A Time When My Heart Was Open

In order to support wellbeing and happiness, it is important to have a peaceful heart; even if you are experiencing problems. Your abilities and strength which make you stable and safe have some association with loving and knowing yourself. In Kinyarwanda we say akari ku mutima gasesekara ku munwa meaning ‘what is in the heart is said from the mouth’. We use this proverb to show that when you are happy everyone will see that you are happy and when you are unhappy everyone will see you as unhappy.

This exercise will give you an opportunity to remember a time when you felt safe and at peace; a time when your heart felt open. This is a reflective exercise and doesn’t require any materials.

Time to complete: 10 minutes

Note: This exercise can be done in pairs or small groups.

Step 1: Find a comfortable space and take a moment to relax.

Step 2: Think about a moment in time when you felt peace and calm. Aim to pick one memory that gave you a calm and peaceful experience.

Step 3:  Play the following audio clip and close your eyes.

Step 4: Open your eyes and take a moment to reflect on the meditation.

Step 5: You may want to write down some of the feelings you experienced during the exercise or to share with a friend or peer from your group.