The Heart's Code - LGP Group

"The Heart's Code"

Amanda Gore

Several years ago, I received my copy of The Heart's Code - a fantastic book by Dr Paul Pearsall . If you want to live longer, live better and be happier, more content, satisfied and fulfilled, you need to buy this book!

Paul is a gracious and charming man whom I met one Christmas about 6 years ago - I wrote enthusiastically then about the meeting and what I learned. Well, the book is even better than I imagined.

A psycho-neuro-immunologist - which means he is really smart and does very valid research - Dr Pearsall has been studying heart disease and transplants for many years; he is an expert on the effects of organ (especially heart) transplants.

Having been diagnosed as dying from leukemia many years ago and undergoing treatment and a bone marrow transplant, he has plenty of experience to write this wonderful book. The story is a fascinating one.

By the way, he has written many other wonderful books. The Pleasure Prescription is also fantastic - both these books will change the way you think about life and work.

To summarise just a couple of concepts in The Heart's Code, he suggests, and I agree, that we have both a brain language and a heart language. Our brain language is the one most of us are connected to because it's the way of western society. We pride ourselves on being rational, logical thinkers. Whereas, to be really well, we need to listen to the heart's language - feeling! We need to have our hearts and our brains connected.

As Dr Pearsall says, "The brain's way is to 'just do it' and the heart's way is to 'let it be."

Our heart's language is much gentler and quieter than the brain. It's just a vague whisper and we must take time to focus on our hearts and listen carefully. We need to slow down to 'hear' it, because it talks to us in the form of intuition. Most of us are racing around too fast trying to get everything done in 24 hours and this hurry mentality makes us deaf to the cry of our hearts.

To become aware of our heart's messages to us we need to be patient, to give ourselves time to tune in. We need to connect to others rather than control them. And to be pleasant - "the brain tends to be defensive, negative and prone to hostility, but the heart's nature is to be agreeable, congenial and harmonious." Hmmmm - does that sound like the difference between judging and loving acceptance as well?

We need to be humble and be grateful for the many gifts we are given. We need to be gentle - "take it easy, take your time and take what comes". To paraphrase an epitaph he quotes - "got everything done, died anyway".

I think it should read for those brain driven beings who are out to achieve everything; do everything; experience everything "got everything done, but died tired, lonely and really unfulfilled".

Too often the brain drives our body beyond its limit. We fool ourselves - our brain says we are not exhausted; we must have that promotion; we must become a partner in the firm; we need more excitement ; we need to have five TV's and several cars etc for happiness. Our brain tells us that when we have achieved all the 'things', we will be content.

Meantime, our hearts are ailing, unfulfilled, unhappy and unsatisfied. We have a gnawing feeling of despair, or that something is wrong while our brain tells us that we'll feel fine when we do this or buy that or achieve fame. WRONG!

We really need to hear what our heart is telling us - and what it (ie: we) wants and needs.

After all, it's the heart that is reminding us that all is not well - the brain has no idea!

So take some time for yourself; sit quietly in a place you love; give yourself time to focus on the physical area around your heart; imagine your breath is coming in and out of your heart area; then think of someone you love dearly and feel that love in your heart; then send it to other people you love. Did you know that when you send love to another, you actually boost your own immune system?

While you are in this quiet state, it will be easier to hear your 'heart's desires'……see, we already have these words in our language! It's only now that we realize the importance of them.

Make this HEART’S DESIRES MONTH – identify yours and find out those of your loved ones and friends – you may be surprised at the peace it brings you!