by Dave Wine, President & CEO
Did you know that your heart’s energy is at least 5,000 times stronger than your brain’s? Some studies show it may even be much stronger than that! We hear a lot about the power of our minds but our hearts are even stronger. It is no coincidence that we talk about the heart when it comes to love, the most powerful emotion we can have. And the opposite comment to indicate cruelty, “they are heartless”.
Why do I share this when I’m writing about mindfulness? Because we have to use our mind to focus and pay attention, but if we are not involving our heart in the process, it is not going to be that helpful for us. The goal of mindfulness is not just to watch our minds at work – it’s to help us get to a ‘better place’ through watching our minds and becoming more aware and seeking positive and peace-giving energy – that comes from the heart. For example, if I take a ‘time out’ and close my eyes and take a few deep breaths before I get in the car to drive, it can help me remember I am now driving and to pay attention. But if that same thought doesn’t touch the heart, I will likely get upset at the first driver that does something that is wrong like cutting me off in traffic, missing a turn signal, etc. Mindfulness really gets powerful when we can connect our brain’s energy (thoughts) to our heart’s energy (feelings). So if I can get in my car, direct my thoughts to “I’m driving now…” and also direct those thoughts to my heart, “I care about others and I want to drive with that care in my heart”, my ability to drive relaxed, safe, and at peace just went up several-fold.
So the greatest gift of mindfulness is when we allow our thoughts to slow down and intercept the energy of the heart. Because the heart is where our positive emotions and energy reside. It is no accident that the heart and Valentine’s Day love and appreciation are connected. This is really the secret of prayer, meditation and worship. When our thoughts focus and we allow the energy of our hearts to come into place, we become gifts to others and to our world. It is not just mindfulness – it is mindfulness to help us get in touch with our hearts – that positive, hopeful, loving part of our self, others, and life. And that is wholeness. And, of course, that is MAX!
David Wine
David is the President and CEO of the MAX enterprise, having served in that capacity since its formation in 2001. He has forty plus years of leadership experience in the business and faith-based worlds, being an ordained minister, having been elected to the highest position in his denomination, and receiving numerous awards and recognition for his leadership in the insurance industry. He currently serves on numerous boards in the church and insurance sectors. His hobbies include hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing as well as being an avid reader. David and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, a son, and four grandchildren.