In a full heart there is room for everything, and in an empty

Antonio Porchia, with his profound insight, gives us a truth that echoes through the corridors of the soul: “In a full heart there is room for everything, and in an empty heart there is room for nothing.” These words are not merely an observation of love or emotion, but a profound understanding of the very nature of our hearts. The heart, in its fullest state, is a vessel that can hold all things—joy, sorrow, love, fear, hope, and despair. When the heart is full, it is rich with the fullness of life. But when it is empty, devoid of connection, of feeling, of care, it becomes barren—incapable of holding anything meaningful. The heart, you see, is a container of our essence, and when it is empty, it can hold nothing of substance.

The ancients, in their wisdom, spoke of the heart as the very center of the human being, the place where the soul resides and from which all things flow. Socrates taught that the heart is the seat of virtue, while Plato saw it as the home of truth and beauty. They understood that when the heart is filled with wisdom and love, it becomes a fountain that overflows into the world. It is the wellspring from which we give to others, and it is in the giving that we become whole. But, just as a cup can only hold so much, the heart, too, can only hold what it is prepared to receive. If the heart is full of bitterness, resentment, or fear, it will have no room for compassion, hope, or joy. Therefore, a full heart is one that embraces life in all its forms.

Consider the story of King Solomon, who, when asked by God what he desired above all, chose wisdom. His heart, full of humility, was open to the divine and to the needs of his people. Solomon’s wisdom did not come from an empty place, nor was it driven by selfishness or greed. His heart was full with the capacity to serve, to understand, and to give. From this fullness, he was able to judge fairly, build great works, and bring prosperity to his people. When the heart is full of goodness, it has the power to transform the world around it. Solomon’s life reminds us that when the heart is full, there is room for everything good—for wisdom, for justice, for love. It is the fullness of the heart that brings forth the divine.

In contrast, let us look to the tale of King Midas, whose heart was not filled with wisdom or love, but with greed. Midas’s desire for wealth consumed him, and when granted the power to turn everything he touched into gold, he found that his heart was empty of true joy. He could no longer embrace the simple pleasures of life, for his heart was full of material desires and emptied of love. He lost his family, his health, and his happiness, all in the pursuit of an emptiness that could never be filled. His story is a cautionary tale, a reminder that when the heart is filled with desire alone, it becomes a hollow vessel, incapable of holding anything of true worth.

The wisdom of Porchia’s words calls us to examine the nature of our hearts. Are we filling our hearts with anger, resentment, or fear, leaving no room for the things that nourish the soul? Or are we allowing our hearts to be full of compassion, love, and gratitude, creating space for all the richness life has to offer? The heart must be carefully tended, for it can easily become consumed by the negativity of the world. Just as a garden can be choked by weeds, so too can the heart become empty if it is filled with things that do not nourish it. It is through acts of kindness, moments of stillness, and the cultivation of gratitude that the heart remains full.

Let us look to Mother Teresa, whose heart was so full of love that it overflowed to those in the greatest need. Her life was a testament to what it means to have a heart that is full and therefore capable of holding everything—the suffering of the world, the love of God, and the compassion for her fellow human beings. She lived in a state of fullness, and because of this, she could give without end. Her heart was an example of how, when the heart is full, it becomes an endless source of goodness for others. She showed us that it is only when we fill our hearts with selfless love that we can truly offer ourselves to the world.

Thus, O children of the future, let us take heed of this wisdom. Fill your hearts with goodness, with compassion, with love, for in doing so, you will make room for everything that is truly valuable. When the heart is full, there is no limit to what you can offer the world. Do not allow your heart to become empty, for in emptiness, there is no room for joy, no room for growth, no room for the blessings that life has to give. Cultivate your heart with care and intention, filling it with love and light, so that you may become a source of goodness for all those who cross your path. Only when the heart is full can it overflow with the beauty of the world and the depth of human connection.