Falling Into Your Heart - Living with Heartfulness - A Scientific Exploration
Heart dis-ease is now the biggest killer on the planet, trumping cancer and infectious diseases as the leading cause of death. With dis-ease also widely being linked to psychosomatic causes, I wonder if it is now time that we consider that we ALL might have a heart issue and consider better ways of living with a lighter heart and heartfulness?
All human beings understand the heart, the power of the heart, it's centredness in our lives and how it motivates us in day to day living. The language of the heart operating in our lives on the surface level includes the verbs to like, to admire, to desire, and care for. Following our heart's desire is to be led by the heart in our endeavors.
On a deeper level living from the heart, and in heartfulness manifests as a state of being deeply connected to one's heart and embracing empathy, compassion, mindfulness and has the potential to transform our lives and promote well-being. There have been many spiritual teachers who have taught for millenia that living mindfully from the heart is the highest ideal for humans and the only way to achieve true harmony and peace. Now scientists have caught up too these teacings and are now publishing their scientific experiments and findings showing a comprehensive understanding of living with and in heartfullness and its benefits physically, psychologically, emotionally, and socially.
I was attracted to what is now termed "Heart Coherence" - the heart-brain connection, as a young child. I was brought up in an extended family of devout Christians and so the teachings of the heart, as taught by Jesus of Nazareth were part of my everyday experience. I took to my small heart those teachings and tried to apply them to my everyday situations. My teen and young adult years were somewhat tumultous. I seemed to be out of touch with the zeitgist. It was the mid 80's and the cynicism, political motivation, competitiveness, greed and nhilism were not my way of operating. As my peers sought to further their careers, I sought to follow my heart's calling to open further and take a spiritual path. So strong was my desire that I even called myself Andii Love for a hot minute.
I later learned of the Khemitic spiritual belief system where after "death" one's heart was weighed on a scale with a feather as the counterweight. The belief was that the heart should not be heavier than a feather! Ie. That in life we did not make our heart's heavy with the woes of everyday life. In learning of this belief system I began to question how I lived my life and what 'woes' I was carrying in my heart. Combining this with the meditation on the Laughing Buddah enabled a deeper practice of lightening my heart.
As I edge towards my 6th decade on this earth the lessons and learnings have stacked up year after year and decade after decade and it has been my greatest pleasure to observe the "science backed" evidence emerging of the benefits of heartfulness including:
A Window into Well-being
Scientific investigations into heart coherence have revealed its association with enhanced physiological functioning and emotional well-being. Studies employing heart rate variability (HRV) analysis have shown that coherent heart rhythms are indicative of improved cardiovascular health, reduced stress, and increased resilience.
The Physical Health Benefits of Heartfulness
The impact of heartfulness on physical health extends beyond cardiovascular well-being. Studies have linked heart-centered living to improved immune function, lower blood pressure, reduced inflammation, and better overall health outcomes. This section explores the scientific evidence supporting the positive influence of heartfulness on physical well-being.
Psychological Well-being
Living with heartfulness nurtures psychological well-being by promoting self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience. Scientific research indicates that heart-centered individuals experience lower levels of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Additionally, heartfulness practices have been found to enhance emotional intelligence, improve mood, and foster a positive outlook on life.
Heartfulness Practices: Techniques for Inner Transformation
Various heartfulness practices such as heart-focused breathing, loving-kindness meditation, and gratitude exercises offer practical means to foster heart-centered living. Scientific studies have demonstrated their ability to reduce stress, improve emotional well-being, enhance empathy, and promote prosocial behavior. This section discusses key research findings on these practices.
Emotions and Cognition
Advancements in neuroscience have unraveled the intricate communication network between the heart and the brain. Research suggests that the heart sends more signals to the brain than vice versa, influencing our emotional experiences, decision-making, and cognitive abilities. This section explores the implications of this connection for living with heartfulness.
Interpersonal Relationships
Heartfulness plays a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining healthy relationships. Empathy, compassion, and emotional attunement, which are nurtured through heartfulness practices, contribute to more satisfying and supportive interpersonal connections. This section explores the scientific literature highlighting the impact of heartfulness on relationship quality and social connectedness.
