......................................... Anahata Chakra Overview
The Anahata Chakra is located at the heart center. It is locked by seeking attention from others constantly (attention need) and flowers when you express selfless love.
When our anahata chakra shrinks, we feel depressed and lacking in love and look to find love and attention in our interactions with other people. Their attention feeds us with the energy that we need. When the anahata is open, on the other hand, we feel that we are flowing with boundless love which spills over and fills everything we come in contact with. We feel fulfilled and blissful.
Unconsciously, almost everything we do is designed to get us attention. For example, when we buy something for ourselves, we look more at what kind of reaction we will get from our friends than the utility value of the article. In our interactions with our family, friends and partner, we are all the time seeking their approval. Only when they approve of us do we feel that we are worthy. We are not centered in ourselves, we depend on others' opinion of us.
When even one person withdraws his or her approval, we find ourselves feeling depressed. Our self-image is built upon the opinions of others. We build a house of cards out of the 'certificates of approval' which we are always after. If even one card of approval is removed, the whole house comes crashing down.
In our relationships, we constantly have expectations of others and how they should behave. This actually locks up energy which we could be using for our own growth.
Some couples constantly fight with each other. Why? Because it gives them the attention they crave. Attention is energy. Man can live without food for up to 3 months, but it has been shown that he can live without attention only for 14 days!
We are so used to relating in ways subconsciously designed to get attention, that we are not aware that most of our relationships are actually transactions. 'If I do this for you, you should do that for me.' This is not love; it is a business deal. And this is an unspoken statement playing its role in every relationship.
When we are looking for energy and attention from outside, we are actually centered in respect, not love. What constitutes respect is imposed by society. But when we are centered in love, we naturally earn respect as well.
As we become aware of our attention need through meditation and through a sincere desire to become centered in ourselves, we will begin to experience the flow of love emanating from our own being. We will have boundless energy and love.