As you are practicing enjoy the moment now and also manifesting things for the future, keep an open heart. This is not as easy as it sounds. The heart is very perceptive, and as such it will close down to protect itself. If you are expending too much attention outward or if you are being overloaded with too much needy attention, the heart will become blocked. Allow for that to happen, when you notice it's necessary. Sometimes you do need to protect yourself from others' energy. Learn, too, how to open your heart at times when it will serve you.

Loving Your Friends

Friendship can be the most valuable treasure in the world. They are your mirrors. Your friends mirror your good qualities back to you and also mirror the qualities about you that are difficult. The good thing about true friends is that they have your best interest at heart, and you have theirs. In real friendship, you don't mean to hurt each other, though sometimes it will happen. One of the best things you can do is, if your friend does hurt you in the same way several times, try to find the most gentle way to discuss it. This could be enlightening for your friend, and healing for you. This is a tricky thing, though. You must come to the conversation with an open and gentle heart, even though you are feeling hurt and possibly closed off. If you know your friend doesn't mean to hurt you, before talking to your friend about what's hurting you check these points

• Tell your friend you want to set aside some time to talk about something important to you, time when you both can relax and have a talk.

• Journal ahead of time about how you are feeling, get it all out on paper.

• Practice Nadi Shodhana for ten to fifteen minutes.

• Now write down the conversation you would like to have: precisely what he did, simply; precisely, how it made you feel; and precisely what you think he could do differently.

• Be open to the fact that he might have an adverse reaction to your comments.

• Send loving thoughts from your Heart Chakra to your friend, before having the conversation.

This might sound like more preparation than you are used to for having a talk, but friendships can be sensitive because both people are usually doing the best they can in the relationship. Especially if they care about you, your friends won't feel good hearing they have hurt you or let you down. With time, hopefully you and your friends will understand that these talks are meant to bring you closer, not tear you apart. Of course, this won't work with all friends. Some friendships cannot withstand this kind of authenticity, and you'll have to decide if those are friendships that work for you.

Wishing Happiness for All Beings

Truly wishing happiness for all beings can take practice. There's a special kind of meditation that is used for cultivating this ability. It's called metta meditation. There are variations, but in general this is how you practice metta:

1. Sit in a comfortable, seated position for meditation.

2. Close your eyes, follow your breath as it goes in and out several times.

3. Say this to yourself: “May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I know peace.”

4. Bring to mind someone you love dearly. Hold this person in your mind's eye. Repeat the same wish: “May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you know peace.”

5. Bring to mind someone who is an acquaintance whom you have good feelings toward, and don't know very well. Perhaps it's someone who works in the same building as you or the person at the post office who always helps you mail your packages. Hold this person in your mind's eye, and say: “May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you know peace.”

6. Now repeat this for all beings: “May all beings be happy. May all beings be healthy. May all beings know peace.” When you are finished, open your eyes

Once you have become accustomed to doing metta mediation with sincerity there is a step to add. Before you repeat the wish for all beings, call to mind someone with whom you have a conflict. Hold that person in your mind's eye, and send him or her the same wish: “May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you know peace.” Then, for the last wish, do it for all beings.

When you are truly able to wish everyone peace and happiness, even those with whom you feel conflict, you sincerely know that they, too, have struggles. Even if you have trouble getting along with someone else, you can feel compassion for the light within him. There is a way to believe that he is doing the best he can, and because of how he is acting, he is struggling.

When you practice metta you are balancing your Heart Chakra, and as the effects of metta transform you, you are connected to the feeling of oneness of all that is. That's the space to be in as you create your path.