GOOD NEWS MONDAYS, Volume 6: The Heart has a Mind of its Own

“A global shift is under way and more people are sensing it involves a deeper connection with the heart.”

What if I said you could improve focus by 24%, sleep by 30% and become 38% calmer while reducing anxiety by 46%, fatigue by 48% and depression by 56% in just 5 minutes a day? Would you believe it?

The really good news is that it’s true and there is science to back it up. The quote above comes from HeartMath, an institute founded in 1991 by Doctor Childre who has been researching the “extracurricular” activities of the human heart. I encourage you to read their story.

We all know the heart is the pump that circulates blood throughout the body. But did you know that the heart has a magnetic field that extends for feet, and perhaps hundreds of yards beyond the body? Not only that, there are about 40,000 brain cells in the heart. Yes, the heart has a mind of its own, and research at HeartMath has proved it.

It turns out that the heart sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends down to the heart. Unfortunately for most of us, the brain is too busy with conditioned thinking to hear the heart. (Interesting that “hear” is 80% of the word heart.) Dr. Childre discovered a simple technique to bring the brain and the heart into what he calls “Coherence,” producing increased inner harmony, a greater ability to process emotions, and higher cognitive functioning.

“During stress and negative emotions, when the heart rhythm pattern is erratic and disordered, the corresponding pattern of neural signals traveling from the heart to the brain inhibits higher cognitive functions. This limits our ability to think clearly, remember, learn, reason, and make effective decisions.”

For a summary of the benefits of Inner Balance, check out the video under the heading “Take Charge of How You Feel.” For a full explanation of how this works, see the “Science” section  of their website and learn about heart rate variability, the key to good health and longevity.

Don’t be put off by the word “science.” It’s easy to understand and has the power to change your life. Imagine proceeding through your day calm, centered, alert, unphased by pressure, upsets, problems and chaos. Imagine radiating your inner harmony into your environment, touching every stressed person around you! Inner peace is only 5 minutes away!

The technique is simple. Begin by closing your eyes and slowing down your breathing. Focus on your heart. Use your imagination to breathe in and out through your heart. Try to create a steady rhythm – five seconds in, five seconds out.

Once you have established this rhythmic breathing, focusing on your heart the whole time, begin to feel a positive emotion. They suggest one of four: caring, compassion, appreciation or gratitude. Think of someone you love – a partner, a pet, a parent or child. Or someone in distress for whom you have compassion. Or something you really appreciate like a work of art, a piece of music, or an inspiring person. Or feel gratitude for the many blessings of your life and the people who have helped you along the way. Let the emotion build in your heart as you maintain the steady breath.

That’s it. In the beginning it may take you five minutes. Once you’ve mastered the technique, you can do it in one. Click on the link for a demonstration. When your brain and heart are in coherence, they vibrate at a frequency of 7.83Hz. This is also the frequency of Earth’s magnetic field. Practicing coherence brings you into harmony with Mother Earth herself!

Start your day off in coherence and when you begin to feel anxious or stressed, or you’re about to face a challenge, take a moment to reconnect your heart and your brain. A minute of coherence can make all the difference. Do it every day to build momentum.

I discovered after practicing this technique for a few weeks, it began to happen spontaneously. I would feel unexpected moments of happiness and well-being. You can enhance this meditation by visualizing light moving from the heart to the brain and back again, creating a circuit synchronized with your breath. Then take it a step further – breathe your coherence out into the world. Remember that the magnetic field of your heart radiates way beyond your body. You can fill a room with coherence, or perhaps your neighborhood. Maybe even the world.