become. I wanted to be softer.

This time it is very different. My heart is open more than it has ever been. I have healed so many traumas and wounds and have allowed myself to become who I intentionally want to be. I use my voice differently than I ever have. I no longer care what anyone thinks of me, what I do, how I look, etc. I used to look for all of my acceptance and validation outside of myself. I worried about everyone’s reaction to me. I people-pleased constantly, not doing things I wanted, always doing what others did. I laughed at jokes that were mean-spirited and acted as if they were funny. I used so much self-deprecating humor, that I was tearing myself down all of the time. I wasn’t happy, I pretended to be happy. I was far from optimistic, always seeing the negative but thinking I was being realistic. I didn’t trust myself to make the best decisions and would ask a lot of people their thoughts first.

As I have healed the wounds that created those beliefs that I needed validation and acceptance from others more than myself, I have become much more comfortable with who I am. I am not everyone’s cup of tea, and I’m ok with that. I don’t try to be. I will not be phony and act like I like you just so other’s are comfortable. I also won’t be an asshole. I am not going to treat you poorly if I don’t like you, but I won’t act like we are friends. I will no longer go places where I am not comfortable being me. So, my open heart this year isn’t about me becoming more comfortable being me. It isn’t about me showing up in the fullest expression of who I am and accepting others as their full expression. It is about creating emotional safety for myself and others.

It is about me pouring my heart into things. It is about me receiving the love that is out there for me. It is about me having compassion and empathy for myself and others. It is about approaching my business, my family and friends, my spirituality from a place of love, compassion, gratitude and empathy. My heart is open to love you through anything you are going through. My heart is open to learning new things about myself, the universe, my spirit guides, my spirituality.

As I open my heart more I realize that I no longer need validation and acceptance from anyone. If someone doesn’t like me, that’s on them. My intentions are never to hurt anyone, including me. My open heart allows me to receive all the love around me. It allows me to see the world through a lens of love, purity, and joy. I refuse to see the ugly on a moment by moment basis. There is a lot of ugly surrounding us these days. I’m working to create more beauty around me.

Open-hearted. A focus on pouring that love into everything I do this year. What is your word for the year?