By partnering heart and mind, we foster richer relationships, increase practical skills, and learn to like ourselves. We become more present; we are ourselves; it’s the art of living well.

Part one:

Decide which is your more dominant aspect, your heart’s warmth and compassion or your intellect’s practicality and problem-solving ability? 

Part two: Partnering heart and mind

Explore with the stronger of the two:

• Examine the value in this aspect of your self.
• See its role in your most important activities and relationships.
• Appreciate the gifts brought by this aspect of your self. 
• Now assess the weaker of the two:
  • If it were stronger, what practical changes would you make?
  • If it were stronger, how would you change would your relationships?

Part three: Partner heart and mind to feel good about yourself, to like yourself.

• With your heart’s compassion.
  • Look past your faults, shortcomings, and mistakes. Embrace your less than perfect self. 
  • You have lots of time for self-improvement, but liking yourself has nothing to do with self-improvement. See past your shortcomings, faults, and mistakes.
• Examine your strengths. 
  • Find the qualities that make you who you are
    • Your large and small successes 
    • Include your strivings
  • Honor and validate who you are and who you hope to be

Feel good about yourself. Stand in the present moment, ready for whatever life brings.   

Quotations

I have never met a person whose greatest need was anything other than real, unconditional love. It is the common fiber of life, the flame that heats our soul, energizes our spirit and supplies passion to our lives.

— Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

—Desmond Tutu

How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution toward introducing justice straightaway… And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!

— Anne Frank