The Heart Knows: How to Tune In for Happiness and Healing

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.  

– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

Do you ever feel like you’re overthinking things, or that your brain keeps repeating the same things over and over? We all get stuck in our thoughts from time to time, usually because we tell ourselves that our answers are in the brain. But when it comes to healing and happiness, it’s one’s heart that generally has the answer. The sooner you can free your thoughts, the better you will feel.

The heart is your all-knowing organ, and research is proving that it holds tremendous power. In a set of experiments outlined in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2004, Dr. Rollin McCraty of the Heartmath Institute, conducted research of this revolutionary new science of the heart. The result of these experiments found that the heart seems to ‘know’ the future. The experiments were conducted as follows:

Participants were each seated before a computer, on which flashed randomly selected images. The images, spaced 6 seconds apart, ranged from beautiful and serene to frightening and gruesome. Each participant was connected to equipment that monitored heartbeat, brainwave patterns, skin conductivity, nervous system and organ function. The participants’ only job was to watch the images. When the session was over, researchers found that each participant’s heart responded seconds before their brains did. In fact, the heart was the first part of their physiology to react to the stimulus. Sometimes the heart reacted a full 6 seconds before a new image was shown! Their conclusion: The heart appears to know what is coming – it displayed what is called ‘precognition’.

Dr. McCraty summarized: “Of greatest significance here is our major finding: namely…. Evidence that the heart is directly involved with the processing of information about a future emotional stimulus seconds before the body actually experiences the stimulus….What is truly surprising about the result is the fact that the heart appears to play a direct role in the perception of future events, at the very least it implies that the brain does not act alone in this regard.”

Studies such as this one may help explain some of the common sayings we hear about our emotions – “listen to your heart”, “follow your heart”, “it breaks my heart”.  The heart is our center for love, forgiveness, and compassion. It can also know what is best for us as we make decisions about our personal growth and healing.

There is a two-way street of information running between your brain and your heart – this information travels not only from brain to heart, but from heart to brain. For this reason we need to use the heart and mind together when making important decisions. Usually, however, we get stuck in our thoughts and ignore what the heart knows. Our bodies will actually bring this imbalance to our attention, and if we are paying attention we might notice a sore or scratchy throat.

To tune in to the heart’s knowing, focus on your heart as you ask yourself ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. You might even put your hand on your heart as you practice listening to this amazing center of wisdom. Wait for an answer, but try to listen to your heart and not your brain. Your heart has a different style of communication than your brain, so you might get an expansion or warmth in your heart area. It can be a constriction or even a slight pain in your heart. You may even intuitively “see” the right answer when closing your eyes while asking the question. Or maybe you can even “hear” the answer. Whichever it is, pay attention.

This simple but powerful practice may help you over time to establish a new-found sense of inner knowing and guidance. Your body is here to help, and when you learn to listen to its inner wisdom, you will be moving toward a wonderful place of health and well-being.

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Writing to De Stress

In the last edition I wrote about writing to heal the body. In this second of three articles, I will address how journaling your concerns can de-stress your life and mind.

Philosopher and psychologist William James once said, “If you can change your mind, you can change your life” – and journaling can help you do just that! I assign many types of writing assignments to clients, as the therapeutic benefits are many.  Three of my favorite ways to de-stress through writing are:

