A Closed Heart Is A Closed Mind Вђ“ Returning To Heart Consciousness -

: The idea that without empathy and vulnerability (an open heart), the mind becomes rigid, judgmental, and unable to process new or conflicting information [2]. 2. Characteristics of a "Closed Heart"

: Shifting attention to the center of the chest to calm the nervous system. : The idea that without empathy and vulnerability

: Proponents often cite that the heart sends more signals to the brain than vice versa [1]. A "closed" or stressed heart sends signals that trigger the brain's survival mode (fight or flight), effectively "closing" the higher cognitive functions of the mind [1, 2]. : Proponents often cite that the heart sends

: Operating from a place of fear or past trauma, which leads to "black and white" thinking. : Actively generating feelings of appreciation to "rewire"

: Actively generating feelings of appreciation to "rewire" the heart's baseline from fear to safety.

: Replacing critical judgment with curiosity. This "opens the mind" to understand the why behind actions rather than just the what .