ARTICLES
& REPORTS
Personal
Creativity
About
Innovation Network
- P e r s o n a l _ C r e a t i v i t y -
Nancy Myers
Companies are finding a new path to innovation, a new way to unleash and sustain high performance, and leverage individual intelligence and creativity through Heart Intelligence. You may have heard George Land mention it at Convergence 95 and wondered more about it. Here's a brief description.
The basic premise of Heart Intelligence as taught by the Institute of HeartMath through its Inner Quality Management program is that individuals think and act smarter through the synergistic interaction of intellectual, intuitive and emotional intelligence. This synergy is called Heart Intelligence and can be developed through a series of tools, one of which is described below. These tools show individuals how to access Heart Intelligence to increase personal and professional effectiveness, powerfully reduce the negative impact of stress, as well as create caring and sustaining relationships.
"Freeze-Frame," the foundation tool of Heart Intelligence, is a scientifically validated, one-minute technique which arrests stress while it's happening and allows one to access free energy released by successfully managing mental and emotional reactions. It reverses the negative effects on cardiac, nervous and immune systems and enhances well-being.
Several physiological studies support these claims: (1) "The American Journal of Cardiology" reports that Freeze-Frame helps people defuse their anger, self-activate, and prolong positive emotions that increase activity that protects the heart and lowers blood pressure; (2) another study reported in the "Journal of Advancement in Medicine" examined the effects of emotions on the immune system, showing that IGA levels (the body's first line of defense against viruses and unfriendly bacteria) increased significantly after subjects were trained to access Heart Intelligence and deep feelings of caring; and (3) Heart Intelligence was also employed in a hormonal study where participants were able to double their levels of the antiaging hormone, DHEA by using another heart-focusing intervention. Study subjects also experienced a 23% reduction in the "stress" hormone Cortisol.
One Fortune 100 company initiated Heart Intelligence programs for exe- cutives, administrative staff, engineers and factory workers. Measurements tracked productivity, job satisfaction, stress reductions, cardiovascular improvments and blood pressure. 93% of the participants increased productivity (as opposed to only 53% in the control group) with an overall 22% gain in quality. Stress symptons were reduced by 36% and there was
26% less burnout. At the beginning of the study, 26% of the participants were hypertensive; six months later all had achieved normal blood pressure.
Initially, you can apply Heart Intelligence to your workday by spending more time focusing on the following:
Appreciation -- appreciation is one of the greatest energizers for business and personal interactions. Finding something to appreciate during tough situations puts problem areas into better perspective. Look for opportunities to let your co-workers know what it is you appreciate about them. Appreciation increases the value of what is important and meaningful in your life. It's an instant stress-buster.
Care -- notice the difference between sincere care and required courtesy. True caring is the glue that keeps relationships together. It's also a lubricant for your physical system, boosting immune system functions. If you have a picture on your desk of someone you care about, remember to look at it and feel care before and during your phone calls, e-mails and voice mails. It's an instant energizer.
Intuitive Communication -- feelings of appreciation, compassion or care during your interactions enhance listening, enabling you to speak your truth from a balanced perspective. Activate a positive heart feeling to quiet your inner dialog, stay neutral and slow down. This allows room for intuitive insight and creative solutions and stops the verbal and non-verbal interruptions that prevent the other person from feeling heard. Intuitive communication is effective and saves time.
Heart Intelligence helps us reduce stress, develop personal effectiveness, make choices with greater wisdom and cut through organizational conflicts to profoundly improve organizational effectiveness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nancy Myers is a certified trainer for the Institute of HeartMath as well as an Associate Partner in George Land's Leadership 2000. For more information, contact her at 312-348-7388.