| All my life I have heard people use the phrase, "Bless | | | | According to HeartMath, "A shift in heart rhythms |
| your heart!" Not so much recently, but when I was | | | | may not seem important but in fact it creates a |
| younger, it seemed like all the older people said it; so | | | | favorable cascade of neural, hormonal and biochemical |
| much so, in fact, that it lost any real meaning to me. | | | | events that benefit the entire body. The |
| "Bless your heart" was a little like saying, "Hello," or | | | | stress-reducing effects are both immediate and long |
| "Goodbye," when using the telephone; it was just | | | | lasting." |
| one of those phrases "old people" used frequently -- | | | | It is an established fact that a person on the |
| and automatically, in certain situations. | | | | receiving end of a kind act benefits to a certain |
| What is a blessing? And can you really "bless" | | | | degree - emotionally and physically. But it is also a |
| someone's heart? And, if you did bless someone's | | | | medical fact that the person performing the kind act |
| heart, what did it do; what did it feel like? And why | | | | also benefits from the release of healing, good-mood |
| would you do such a thing, anyway? What kid knows | | | | producing hormones that benefit both health and |
| the answers to these questions? Most of us are | | | | mood. Even more interesting is the fact that anyone |
| taught that the heart is simply a muscle inside your | | | | witnessing a kind act experiences the same positive |
| chest that pumps blood; and a blessing is something | | | | health benefits as the giver and receiver of the |
| you have to say before you eat, or when someone | | | | kindness. |
| sneezes. | | | | In addition to the immediate benefits experienced a |
| The funny thing about people saying, "Bless your | | | | result of the positive effects of giving, receiving, or |
| heart," is that they said it when you did something | | | | witnessing a blessing, there is evidence that |
| really nice, or when you got hurt, or when something | | | | harnessing and focusing the power of prayer, as a |
| bad happened to you - and even sometimes when | | | | group, can create even bigger positive changes in the |
| you did something really dumb. All of the different | | | | world. Kate Nowak's Blessing Experiment, according |
| uses only served to further obscure any practical | | | | to ancient wisdom, and cutting edge medical and |
| meaning. But, I now know that, whether I am feeling | | | | scientific research, has the power to change the |
| good, or feeling bad, I'd always rather receive a | | | | world by bringing a tremendous number of people |
| blessing than a curse. It's always Better to Bless. | | | | together with the common goal of focusing on |
| A commonly accepted definition of, "Blessing," is: "to | | | | blessing rather than stressing. Prayer studies have |
| infuse with Divinity, or with one's hopes." Blessing | | | | shown that the collective mental energy of a group |
| seems to be our way of sending love, energy, | | | | of people with a common desire had a measurable |
| gratitude, or healing from our heart into something, or | | | | affect on outcomes - hence the practice of "mass" |
| someone, that seems to be in need, or somehow | | | | and other group prayer practices and rituals. "The |
| worthy or deserving of a gift or demonstration of | | | | family that prays together stays together," they say; |
| appreciation or love. | | | | and, "what any two agree on in prayer will surely |
| Philosophers and prophets throughout time have | | | | come to pass." |
| focused their greatest wisdom teachings on the | | | | Besides the potential effects that can be generated |
| faculties and power of the human heart - not as a | | | | by a group of people praying for the same thing at |
| mere muscle, but as the center of our being. Though | | | | the same time, a single person praying for the same |
| unfathomable to most people, our greatest minds | | | | thing over a period of time will generate measurable |
| have always agreed that the heart, in addition to | | | | results in that person's life and health. Supporting Kate |
| distributing the "spark of life" throughout our bodies, | | | | Nowak's Blessing Challenge is HeartMath research that |
| is very much a living magnet that draws us together | | | | reveals the power of sustained positive thinking - and |
| with our desires and offers supreme guidance - if | | | | the health benefits it generates. |
| only we listen to the "still, quiet voice within." | | | | When you bless someone, there is every reason to |
| According to ancient wisdom teachings, and the | | | | believe that something "magical" can happen; prayers |
| latest advances in medical and scientific research, the | | | | are answered and dreams come true - "All things are |
| heart is much more than a muscle. The heart is a | | | | possible." But there is no question that, when you |
| "thinking organ," just like the brain; except the heart | | | | bless someone, everyone benefits in a very real and |
| doesn't seem to make the same mistakes in | | | | immediate sense. Being in a environment of people |
| judgment the brain makes. Ancient teachings from | | | | experiencing the physiological effects of receiving, |
| every religion and culture on Earth talk about the role | | | | giving, or witnessing "Blessings" is a clinically-proven |
| of the heart in thinking and believing -- in creating | | | | benefit to body, mind, and spirit, and the ideal |
| your physiology and your experience of life. | | | | situation for "creating your reality" "according to your |
| "As you believe in your heart, so it is done unto you," | | | | beliefs." |
| is not simply poetry or scripture; it is advice for | | | | Whether this positive energy of love and creation is |
| creating your own experience. The HeartMath | | | | given from one heart to another, or inspired from |
| Institute is a global leader in research on the heart. | | | | within in response to the sharing of a blessing, or an |
| Researchers at HeartMath have found that, "when | | | | act of kindness, there is no doubt that it is always |
| you learn how to intentionally shift to a positive | | | | Better to Bless. Bless your Heart! |
| emotion, heart rhythms immediately change." | | | | |