You Have Three Brains
Most people think we only have one brain - the one in our heads, but we actually have three: the head brain (cranial or cephalic) the heart brain (cardiac) and the gut brain (enteric). All three of these neural centres are semi-autonomous and capable of processing, remembering, and making decisions. These three intelligence networks communicate constantly via the vagus nerve and biochemical signals.
Western civilisation has developed to promote the cranial brain as the sovereign governor of human beings, but in actual fact, the heart generates the strongest rhythmic electromagnetic field in the body and sends more signals to the cranial brain than it receives from it. The electrical component of the heart’s signal is about 60 times greater than the brain's, and its magnetic field is up to 5,000 times stronger. The magnetic field of the heart extends several feet outside the physical body.
Your Heart Has a Powerful Influence on Your Brain
When you experience positive emotions like gratitude or love, the heart produces a smooth, harmonious rhythm. This physiological coherence allows the heart's electromagnetic field to synchronize the brain's rhythms, promoting better cognitive clarity, emotional regulation, and resilience. This is what is called heart-brain coherence.
How to Create Heart-Brain Coherence
Practicing heart-brain coherence is a simple way to reduce stress and improve mental clarity in just a few minutes. It is another practice that you can add to your 5-Minute Stress Reset Toolkit.
Place Your Focus on Your Heart
Place your hand or hands on your heart. Bring your attention to your heart, and the felt energy of your heart in the centre of your chest.
Breathe with a Steady, Slow Rhythm
Breathe slowly in a steady rhythm such as inhaling for the count of 5 and exhaling for the count of 5. Keep the pace steady, gentle, and unforced.
Imagine your breath flowing in and out through your heart area.
Generate Positive Emotions
As you maintain this breathing rhythm, recall a positive emotion. Think of something that stimulates a feeling of appreciation, gratitude, or care for someone or something in you. Sustain the feeling and open to fully experiencing the emotional warmth in your chest.
Benefits of this practice
Lowers cortisol: Decreases stress hormones quickly
Balances the nervous system: Shifts you out of “fight-or-flight” mode
Improves focus: Synchronizes brain waves for clearer thinking
Remember:
These practices may be new to you, or some may be reminders.
Reminders are helpful too.
They may seem too easy. We get programmed that things need to be
hard or complicated to be good.
Easy can be good too.
Let's Connect
Your feedback helps me to serve you in ways that are valuable to you. This week I would love to know if you have heard of heart-brain coherence before or if it is new to you, and what did you experience when you tried the heart-brain coherence practice above?
You can reply by email to support@janinlattimore.com
A quote for the week...
"The seat of knowledge is in the head, of wisdom, in the heart."
-- William Hazlitt
What's New?
I have added a couple of new perks to the Living Midlife Well Silver Membership on my website this week. I will now be adding my weekly podcast audios for members and I have set up chat via Discord.
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Learn More About Becoming a MemberWeekly Article: Forty and Falling Apart: The Process of Midlife Unravelling and Reforming
In my blog article this week I share my story of falling apart in my forties and share three key things that can help you move from the mess of midlife unravelling to finding clarity and understanding.
Read the articleListen to the Podcast Version
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Aroha nui, much love
Janine
Janine Lattimore | Living Midlife Well | janinelattimore.com