Doc Lew Childre’s book, The HeartMath Solution, provides a comprehensive look at the benefits of emotional management and physical wellbeing by utilizing the power of one’s heart as a means of achieving greater levels of mental, emotional, and physical health. Building on research conducted at the Institute of HeartMath, which Childre founded in 1991, The HeartMath Solution outlines how engagement with the power of one’s heart can improve overall health and well-being by improving emotional regulation, emotional awareness, physical health, mental performance, and spiritual intimacy.
The beginning of The HeartMath Solution begins with the premise that emotional emotional experiences and physical health are interconnected. Childre states that, as emotions are experienced through the heart, an optimal experience can be achieved by managing one's emotional — and thus physical — experiences. To achieve this, Childre introduces the concept of heart intelligence, an emotional and physiological process able to actively manage experiences, feelings, or behaviors. Heart intelligence, as Childre explains, encompasses “the power to recognize and change the way one thinks, feels, and acts.”
When working toward emotional balance, Childre asserts that it is important for individuals to learn to identify their emotions and reactions. To this end, Childre introduces several practices that can be used to identify and manage the feelings experienced, including “the Freeze Frame,” which involves briefly stopping and recognizing how the body, mind, and emotions respond to particular experiences. He also introduces “Heart Lock-ins,” which involve focusing on positive feelings such as appreciation, compassion, or care.
In addition, Childre outlines numerous physiological benefits of heart-centric programs, as research conducted by the Institute of HeartMath demonstrates that increased heart coherence — the synchronization of the electrical signals of the heart — can lead to enhanced physical and mental performance. This is done mainly through an approach known as HeartMath’s Inner Balance, which is able to measure heart rhythms to detect and manage disruptive emotions.
The HeartMath Solution offers a holistic approach to achieving a greater balance between the physical, mental, and emotional components of health. Following a scientifically-based outline of what it means to practice and develop heart intelligence, Childre’s book details concrete techniques that can be employed to improve overall health and well-being. This comprehensive and accessible book serves as an important resource for health professionals and individuals alike and provides an understanding of the benefits associated with managing stress levels and emotions.
