Heart Coherence: What It Is & What It Isn’t
“Coherence” is one of those words that sounds intriguing. But what does it actually mean?
Is it always being calm?
Thinking positive thoughts?
Being in some blissful state where nothing bothers you anymore?
Thankfully, no.
Because after more than 18 years of working with the HeartMath® techniques, I can assure you that I still get irritated, overwhelmed and occasionally knocked completely off center.
Yup, I'm human.
Coherence hasn't changed that.
What it has changed is how I meet some of those moments.
There's Actually Something We Can Measure
This is one of the things that initially got my attention.
Your heart doesn't beat like a metronome.
There are tiny variations in the amount of time between one heartbeat and the next.
That's called heart rate variability, or HRV.
When we look at HRV, we can see different patterns in the heart rhythm.
HeartMath Institute describes heart coherence as a measurable state in which the heart-rhythm pattern becomes more smooth and ordered.
And because my nursing specialty was cardiac ICU, this part appealed to me.
You mean I can actually see something happening?
Okay.
Now I'm interested.
Using HeartMath® technology, I can watch my heart-rhythm pattern change in real time.
That doesn't mean the sensor is telling me whether I'm a good person, spiritually evolved or winning at life.
It's information.
And I LOVE information.
But Coherence Is More Than a Pretty Waveform
This is where my understanding of coherence has changed over the years.
At first, I was fascinated by the technology.
I still am.
But eventually I became much more interested in what happened when I walked away from the sensor and back into my actual life.
Could I find a little steadiness when something difficult happened?
Could I notice myself getting reactive before the words came flying out of my mouth?
Could I create just enough space to choose how I wanted to respond?
Sometimes yes.
Sometimes absolutely not.
That's why we call it a practice.
Coherence Doesn't Mean Pretending Everything Is Fine
This is important to me.
Coherence isn't about pasting a positive attitude over something that hurts.
If you're angry, you're angry.
If you're grieving, you're grieving.
If you're frightened, frustrated or having a truly lousy day, you don't need to pretend otherwise.
For me, coherence is more about finding a steadier place within whatever is happening.
Sometimes that feels peaceful.
Sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes it simply gives me enough room to think:
Okay, Barb. What do you want to do with this?
That little bit of space can change a lot.
I Wasn't an Instant HeartMath® Convert
Here's something people sometimes find surprising considering how long I've been teaching this work.
I was skeptical.
I didn't sit in a classroom at Mayo Clinic Hospital, listening to a HeartMath trainer, and immediately think, This is amazing. Sign me up.
I needed to experience it.
I needed to see whether it made any difference in my real life, not just while I was sitting quietly practicing something.
And over time, I began noticing.
I noticed moments when I recovered from stress differently.
I noticed that sometimes I could interrupt an automatic reaction.
I noticed what happened when I practiced consistently and what happened when I didn't.
And the technology gave my science brain another piece of the puzzle because I could observe changes in my heart-rhythm pattern rather than simply being told something was happening. Or being asked: "How do you feel?" What? I spent 30 years setting my personal feelings aside so I could be present for my patients. That's another story :)
But seeing the measurable shift on a screen? That worked for me.
Experience it. Measure something. Notice what happens. Stay curious.
Sound familiar?
Eighteen Years Later, I'm Still Practicing
I think that's one of the reasons I've continued these practices for so long.
I don't have to believe that I'll never become stressed again.
I don't have to chase a perfect coherence score.
And I certainly don't have to become some perpetually peaceful version of myself.
I get to practice being human with a few more tools available to me.
Some days I use them beautifully.
Other days I remember them about 20 minutes after I could have really used them.
Again, sooooo human.
But after all these years, I keep coming back to the same thing.
Awareness gives us a choice.
Maybe not every time.
Maybe not instantly.
But sometimes there's a tiny space between what happens and what we do next.
And I've come to appreciate that space very much.
That's what coherence has become for me.
Not perfection.
Not suppression.
Not pretending everything is okay.
A way of coming back to myself, noticing what's happening, and creating a little more choice in what comes next.
And I'm still learning.
I hope I always am.
Want to explore the science?
Heartful Integrations is Barbara Hudak’s independent wellness practice and isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by HeartMath. HeartMath is a registered trademark of Quantum Intech, Inc. For all HeartMath trademarks, visit http://www.heartmath.com/trademarks