BREATHE DEEP | HEART APPRECIATION

From Sara Childre at the HeartMath Institute: 

"Did you know that heartfelt appreciation can facilitate the healing of the human body and spirit?

Sincere, heartfelt appreciation uplifts, inspires and drives us to achieve that which we did not think possible.
Appreciation Exercise
Heart Focus: Focus your attention on your heart area, and breathe a little deeper than normal, in for 5 or 6 seconds and out 5 or 6 seconds.

Heart Breathing: Imagine breathing through your heart. Picture yourself slowly breathing in and out through your heart area.

Heart Feeling: Activate a positive feeling as you maintain your heart focus and breathing. Recall a time you felt good inside, and try to re-experience the feeling. Remember a special place or the love you feel for a close friend, relative or treasured pet. The key is focus on something you really appreciate.

How do you feel? Do you notice a greater sense of ease, wellbeing or relaxation? Want to go even deeper? Try incorporating greater Appreciation into your life in these simple ways:

1. Appreciation Breaks: Take two or three appreciation breaks each day – ideally in early morning, during work, school, returning home or before bed. Just follow the above simple steps. It takes as little as two minutes to achieve mental, emotional and physical balance. 2. Appreciation List: Make a list of things you appreciate – people, places, activities, pets – and choose one or two each morning to hold in your heart during the day. Choose an item again at night to hold in your heart while you rest. 3. Appreciation in the Moment: Keep your Appreciation List close all day, in a pocket or purse, by your computer or elsewhere. In stressful moments, choose an item that can quickly evoke appreciation. It can turn a stressful day into one that flows – in 30 seconds or less.

"I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." – Maya Angelou

Engage the power of your heart to generate and sustain feelings of appreciation to help increase your own welling-being. Practicing these appreciation exercises accelerates your connection with your own heart. Appreciating ourselves and others helps restore the color to our black-and-white perception of life.

By simply activating a positive feeling of sincere appreciation, you can increase your heart rhythm coherence, reduce emotional stress and improve your health.

Consider practicing appreciation every day."