part0010

When I was a young man in the 1970s I remember driving into Washington, D.C., from Northern Virginia. All around me were high-rise apartments that extended for miles and miles. I imagined all the people inside and wondered, like many others have, “How can so many adults and children develop a new consciousness or way of thinking needed to solve our mounting personal and social problems?” I knew that positive changes do happen for many people as they mature, often through trial and error, “the school of hard-knocks.” But this growth process is too slow to meet the increasing challenges that our world is facing. As I continued to pass the forest of buildings, I also wondered, “What if the positive changes each person makes contribute to an overall field of consciousness that we all draw from to co-create our reality—what if there is some way we can contribute to that field that will make it easier for others to make their own changes? Back then I didn’t have a scientific understanding to verify the correctness of my feeling, but today, I have a lot to draw from.

Fast forward twenty years. It was confirming to me when HeartMath researchers discovered in 1996 that when an individual is in a state of heart rhythm coherence their heart radiates a more coherent electromagnetic signal into the environment that can be detected by the nervous systems of other people and even animals. It wasn’t surprising to learn that the heart generates the strongest magnetic field in the body, approximately 100 times stronger than that produced by the brain. This field can be detected several feet from the body with sensitive magnetometers. The heart’s electromagnetic field provides a plausible mechanism for how we can “feel” or sense another person’s presence and emotional state independent of body language or other factors.[1]

What I found even more validating was a later study that examined whether people trained in heart coherence could energetically facilitate coherence in other people who were in close proximity but not touching. This study found that the heart coherence of an untrained participant was indeed facilitated by others who were in a coherent state. It also provided evidence of heart rhythm synchronization between people or social coherence.[2] Here’s a brief summary: There were forty participants and ten card tables with four subjects placed around each card table. Three were trained in HeartMath coherence techniques and the fourth was not. All four were hooked up to equipment that measured their heart rhythms. The three HeartMath trained participants were instructed to practice the Heart Lock-In Technique to increase their coherence and silently radiate/send positive feelings to the untrained participant who was instructed to just sit quietly. When the three HeartMath trained participants reached a sustained level of high coherence, the fourth person went into a higher state of coherence. It was as though the untrained subject had become energetically lifted into heart coherence. In addition, there was a statistical relationship between this synchronization and a feeling of emotional bonding among the participants. The authors of the study concluded that, “evidence of heart-to-heart synchronization across subjects was found which lends credence to the possibility of heart-to-heart bio-communications.”

In social science terminology, social coherence is reflected as a stable, harmonious alignment of relationships that allows for the efficient flow of energy and communication. Social coherence can expand to a family, group or organization in which a network of relationships exists among individuals. Social coherence requires that group members be attuned and emotionally aligned and that the group’s energy is regulated by care, not by threat or force from others. For example, in a coherent team, there is freedom for individual members to do their part and thrive while maintaining cohesion and resonance within the group’s intent and goals.[3]

Many researchers are interested these days in understanding energetic social dynamics. Sociologist Raymond Bradley in collaboration with neuroscientist Karl Pribram developed a general theory of social communication to explain the patterns of social organization common to most groups. Bradley and Pribram found that most high functioning groups have a global organization and coherent network of emotional energetic relations interconnecting virtually all members. They found that positive energy is required to shift a system into a more coherent mode, and the key to creating stable, coherent groups is related to increasing positive emotions and dissipating negative emotional tensions, interpersonal conflicts, and other stressors within and among the individuals in that group.[4]

A growing body of evidence suggests that an energetic field can form between individuals in a group through which communication among all the group members occurs. In other words, there is a literal group “field” that connects all the members. As more individuals within a group (sports team, workplace, school classroom, social group, etc.) increase their heart coherence, the group increases in social coherence and can achieve its objectives more harmoniously and effectively.[3]

In their paper Social Baseline Theory: The Role of Social Proximity in Emotion and Economy of Action, Drs. Lane Beckles and James A. Coan from University of Virginia, documented the benefits of emotionally- connected interactions between people.[5] I found one aspect of their work particularly fascinating with regard to the energetic influence we can have on one another’s perceptions. They wrote:

“The brain modifies sensory perception in ways that bias decision-making to manage energy use efficiently. [6] For example, wearing a heavy backpack makes distances seem further away and uphill inclines seem steeper. [7] In recent work by Schnall, Harber, Stefanucci, & Proffitt, hill slants were judged as less steep when participants stood next to a friend. [8] Moreover, this effect was moderated by the duration of the friendship—the longer the friendship, the less steep the hill.”

