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Exploring the Dynamics of Less Mind and More Heart

Written by: Christiane Pohl

Article Overview: ...and waking up to the realization that Life is more than struggle and stress and that we are human beings full of potential and possibilities.

Exploring the Dynamics of Less Mind and More Heart

For thousands of years the heart has been the symbol for love, courage, compassion and consciousness. We talk about, being ‘broken hearted’ the ‘heart of the matter’ and ‘wearing our heart on our sleeves’.

Modern research has shown that the electro magnetic wave output of the heart is six times stronger than that of the brain. That means that the electro magnetic field around our body is activated by the heart and we gain a tremendous influence in dealing with other people when we are communicating from our heart. In other words we gain more impact when we are connected to how we really feel. The heart is associated with the so called 'slow feelings' - sadness and love = compassion. Anxiety, fear, anger, aggression can only manifest when we are dis-connected from those 'slow feelings.

Staying connected to our 'slow feelings' also helps us to stay connected with what we really are – human beings full of potential and possibilities. How can we get in touch with them? Research has SHOWN THAT THE EASIEST WAY is through cultivating stillness and practicing meditation or breathing exercises.

What then you may ask is the function of the mind? We talk about the ‘brilliant mind’, ‘mind over matter’ and ‘the power of the mind.’

And indeed, the mind is a brilliant and powerful tool, but like most tools it also has it’s limitations. In fact what we describe as the mind is a series of brain activities and centers that are activated when the brain receives internal or external stimulation.

As part of our evolutionary process our mind structure is designed to be alert, to analyze, memorize, process information and help us survive in an ever-changing environment. This mind structure relies on associations, memory and experiences of the past and therefore we perceive knowledge as an important aspect of psychological security.

In the our quest for safety we seek to cling to structure, to the known. Hence we prefer to get attached to existing believe systems, concepts, thoughts, emotions and status symbols. Then, based on those attachments we comfortably judge in terms of right and wrong, good and bad and the tendency develops to treat knowledge as if knowledge was the truth.

Both the functions of the mind and the heart are equally important.

It is however when we can look beyond the boundaries of our body-mind structure that the state of ‘no mind’ and the role of the heart takes on a new significance.

When I was twelve years old I first came across this simple quote from the book ‘The little Prince’ - ‘One sees well only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eyes.'- In my heart I immediately related to the meaning of what I had just read, in my mind I could not explain it though. Those words touched me deeply, I felt the sense of reading about a simple truth and I wrote the quote down and carried it in my purse for years to come… whenever I felt lost, confused or scared I read those words and relaxed; the answer was simple: all I had to do was to be honest with myself and follow my heart, my intuition.

Over the following years I again and again observed the same phenomena: Feeling moved, feeling touched, feeling love, feeling motivated to share, to give, to contribute needs No Mind, No knowledge, No control - Falling in love is the most perfect example of that surrender.

I believe that we each know when we are connected with our heart energy but it is very difficult to put that feeling, that knowing into words.

There are ways to nourish our heart energy and help others do the same and now may be a good time to start.

Here are some of those ways that I have found helpful to cultivating an attitude of LESS MIND & MORE HEART:

• I started with my partners, friends, family and colleagues. I asked them how they are feeling, listened to them with an open heart(and mind), without judging. i started to share my vulnerability, my softness.

• I decided to embrace insecurity and uncertainty and develop a sense of curiosity.Part of that was letting go of the old and enjoy trying new ways and solutions. Socrates realized already over 2000 years ago that 'true wisdom lies in the knowledge that I know nothing' – that is an insight of the heart I feel.

• I looked for opportunities to express my qualities, to share and contribute.

• I practiced breathing exercises, mediation or just sitting still for a few minutes every day. On the Less Stress, More Life CD you find included a simple breathing exercise called ‘Heart Energy Breathing’, which helps to reach deep relaxation and strengthens the immune system.

Every time you: connect to your feelings, observe without reacting, listen without judging, share, contribute, have fun, laugh, use humor, sing, dance, feel grateful, spread love, you are with the heart... and out of your mind!

Enjoy! My very best wishes from all my heart and may you discover plenty of opportunities to enjoy Less Mind & More Heart.



Yours,

Christiane Pohl

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Article Tags: Heart, Life Coaching, Stress Management



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