When you feel neutral about something, there is no emotional charge!
It is not a boring place to be, but rather a great place to hang out in, according to HeartMath® Executive VP Howard Martin. In fact, neutral has an energetic wavelength that is vastly different than feeling polarized about something.
In this crazy year, which is still not over yet, using the “Power of Neutral” might just be the best thing for your health and for the overall health of our planet.
The “Power of Neutral” is one of the first tools we can use to reduce stress and anxiety and build up our own emotional resilience, according to HeartMath® CEO Dr. Deborah Rozman who adds that it is something we all need more of today.
How does this work?
Like all the HeartMath® techniques it starts with slowing your breath down and directing your breath into the heart area (your chest). As you slow your breath down to the count of 5 during both the inhale and exhale, you might notice that you are feeling less “ramped up” about whatever is upsetting you. Your focus has now switched from your angry thoughts and emotions to your Heart Center, which has its own brain. Your heart, in fact, has more than 40,000 neurons in it. It has its own nervous system. It also has its own intelligence.
What you might notice happening is that your heart starts speaking to you in these quiet moments. In the stillness, your heart might say something like “My perspective may not be on the only perspective.” or “I don’t really know for sure that this is what will happen.” or “Could there be another point of view that I have not considered?”
Entering neutral allows you to “go deeper into the heart, allowing you to connect more with spirit.” according to Rozman.
Getting to Neutral May Save Your Body and Mind like it does your Car’s Gearshift
During stressful times, try the following technique while watching the news (if you choose to) interacting with family and friends (whom you might not agree with over topics such as COVID19, how you are raising your children, or any other matter), or just try it in your everyday interactions that are triggering (see last week’s blog for what triggered me) and see how much better you feel.
- Slow your breathing down to a comfortable pace (maybe 5 seconds inhale and 5 seconds exhale)
- Focus the breath on the heart (your chest area)
- Switch your focus from your angry thoughts to a feeling of love or appreciation for someone or something you care deeply about.
- Continue to breathe like this until you feel more neutral about whatever was upsetting you in the first place.
- Rinse and repeat as often as you need this throughout your day.
Benefits of the Time Out for Neutral
- You may notice you feel less emotionally wrung out
- You may be able to think more clearly
- You may be able to respond rather than react
- Your sleep may improve
- Your digestion may improve
- And overall, you may feel less anxious and stressed no matter what is going on in the world.
I use HeartMath® techniques in all of my Health Coaching and Yoga programs these days. It has made a world of difference in my life and in the lives of thousands of people worldwide.
HeartMath’s® mission is to help activate the heart of humanity. I am so honored to be part of such a heart-based community of professionals offering their services to the world.