In essence what they are describing is that our perception of walking uphill is different when we are in emotional resonance with someone. The deeper the emotional connection, the less steep the hill appears. I have found this true in my life. Most weekends I hike with a group of friends in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The hills seem much higher and hiking a lot harder when I’m by myself. What I take from this is that life gets easier and we can better achieve our goals as we develop heart-based relationships .

What about negative social coherence some may ask. Isn’t there a lot of emotional resonance within fanatical groups or movements that seek to dominate or impose their beliefs on others? When a group’s emotional bonding is motivated by the desire to inflict mental, emotional or physical harm on others, they are resonating in a lower vibrational intention that doesn’t include the heart’s discernment. The heart’s intelligence by its very nature is inclusive, and heart coherence activates higher centers of the brain that experience compassion and the desire to help others develop their higher potentials. Social coherence enables a “collective intelligence” that helps raise the vibratory rate of the individuals and the group’s energetic field.

MIT Sloan School of Management professor Dr. C. Otto Scharmer describes “collective intelligence” as going from ego-system to eco-system as groups evolve towards a higher order harmony and quality. He offers “U Theory” as the capacity for people to work together with “Open Mind, Open Heart and Open Will.” “U” theorists and researchers Joseph Jaworski and Jane Corbett found that this can be deepened through practice of heart-based awareness tools. Corbett wrote, “Collective intelligence can be rapidly activated to share insights and crystallise future possibilities, even in previously stuck situations, and then take skillful action in prototyping and embedding change.” [9]

In today’s society there is often a “surface level” harmony where people are basically civil and cooperative. That is of course important and has led to a global society that has order. However, in most groups, large or small, many individuals understandably have anxieties, judgments, frustrations, biases and preconceptions of each other or of other groups. These feelings, said or unsaid, are energetically communicated and create separations or “closed hearts” that result in miscommunications, relational problems, and also health problems.[3]

Social coherence is happening more and more as the planetary shift is accelerating. However, in many cases it takes a significant event for larger numbers of people to collectively open their hearts. For example, often we see an increase in social coherence after a tragedy. Events such as natural disasters tend to open people’s hearts, bring people together and lead them to put aside negative attitudes to work cooperatively to benefit the community. Then as time passes and normalcy returns, the community spirit that was ignited by a dramatic event often fades, as people revert to their familiar, operational baselines. Yet, on the other hand, many people are amazed at what they were able to accomplish together and the lasting friendships and bonds they forged.

Another indicator of more social coherence emerging can be seen in ways some large brands are shifting their marketing focus away from themselves and onto the positive contribution they can make in the world. The number of Super Bowl 2015 commercials with messages of care and heart connection was truly surprising to me. The retail department store chain, Target® , enjoyed unexpected social media exposure due to a sincere act of kindness by an employee. When a teenage boy stopped by a Target in search of a clip-on tie for a job interview, a Target team member took the time to help the nervous teen put on his new tie and showed him how to do a proper handshake and tackle a few tough interview questions. This sincere moment was caught in a video, then was shared online and quickly became a viral sensation. This simple act and the exposure it generated played perfectly into Target’s tagline, “Expect More, Pay Less, Each and Every Day at Target®.” Marketing guru Simon Mainwaring, author of We First, commented, “Nothing resounds more loudly among today’s media-savvy audience than an authentic act of human kindness. If there is a lesson to be gained from this [Target’s] experience, it’s that authentic simple acts of genuine kindness resonate as loudly, if not more loudly, than any multi-million dollar campaign.”

More and more companies are focusing on purpose-driven marketing because social purpose and better health are important to millennials and other consumers. Whatever the motives of these companies in trying to sell their products, they are increasingly recognizing that customers want to feel genuine care, connection and kindness—and that these heart-based qualities are an emerging social trend. We all stand to benefit from this unfolding awareness. Sure there’s a lot more to be done but we need to appreciate the steps these companies are taking, and appreciate ourselves for the steps we’re taking to upgrade our personal behaviors as well .

Developing a more heart-based approach to business is also becoming more popular in today’s work environments, although it’s certainly not a movement yet. It’s slowly becoming accepted that people do better (and so does the company’s balance sheet) when they work in an atmosphere of care and appreciation rather than fear and stress. More employees are feeling a sense that there’s more to them, and have the urge to become who they truly are . They are recognizing the difference between what they’ve been and the new person they’re trying to be, and they want to follow their heart. As Steve Jobs said in a commencement address, shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer, “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

These are extraordinary times in that there’s new openness and innovation, yet many aspects of organizational structure operate in a very dysfunctional way. The effects are seen and quantified in soaring health care costs, increased absenteeism, job dissatisfaction and poor decisions. It’s difficult for leaders in most organizations to see how to get from where they are to where they want to be.

