Using the Mind to Heal the Heart

By Laura Fine, H.H.P., M.F.T., M.A., A.E.A.

In Saint Exupery’s The Little Prince, he states, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.” The heart is not just a physical organ, it is an energy center, a place of consciousness, a space of expanded awareness of the existence of essence, the essence of the universe which is love, that lives and pulsates inside of us. It is our most natural state. Our “other” states are those of lifetimes of learned distortions of the essence of our True Self.

My teacher says, “We use the mind to heal the mind.” He is referring to the True Mind, which lives near the physical heart, not the brain. All distress that isn’t life threatening is based in learned distorted perspectives of our mental patterns, sometimes referred to as “belief systems.” These belief systems repetitively replay like cassette tapes in our mind. Our belief systems can either perpetuate a state of wellbeing and ease, or a state of distress. Some of us who may already be working with positive thinking, understand this concept. But the question is, if “positive thinking” were really that effective, why hasn’t it worked for me consistently? Why do I still struggle with old repetitive negative hurts?

If you look at a cell under a microscope its natural life force impulse is to move. If you restrict its path, in one direction, it will look for movement in a different direction. If you continue to restrict its path until it can no longer find a path for movement, it will pulsate in place, its walls will begin to thicken, and finally, it dies. Inherent in our nature are spontaneous creative impulses looking for life force expression in every direction. When one direction is thwarted, we create defenses, we then look in another direction until we can find movement. The more restricted our possibilities for movement, the thicker our walls become. These restrictions and walls create rigid patterns in the neurological matter of the mind.

The subconscious and unconscious mind retain these deeply patterned thought rigidities. These patterns have an energetic dynamic that originated in our childhood, infancy, and uncountable past life times. These unconscious patterns express themselves as restrictions to our present life interactions, relationships and ambitions. They cause us pain, distress, a sense of low self esteem, insecurity and other limitations. As much as we may possess an intellectual, rational understanding about “why” we may feel defensive or insecure in a particular situation, it often does not diminish our feelings of discomfort. Our frustration lies in the knowing presence of our True Mind that senses we are capable of more pleasure.

When we explore the invisible electromagnetic realm of the physiological and energetic dynamic that contains the constricting experience of discomfort, the light of consciousness exposes the distorted cellular memory message and brings about a “combustive experience” that necessitates change. Conscious awareness of the emotional content, life force (unconstricted breath), and cognitive understanding, release the cellular trauma from its rigidified state and allow that once stagnant rigidified energy of the belief systems to again flow freely. It can feel something like an internal shower of tingling sensations, that can be experienced as invigorating, highly stimulating, small body spasms, or fluid electricity that floods throughout the body. This energy then “washes” over the mind, the experience itself bringing new insights and clarity where there might have been confusion or doubt.

This process is not “magical,” it is physiological, though our responses to it sometimes feel as though it is miraculous, enlightening, and uplifting. This process is the activation of the body’s natural innate self-correcting healing mechanism bringing us closer to the heart’s natural state which is one of unconditional love and The True Mind’s natural state, which is one of clarity and serenity.