My favorite poem is The Guest House by Rumi:
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
— Jelaluddin Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks
When we are able to accept and feel all of the emotions that come into our lives we find our path to freedom.
It is not a process that comes easy. It is in our nature to resist feelings of pain and suffering. The old adage of what we resist persists proves true however. We must learn to embrace all of our feelings if we want to have the freedom that comes from living with an open heart. We must allow the energy these feelings carry to work its way through us.
Often people or events in our daily lives trigger pain and heartache that has been long since locked away in our psyche.
When these feelings are accepted and welcomed rather than resisted they are able to release their hold on our hearts.
If we close our hearts to fear, anxiety, anger, or sorrow then we also are choosing to close our hearts to joy, peace, love, and happiness. Keeping an open heart means all of the feelings and thoughts that come our way are welcome teachers.
From a grounded seat of conscious self-awareness we are able to fully embrace the lessons these feelings bring.
So why not surrender to whatever the day brings your way with an open loving heart and an attitude of wonder?
In the end, all you have to lose by living this way is the barriers to your bliss. That sounds like a welcome invitation to me.