This is a short guided practice. Tara Brach leads it with your eyes closed, so give yourself a few quiet minutes rather than listening on the move. It starts with an observation about when we get most stuck in our heads. Usually when we feel separate or threatened, she says. Those are the moments we lock into he shouldn't, I didn't, he couldn't, into defence and blame. Which is exactly when moving from head to heart is worth attempting. She asks you to settle first, feel your breath, and soften a little of the habitual tightness in the body. Then to bring to mind a difficult relationship, one where you get irritated or judgmental and feel that distance open up. Not something traumatic, she is careful to say, just something with friction in it. From there you watch your own mind: the thoughts about what is wrong with them, what ought to be different. The word should, she notes, is usually a flag that you are caught in your head. And however right these stories may be, they tend to reinforce separation, which makes them a kind of armour. Then the shift. Attention moves to the heart, helped by a slight smile that you let spread through your chest. Feel the breath there. Imagine that space as warm and tender and spacious. And then, gently, bring the person into it. What people often find is that where the thoughts created distance, something else appears. More aliveness, more openness. Experiencing that person not through your thinking about them, but from somewhere else entirely. Want to go deeper with Tara Brach? Join Sounds True One for more teachings like this. Get your first month FREE at https://bit.ly/4ctecMn Subscribe to Sounds True's YouTube Channel ► https://bit.ly/SubscribeSTYT Sounds True is a mission-driven learning and media company, and a recognized leader in wellbeing, personal growth, and spiritual transformation. Partnering with the world’s foremost wisdom teachers and best-selling authors, the company reaches millions worldwide with its unique programs, digital learning experiences, and worldwide events. The company also features a variety of original series, weekly shows, and live online experiences on Sounds True One, its global platform and community with members across more than 125 countries. Sounds True is a Public Benefit Corporation and also the home of the Sounds True Foundation. Connect with us: ▪️Facebook: http://bit.ly/2XFIIeE ▪️Instagram: http://bit.ly/2UlEoiH ▪️Website: http://bit.ly/2tOl02d