Heart and Mind Connection: How to Balance the Brain and Heart to Reduce Stress
There is fascinating new research that verifies the idea that we can “think” and feel with our hearts. The research comes from three different scientific fields.
o Molecular biologists have discovered that the heart is the most important endocrine gland in the body. In response to our experience, the heart produces a hormone, Atriol Neuriatic Factor, which affects each operation on our limbic structure. Which we refer to as the “emotional brain” and is also where memories and learning take place.
o The neurocardiologist has discovered that 60-65% of the heart cells are actually neural cells, not muscle cells. These cells are identical to neuronal cells in the brain with the same connecting links and the same types of neurotransmitters found in the brain.
o Biophysicists have discovered that the heart is also a very powerful electromagnetic generator. Creates an electromagnetic field that spans the body and extends from 8 to 12 feet away. This electromagnetic field deeply affects the brain.
Why is this research important? Your heart and mind are connected. Therefore, when you feel stressed, anxious, angry, or sad, it affects the communication system throughout your body.
Let’s look at two ways to decrease your stress. The first is through your thinking. As Brian Tracey says: “You are a living magnet; you attract people, situations, and circumstances into your life that are in harmony with your dominant thoughts. Everything you think about in your consciousness becomes your experience.” Power comes from focusing your thoughts on what you DO want; not what you fear or don’t want. When you focus your mind on more positive results, your biochemistry changes and you become calmer.
Another way to decrease your stress is to focus on your heart. Childre and Martin developed a technology to restore balance to our hearts and minds called “Heart Math.” Childre and Martin reviewed and conducted research on the heart / mind / body connection. They developed a protocol to reduce stress, solve problems, and regain balance. You can learn the “Freeze Frame” technique by using the simple process below.
The freeze frame technique of:
The mathematical responses of the heart
Doc Childre and Howard Martin
Why the freeze frame?
Under stress and emotional turmoil, the heart, pulse, and breathing become erratic and agitated. When individuals practice freeze frame, all three physiological systems come into play (smooth and synchronized rhythm). When our systems are synchronized in this way, they work more efficiently, saving valuable energy and promoting health.
FREEZE FRAME WORKSHEET
These are the 5 steps of the Freeze Frame technique:
1. Acknowledge the stressful feeling and FREEZE THE FRAME. Take a break!
2. Make a sincere effort to shift your focus from the racing mind or disturbed emotions to the area around your heart. You can imagine / pretend that you are actually breathing through your heart. This will help focus your energy in the ear area. Keep your focus there for 10 seconds or more as you breathe through your heart.
3. Remember a positive and fun feeling or moment in your life and feel and experience that moment.
4. Now, using your intuition, ask your heart, what would be a more efficient response to the situation, one that minimizes future stress?
5. Listen to what your heart says in response to your question. It is an effective way to control the reactive mind and emotions, a source of “internal” intuition.
Situation
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Head reaction (write down all your reactions, both your thoughts and your emotions)
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FROZEN FRAME
Response to the intuition of the heart
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When making the freeze frame, I changed from __________ to ___________.