Open Your Soul
Emily Dickinson said, “The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” My soul isn’t just ajar—it’s wide open, and there’s a big freaking welcome mat out front. So come on in, pull up a chair, and say “Hi.”
It’s funny how easy it is to keep our walls up. We convince ourselves it’s safer that way, that by keeping our souls closed we can avoid heartbreak, disappointment, or rejection. But when we do that, we also shut out connection, joy, and growth. Life isn’t meant to be lived behind a locked door. The moment you open your soul, even just a little, you start to feel life moving through you again.
Think about the last time you met someone new and felt an instant connection—the kind where conversation flows like you’ve known them forever. That’s what happens when you open your soul. You let your energy meet theirs, and 
something shifts. You learn. You grow. You feel more alive. Sometimes it’s fleeting, sometimes it lasts a lifetime, but either way, it leaves an imprint.
Of course, opening up isn’t always comfortable. There’s vulnerability in it, and vulnerability can be terrifying. You might get hurt. You might face rejection. But the truth is, you’ll survive those moments—and you’ll come out stronger for having lived them. When you open your soul to the world, you also open yourself to resilience. You learn what it means to stand tall even when life knocks you sideways.
Our experiences—both beautiful and painful—are what shape us into the people we’re meant to become. Every heartbreak, every friendship, every small act of kindness adds another brushstroke to the portrait of your soul. If you stay closed, your story never expands. But when you open your soul, you give life permission to paint something extraordinary.
Start small. Maybe you share a piece of your story with someone you trust. Maybe you say yes to an opportunity that scares you. Maybe you simply look up from your phone and meet someone’s eyes instead of rushing past. These are the little cracks that let the light in. And once it’s there, that light begins to spread—within you and around you.
When you open your soul, you stop waiting for “someday” and start living in the now. You realize that people, with all their quirks and complexities, are what make life rich and meaningful. You find beauty in imperfection, strength in softness, and purpose in connection. You don’t have to be fearless—you just have to be willing.
So today, leave the door open. Let the world see your heart, your humor, your messy, marvelous self. Life’s best gifts are waiting right outside that door, knocking softly and hoping you’ll answer.
Need a little reminder to look for joy when things get rough? Check out When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemon Meringue Pie for a lighthearted take on finding sweetness in sour moments.
And if you’d like to explore more about spiritual openness, this article from Psychology Today dives into how vulnerability helps us heal, connect, and thrive.
So go ahead—open your soul wide. Let the light in, and then let it spill right back out into the world.