• Gratitude Journal. Write just 3 things every day for which you are grateful. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big or small thing, the requirement is that it’s sincere. Think of the “small” things for a minute: when was the last time you felt grateful for clean drinking water? Unless you’ve spent time in a third-world country, or been a victim of a natural disaster, you’ve likely taken this for granted. Sincere gratitude expressed daily will open your eyes to all that’s right and good around you. Over time, it will become your habit to look for the silver lining in every cloud you encounter. Not only will it improve your outlook and your mood, it will boost your body’s overall ability to manage stress, which will result in a healthier, happier you.
• Free Writing.  This is when you just put pen to paper and write. Don’t think, don’t punctuate, just write. Fill a page, then read over (hopefully it’s legible enough) what you wrote. You will likely be surprised at what came out on your paper. Many times there are deep frustrations, false beliefs, and anger that you’ve had festering inside on a subconscious level. Any time you write a thought, you bring out the intangible and make it real. Once it is real, you can process it, and when you’re done with the negative, you can throw it away. It is so empowering to be able to “toss” your worries away!
• “Reality Check” Writing.  A friend and mentor taught me this technique, and I use it often. This one can take a while, so make sure you’re good and comfortable, with plenty of time before you begin.  Take out a piece of paper and list everything that is bugging you. Number the items, and detail exactly why you are irritated with each situation.  Make sure you’ve written until you feel that everything is out. When you are finished, take out a fresh paper. On this list, you will address each item of irritation, and you will answer it with Truth. To do this, you will look at each item without the distortion of emotion – you will take a step back from the situation you’ve written about – and you will look at the bigger picture. As you do this you will notice that there is a different way to see your problems, and you will feel a shift as you do so. You’ll see the good through the bad, and you’ll recognize growth and learning in your troubles and stresses. This exercise is perfectly effective, as it broadens your mind to infinite possibilities. Tame your negative thoughts with Truth!

One interesting side-note about journaling: it matters that you use a pen/pencil and paper. You won’t get quite the same result if you type your feelings, as there is something healing about creating letters with your own hand. Try expressing feelings on paper and see if it doesn’t cool your brain, slow your breathing, clear your thoughts, and deepen your sleep. What better gift could you give yourself than the gift of a calm, balanced, and relaxed mind? 

Featured Image Copyright: Felmeeeh /BigStockPhoto.com

Listen to Your Body Talk

How do you feel lately?  Do you have a lot on your mind – heavy work schedule, kids involved in too many activities? Life has many stressors, which oftentimes brings aches and pains, fatigue, and illness to the body.  But before you go and take a pill to alleviate your discomforts, think about this: your body is an incredible machine that is trying to communicate with you.

At first it will whisper, then as you ignore it, it will speak louder and louder until it finally shouts. It wants your attention so you can address its underlying issues. So pause for a moment and tune in to these messages your amazing body is sending you.

Although many aches and pains are caused by injuries or other physiological factors, oftentimes they can be driven by metaphysical means. Consider this in the following scenarios:

• Are you trying to make a big decision, and you notice a sore throat? Your body may be telling you that you’re not using both your head and your heart.  The neck is what connects these two important organs, so use both your intellect and your feelings for a satisfying solution. Also, throat represents your “voice”. Maybe it’s time to speak up about something.
• Do you have chronic shoulder pain? If it’s your left side, perhaps there are family issues that need your attention. You right side signals financial stress.
• Do you see a chiropractor about regular low back pain (sacroiliac sprains)? Your body possibly wants you to reexamine your circumstances – is this really the right job for you? Are you forcing yourself into a situation where you really don’t belong?
• Do you struggle with constipation? Ask yourself these questions: Do I “hold on to things?” Do I have a hard time “letting things go?”

I once heard about a woman who was rushed to the ER for a heart attack. After being examined and tested for treatment, it was determined that there was no heart attack. The perplexed doctors did not know what to make of it – she had every symptom, but no medical trace of this event. It was later learned that this woman’s daughter had died recently, and this woman was (literally) broken-hearted.  There is actually a pretty accurate name for this condition – “broken heart syndrome”.  Just another way that the body mirrors the underlying emotions.

So the next time you get a headache, or you feel muscle tension in the body, reflect on the things that are going on in your life. Take a minute to understand what your body is telling you. The more you learn to pay attention to these important signals, the more empowered you will be to correct them.  How does that make you feel?

“A sound mind in a sound body is a short but full description of a happy state in this world.” -  John Locke

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