Some of the immediate and practical benefits of increasing coherence in organizations that we’ve seen include: better emotional self-management, more authentic communication, fewer mistakes, increased energy and productivity, more creativity and intuition, better decision making and more. A work environment where people move and flow with greater equilibrium and warmth, treat each other with compassion and care and have more heart intelligence to cut through challenges in a way that’s best for all concerned, is a satisfying place to spend eight or more hours a day. In today’s world of high-speed change and constant connectivity, leaders and employees need to be smarter and more intuitive than before to maximize potentials. A leader with business heart is not soft, but knows that a strong heart and clear head are both essential.

James K. Clifton, chairman and chief executive officer of the Gallup Organization reported that successful organizations can learn to build sustainable growth by harnessing the power of human emotions. He says that companies have learned how to be lean and mean, but need to discover a new way to manage human nature and unlock human potential. This requires understanding human emotion.

I saw a TV interview with departing Costco® CEO James Sinegal that depicts a corporate leader’s emphasis on the importance of positive emotion in business and also represents a growing change in corporate culture—one that is more heart-centric and socially coherent. Sinegal was known for his focus on making Costco a great place to work and the interview showed him visiting stores and interacting with employees at all levels in a warm and caring way. At the end of the interview he was asked if there would be changes coming to Costco after he left. He responded by saying of course there would be. He went on to say that he hoped the corporate culture he had created would be preserved, adding, “Culture is not the most important thing in business. It is the only thing.”

HeartMath coherence training programs help people learn to generate an alignment of heart, mind and emotions, resulting in increased resilience, health, creativity and other outcomes desired by most individuals, health professionals and organizations. Heart coherence training enables individuals and teams to develop self-regulation skills and access their heart’s intuitive intelligence, with almost immediate health and performance benefits. Pre- and post-assessments in organizations provide validation that increasing personal and social coherence creates a higher level of individual and collective functioning to facilitate a healthier culture. I will share meta-analysis data from a few studies to offer a picture of possibilities as more and more groups and organizations start to make a greater connection to the heart’s intelligence.

In a large study conducted in five different global companies in Europe and the U.S., coherence training produced some significant results. The composite data from pre- and post-psychometric survey assessments of over 5,700 individuals shown in the graphs below found that, in just six to nine weeks, practice of HeartMath coherence tools produced the following average outcomes in people who reported having these symptoms often – always: 44% drop in fatigue; 52% drop in anxiety; 60% drop in anger; 60% drop in depression; 33% improvement in sleep. In addition, there were similar improvements in physical health among those who reported having these symptoms often – always: 44% drop in body aches and pains; 43% reduction in indigestion; 63% reduction in rapid heartbeats;

and 44% drop in muscle tension.

Post-assessments done again after six months and then again after one year by some of the organizations showed sustained improvements. Participants also reported significantly decrease overwhelm and intent to leave their job. What was interesting to me is that one of the company managers told us that some employees continued to practice the tools they learned while many others didn’t. (That would be a typical response to any training program.) Nevertheless, improvements occurred and were sustained across the entire population. Some managers/leaders commented that something in the overall environment changed through the efforts made by only a portion of the people, which made it easier for others to achieve the positive benefits.

This intriguing finding conveys the potential of social coherence, just as we observed in the study mentioned at the start of this chapter where the heart rhythm coherence of three people facilitated an unconscious shift into heart rhythm coherence in a fourth person sitting around a table. The prospect of a social coherence multiplier effect is exciting to organizations that want to create a healthier and more caring culture .

Hospitals and healthcare organizations have been early adopters of our programs, which isn’t surprising since health care workers are deeply aware of the relationship between health and costs. This chart shows a meta-analysis of over 8,700 health care workers from several health care systems pre and post HeartMath training. Note the significant changes in emotional states and stress symptoms in this large population.

Many of these hospitals also measured costs savings. Several calculated they saved over $1M per year in reduced turnover and absenteeism, and determined that the program provided more than 10 times ROI (Return on Investment). As hospital leaders and staff learned HeartMath tools to transform stress and increase resilience, it also facilitated a shift to a more caring culture that permeated the hospital, increasing patient satisfaction. Here is one story.

Fairfield Medical Center (FMC) in Lancaster, Ohio, implemented HeartMath as an organization-wide initiative to improve quality of life for staff and quality of care for patients. To achieve FMC’s enduring social mission: “to be a hospital of excellence, caring for staff, patients and the community,” this 2,000+ strong team of healthcare providers adopted the HeartMath approach “to provide efficient, compassionate, safe, high quality healthcare for FMC patients and their families.” As of this writing, 1,120 FMC employees have been trained in HeartMath methods, nearly 54% of FMC’s total workforce, and HeartMath training is now required for all new hires .