Education and Leadership
The application of heartfulness principles in educational settings and leadership roles has gained recognition. Research suggests that integrating heart-centered practices in schools and organizations fosters positive learning environments, improves academic performance, and enhances leadership effectiveness. This section examines the scientific underpinnings of heartfulness in education and leadership domains.
The field of heart coherence and its related research has been significantly influenced by several thought leaders and experts. Here are a few notable individuals and some of their prominent studies and publications in the area of heart coherence:
Doc Childre - the founder of the Institute of HeartMath, a research and education organization dedicated to studying the physiology of emotions and the heart-brain connection. Some of his notable works include:
"HeartMath Discovery Program: Level 1 Self-Discovery"
"Heart Intelligence: Connecting with the Intuitive Guidance of the Heart"
"The HeartMath Solution: The Institute of HeartMath's Revolutionary Program for Engaging the Power of the Heart's Intelligence" by Doc Childre and Howard Martin
"Heart Intelligence: Connecting with the Intuitive Guidance of the Heart" by Doc Childre, Howard Martin, and Deborah Rozman
"Transforming Stress: The HeartMath Solution for Relieving Worry, Fatigue, and Tension" by Doc Childre and Deborah Rozman
"The HeartMath Approach to Managing Hypertension: The Proven, Natural Way to Lower Your Blood Pressure" by Doc Childre and Bruce C. Wilson
"The Coherent Heart: Mindfulness-Based Heart Coherence Techniques for Stress Reduction and Well-Being" by Rollin McCraty, Ph.D., and Doc Childre
Rollin McCraty - the Director of Research at the Institute of HeartMath. He has conducted extensive research on heart coherence, heart-brain communication, and the effects of positive emotions. Some of his notable studies and publications include:
"The Coherent Heart: Heart-Brain Interactions, Psychophysiological Coherence, and the Emergence of System-Wide Order" (Research Paper)
"The Energetic Heart: Bioelectromagnetic Communication Within and Between People" (Research Paper)
Gary E. Schwartz -a professor of psychology, medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and surgery at the University of Arizona. He has conducted research on the physiological and energetic aspects of heart coherence. Some of his notable works include:
"The Energy Healing Experiments: Science Reveals Our Natural Power to Heal" (Book)
"Biofield Science: Current Physics Perspectives" (Research Paper)
Robert A. Emmons - a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, and an expert in the field of positive psychology. While his work focuses more broadly on gratitude and well-being, he has contributed to the understanding of heart coherence and its benefits. Some of his notable studies and publications include:
"Gratitude as a Human Strength: Appraising the Evidence" (Research Paper)
"The Psychology of Ultimate Concerns: Motivation and Spirituality in Personality" (Book)
Gregg Braden - a renowned author and speaker who integrates science, spirituality, and ancient wisdom. While not a scientific researcher himself, he has popularized the concept of heart coherence through his writings and presentations. Some of his notable works include:
"The Divine Matrix: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles, and Belief" (Book)
"Resilience from the Heart: The Power to Thrive in Life's Extremes" (Book)
In conclusion, living with heartfulness is a powerful approach that holds tremendous potential for personal transformation and holistic well-being.
Living with heartfulness unlocks immense potential for personal growth, well-being, and harmonious social interactions. Just as the ancient spiritual leaders taught living in a heartful way encompasses nurturing emotional intelligence, promoting positive relationships, and cultivating a mindful and and embracing empathy and compassion improves our existence on earth.
Scientific research provides a robust foundation and compelling evidence to now support the efficacy of the transformative power of heart-centered living. As increasing numbers begin to practice living with heartfulness as part of a wellBEing plan only time will show whether we can begin to reverse number of deaths attributed to heart disease.
With all of this amazing research being conducted proving the efficacy of heartfullness, the questions that we need to ask ourselves are:
What am I doing to improve my heartfulness?
What health related issues could I relieve through a practice of better heart-brain coherence?
What relationships could I improve by implementing more heart-centred communications?
Could I affect my negative emotions by dropping more deeply into my heart?