Practice #10.5: Heart-Centered Gratitude
"The HeartMath Institute has done some fascinating research on how the heart, brain, and emotions are interconnected—specifically looking at the heart rate, the thalamus (the brain’s message sorter), and the amygdala (the brain’s emotional responder). Their findings explain how these three parts of our body work together, and how they affect our state of mind.
To put it simply:
This practice is designed to support your heart rate in leveling out, which in turn will help you think more clearly and respond more effectively." Dancing with Our Selves: A Practical Guide to Harness the Ego and Live on Purpose [Chapter 4]
To put it simply:
- When we feel frustrated, our heart rate becomes erratic, which throws off the brain’s ability to process clearly, creating circular, cloudy thinking.
- When we feel grateful, our heart rate steadies, which helps the brain function in a more coherent way, allowing for clearer thinking.
This practice is designed to support your heart rate in leveling out, which in turn will help you think more clearly and respond more effectively." Dancing with Our Selves: A Practical Guide to Harness the Ego and Live on Purpose [Chapter 4]
Afterward, check in to see how you feel physically, mentally, and emotionally. How has this practice shifted your state of being?