Cynthia Pearsall, Chief Nursing Officer at Fairfield Medical Center and a HeartMath certified trainer describes how this works. “When you feel stressed”, she explains “you can literally flip the switch anytime, anyplace, into the ‘stress free zone’ by changing the instant message the heart sends to the brain by way of the nervous system. I start every day with a HeartMath technique called ‘Heart Lock-In’ to strengthen my ability to sustain a coherent state, to achieve balance and synchronization between my heart and mind, and to become more resilient to the stresses I am sure to face throughout the day. I even begin all of my meetings this way, with a 90-second Heart Lock-in; and if we are having a difficult time reaching a decision as a team, I will ask each of us to take a couple minutes to practice some easy coherence steps to change the quality of the moment. Once the meeting resumes, we can reliably reach a decision. HeartMath is bringing this family of caregivers, indeed this local community, closer together.”

Cynthia’s example represents how applying the coherence building tools together helped to create a change in the hospital’s culture that saved money and improved health and performance. But most importantly to her, practicing HeartMath helped her team get along better as a result of more authentic communication .

Another area where we have seen benefits from increased individual and social coherence is in educational environments. A controlled study funded by the U.S. Department of Education that involved approximately 1,000 tenth grade students practicing HeartMath techniques along with heart coherence technology resulted in a significant coherence baseline increase in four months.[10] The experimental group was taught “TestEdge® ,” a HeartMath program to reduce test anxiety and improve academic test scores. The graph below shows the physiological changes in baseline coherence in two students that reflected the findings of the overall group before and four months after training. These coherence baseline changes correlated with improved behaviors, reduced test anxiety, and increased test scores.

Prior to the TestEdge program, 61% of students reported being affected by test anxiety, with 26% experiencing high levels of test anxiety often or most of the time. Those with high levels of test anxiety scored, on average, 15 points lower on standardized tests in both Mathematics and English-Language Arts than students with low test anxiety. Of those students who reported being affected by test anxiety at the start of the TestEdge program, 75% had reduced levels of test anxiety by the end of the study.

The reduction in test anxiety was correlated with improvements in socio-emotional and behavioral measures in the HeartMath group: reduction in Negative Affect (feelings of stress, anger, disappointment, sadness, depression, and loneliness); reduction in Emotional Discord, reflecting increased emotional awareness and improved emotional management; and reduction in Interactional Difficulty, reflecting increased empathy and improved relations with others. In addition, there was an increase in Positive Class Experience, reflecting perception of increased enjoyment and learning in class, positive feelings toward classmates, and teacher care. Finally, there was also a significant increase in academic test scores in the HeartMath trained group over the control group, ranging on average from 10 to 25 points.

HeartMath scientific advisory board member, and a trusted mentor on many of our research studies, the late Karl Pribram, MD, Ph.D., (former Director of Stanford University’s Brain Research center, author of Brain and Perception and Languages of the Brain ) was most passionate about our research in education. He wrote, “I was thrilled to read HeartMath’s comprehensive report on the results of the TestEdge National Demonstration Study. The study is superb…(and) yielded an impressive body of cross-corroborating evidence do cumenting the effectiveness of the TestEdge program in reducing student test anxiety and improving test performance. Of particular import is the physiological evidence indicating that students in the program had established a new set point of emotional stability, a requisite for sustained behavioral change. The study is an exemplar of how social science experiments in open field research settings ought to be done.”

It’s also true that there are a tremendous amount of competing agendas in today’s world, resulting in everything from serious debate to political and religious upheavals and wars. The world’s problems are on full display. Yet, there is plenty of hopeful news to consider in the midst of the perceived chaos. Many people are sensing that the collective global stir is part of a shift and transition into a new consciousness based on care, cooperation and acceptance. It’s the process of a new world birthing itself in the midst of the old one. Awareness is shifting, people are changing, society is transforming and a new collective intelligence is emerging.

Try for a moment to disengage from the chaos we often see in society and think about this. What if many more people came to realize the transforming potentials available within the heart of who they truly are? That what they have sensed about “heart” is real and not something only talked about in spirituality or philosophy. That by connecting with their heart’s intelligent discernment, they can better manage their emotions; experience more compassion, appreciation and love; and improve their health, relationships, and performance. What if increasingly more people unleashed the power of coherent alignment and partnership between their mind, emotions and their heart’s intuitive guidance for navigating their daily interactions? What kind of socially coherent world might that be? When I think about these possibilities I see a new, different and better world coming into view. From the eyes of the heart, I can see all these things coming to pass .