We may think we’re hiding what’s going on within us, putting on the ‘It’s great. I’m great. Everything’s great’ act, keeping it all together and in control, but the heart knows. And if the heart knows, EVERYTHING knows.
The heart gives off its own ‘heart field’ — a scientifically measurable field of magnetic energy far greater than the brain. (The brain’s magnetic field can be measured to about an inch around the head, whereas the heart can measured to a meter out from the body.)
And that field carries emotional information, in the same way our cellphones carry information across electromagnetic fields — information that our nervous systems and physiology are wired to read in each other. (And information that can even be decoded by instruments. The HeartMath Institute says they can measure and decode what emotion someone is feeling, via the heart's field, with around a 75% accuracy; regardless of the face someone puts on.)
So, if you’re stressed out, if you’re anxious, angry, resentful or, on the other side of the emotional spectrum, positive, happy and appreciative, that’s what is being broadcasted, and others pick up on; EVEN if they don’t consciously realize it. This means, even if we are pretending to have our sh*t together on the outside, but the inside looks more like that poor cat up there, that's what we give off. (Can you say, mixed messages?)
Since February is ‘love’ month, this is a good time to consider this important info because it directly affects our relationships. (And our own mind-body system.) This awareness is a great reminder to take responsibility for our feeling state, for the good of others as well as the health of our mind-body system. The more we change our own state, the more we may see the responses and states of others changing in response; and that can be called beautiful magic. The more we are in a state of ‘heart coherence’ the more harmonious our system is.
The good news is the heart carries its own potent medicine — The ability to generate positive ‘coherent’ feelings, and influence the brain and gut with the message of these feeling states, influencing the field around us with those 'good vibes.’ We just need to learn how to access and take that medicine, by learning the subtle art of conjuring those
positive feelings.
Here’s a 3 step approach to doing that:
Step 1 — Breathe (Calmly)
Maybe the fastest and most direct way we have to navigate and adjust the field and rhythms of our heart — deeper than simply ’thinking happy thoughts’, or working with the breath and body.
Breathing directly modulates our heart rhythm (via the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system), so we can create a coherent heart rhythm, and send calm and harmonizing messages to the brain, through the way we breathe (which effects the
whole body).
One tried and tested way is through ‘coherent breathing.’
To start, get yourself into a comfortable position and breathe 5 or 6 second long inhales and exhales, with no pause between the inhale and exhale.
Do this for at least 5 minutes per session (but a 20 minute, or longer, session would be
highly beneficial.)
This pace of breathing creates a ‘coherent’ heart rhythm, and just this practice alone has shown to measurably reduce cortisol levels for hours afterwards.
A 5 minute session 3 times a day, and you have a full day of marked relaxation.
With practice, even if challenging and triggering moments do arise, you’ll have a calmer baseline to deal with them, more space to recognize what’s happening and, having activated the areas of brain function that help you act instead of react, we’re less likely to do or say something you’ll will regret...
As Rollin McCraty of Heartmath says, “Breathing is first step into changing rhythm of the heart, but a change of heart changes everything.”
Step 2 — Appreciate!
The next step in putting the heart, and thus whole system into a state of vibrant coherence, is through feeling.
Within us, emotions run the show far more than thoughts. Do a math test or think intensely about something, and you’ll have changes in the brain and body, but minimal. Experience a big feeling or emotion, and boom — Big hormonal changes, increased neural activity, changes in blood pressure and more.
When stewing in feelings like anger or frustration, we are producing an incoherent rhythm in the heart, and sending messages to the brain that actually interfere with the brain’s ability to, harmonize and synchronize ‘global activity.’
While practicing your ‘coherent breathing’, taking 5 or 6 second inhales and exhales, focus on anything you’re appreciative for. It doesn’t matter how big or small. Cultivating this feeling is the magic button to whole system coherence, clear thinking, relaxation, balance and restorative health.
Ps.
There is a catch though.
Some feelings just need to be seen and honoured. No one is saying it’s a bad thing to have 'negative' emotions. But by being honest about it, and generating acceptance, compassion and even appreciation, you’re still creating that healing field, even in the midst of challenging emotions.
(And also helps us be more at ease in our own skin, which ripples out into the field, spreading that ease and acceptance to others; something we all need these days. Give us a hand will ya!?)
Step 3 — Lifestyle
Of course, the more areas of our day to day lives that support all this, the better.
Going for gentle walks (ideally in nature); spending time with uplifting friends and family; practicing meditation; eating well; not over-caffeinating ourselves and proper supplementation helps us stay in coherence. (And gives us more to be appreciative about.)
Medicinal mushrooms like Red Reishi can help stabilize and calm the nervous system overtime, as it’s been used, in the Eastern medical, meditative and shamanic traditions for thousands of years.
Lion’s Mane helps create and fortify those new neural pathways you’re forming through coherent breathing and positive feeling; or a blend like Complete 360, which is designed for whole mind-body synergy.
In fact, we really love developing appreciation along with a warm cup of Zensations; or as a way to follow up a breathing practice.
Add to all that Magnesium to help the body relax; Recovery or Recovery 3.0 if you’re in physical pain; and our Probiotics line for help with digestion, gut related anxiety, cardiovascular and immunity support, to even more fully support a mind, body, and heart, at ease and in harmony.
Good Vibes
Having awareness of the field we give off, and pausing to question, “What am I contributing to the field right now?” is great motivation to add to the health and harmony of the world, increasing your own health in the process, and making for clearer relationships.
So really, what we’re saying is, (in our best hippy voice) ‘It’s all vibration, we’re all one, only energy is eternal, so spread good vibes!’
Become secret agents of spreading good vibrations throughout the great field of the heart and contribute to a field of joy (the heart’s essential emotion in the Eastern medicines). Those around you (even your pets) will thank you (even if they aren’t full conscious of it), and you will feel all the good of it.
Thanks for bringing the magic.
