You may recall that my last blog was on ‘being present’. And today my topic is on ‘coherence’, the latest term being used by pioneers at the forefront of effecting global shifts, non-politically. The Canadian Oxford Dictionary defines coherence as ‘sticking together’ and in relation to physics ‘having a constant phase relationship’.
I’d like to invite you to consider the term ‘coherence’ in another context, namely that of our inner processes. In this context, ‘coherence’ is the internal synchronized state between your heart, mind, and spirit that results in a coherent heart rhythm. When you are in a coherent state, it has a direct affect on your biological rhythm and results in you feeling a deep sense of calm, inner balance and energized presence. Would you like to live in this way? My guess is that your answer might be a resounding ‘yes’, especially in the current economic downturn which has many people caught up in its doom and gloom reports.
How can you access this state of inner coherence? You are likely to have already accessed it at some or other time in your life, and like me, you perhaps did not have a phrase for it other than ‘it’s a peaceful inner state’. If you have ever followed a daily spiritual practice of prayer or meditation or yoga, for instance, you are very likely to have experienced this coherent state. And, my guess is that if you have then stopped your spiritual practice or on occasion skipped doing it for a day or more, you will have felt the lack of it!
What is it that makes a ‘coherent state’ possible? The work of Doc Childre, Steering Committee Chairman of the Global Coherence Initiative (GCI) and co-author of The HeartMath Solution series with Deborah Rozman, provides an answer, and, it is rooted in science. Their work explains that ‘a coherent state’ is in fact biological, and that the heart plays a pivotal role. How so? Well here’s a brief quiz to capture your imagination: Did you know that ‘the heart has its own nervous system or brain in the heart, containing around forty thousand neurons? (Armour 2003, Armour and Kember, 2004.) And, did you know that ‘there are more nerves going from your heart up to your brain than from your brain to your heart?’ (Cameron 2002).
Back to you… Have you ever walked into a room and sensed a heavy negative emotional charge in the air as you witness two people embroiled in a conflict? Or similarly, have ever walked into a building like a church or another holy place and experienced a visceral sense of peace and tranquility pervading the atmosphere of the place? Both of these examples attest to the felt presence of what is known as ‘the field environment’, according to Howard Martin, Executive VP Strategic Development, HeartMath. How come we feel it? According to McCraty (2004) ‘the heart’s magnetic field is five thousand times greater than the field generated by the brain, and it can be measured several feet away from the body in all directions? ‘ So we actually feel the vibration within our own magnetic field. And, if we are tuned in to our environment we are likely to be more alert to the ‘energy’ of the place, also known as the ‘field environment’. The field environment is the cumulative effect of the emotional experiences people have created. See if you can ‘feel it’ in your office or home environment.
So, why am I sharing all of this with you? My reason is that today’s economic downturn is impacting everyone’s lives. Instead of allowing yourself to be sucked into the doom and gloom, rather make a choice to bring about a positive shift in your immediate environment. Do a dip-check. Assess what your environment feels like to you. Is it positively charged or negatively charged?
Ask yourself the following:
What kind of emotional charge am I leaving behind me?
What can I do right here, right now, to make a positive difference?
Today, create a positive atmosphere wherever you are! The best way you can do this is to come from a state of inner coherence!
Deborah Rossouw
Integral Coach and Life-enhancing Speaker and member of the GCI
References:
Childre, Doc and Rozman, Deborah, PhD 2006. Transforming Anxiety –the HeartMath Solution for Overcoming Fear and Worry and Creating Serenity. New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Martin, Howard – webinar 23 April, 2009, on behalf of the Global Coherence Initiative Steering Committee.
