Talking to Yourself Might Just Solve All Your Problems.The Heart and Brain Connection

What if there was a way to simplify life? A way to calm things down and find clarity in what you are doing? What if I told you that you can and that the answer to this is right under your nose. I mean, like literally under your nose. What I am talking about is the heart and brain connection. 

It’s not something we think about really. We speak in terms of emotions that we can “feel” in our heart. Sayings like “my heart is full”. “My heart is breaking”, “I love you with all my heart” all seem to indicate that heart is inextricably linked to our feelings. But do our feelings come from the heart? Our heart is an organ that pumps blood throughout our system to keep us alive, so how can that have anything to do with our feelings?

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Surprisingly enough, yes, the heart can express emotion in it’s heart brain. The heart brain is composed of about 40,000 neurons that can sense, feel, learn and remember. For example, when you experience positive emotions like caring, kindness or compassion, the heart brain sends a signal to the head brain and lets it know that the heart rhythm is functioning in a harmonious and calmed state. These signals can affect how you behave and feel. Biochemically, neurologically, biophysically and energetically your body responds to the signal your heart brain has reported into the head brain.

Now that you are aware that there is a true scientific connection between your brain and your heart, you can begin to work on managing this to your advantage. When you shift your focus to creating a heart and brain connection, you will feel more centered and in control of your life. Your stress will begin to release it’s hold on you. Research has shown that living in continual high stress states is detrimental to your body. The immediate results of lessened stress are obvious, but lessening stress on the body makes a difference over time for your overall health.

The Most Important Conversation in Your Life

​How to make this shift is really just bringing awareness to the fact that you have the ability to get in touch with your inner self and feelings. For some this may be a foriegn concept, but for all, creating that amazing connection with who you really are will change your life. We all are busy and in the busy-ness, we forget to take time to be with ourselves. Maybe we don’t want to hear what we have to say to ourselves or maybe it just never occurred to stop and have a chat with yourself. Well, lucky you, today could be the day you start the most important conversation in your life.

Invite Yourself to Have a Chat

Each day find a few minutes to connect with yourself through really focusing on the heart and brain connection. The best way to do this is to find a quiet spot where you can talk with yourself uninterrupted. This may be the hardest part of this entire process! I suggest getting up earlier than the rest of the family to ensure you have a few minutes to yourself. 

Ok, it’s time to have a heart to heart, um or a heart to brain conversation. Your heart and brain contain so much wisdom and guidance that most are not listening to. Today you begin to really listen to what is being said. Here’s how you do it.

Having a Heart to Brain Connection Conversation

• Put on some quiet spa music if that will help you relax.
  
• Grab a journal or notebook and something to write with.
  
• You can set a timer if you like to help you not be preoccupied by time. 5 minutes is a good starting point.
  
• Close your eyes.
  
• Set the intention of gaining clarity and calming your system.
  
• Breathe in for the count of 5 and out for the count of 5.
  
• Focus on your heart and brain connection. Imagine cycling your breath throughout your system.
  
• Clear your mind of random thoughts.
  
• When your timer goes off or you are feeling ready, pick up your journal or notebook and write down your thoughts, how you feel. 
  
• If you have a specific problem you are looking to gain clarity on, you can pose that question before you go into your heart connection. When you are done with the process, write about the problem and any insights gleaned through this process.
  

Upon completion of the Heart to Brain Connection Conversation process, you should feel refreshed and more in touch and intentional with yourself.

Frequent check-ins with yourself will help guide you and keep stress levels at bay. Daily conversations will be beneficial and since you don’t have to coordinate calendars with someone else for this little chat, you should be able to find a few minutes to set aside. Call this time your miracle minutes sessions because you will see that it will feel that way!

I’ve heard that talking to yourself is totally fine, just as long as you don’t answer. I disagree. Having a heart to brain conversation with yourself will almost always give you the answers you have been looking for. So, here’s to looking inward and connecting with yourself! Find the calm, the direction and intentions for your life with this time of introspection...and Shine On!