Before you dismiss the idea that the language of the heart is just another sticky sentiment like those expressed in many valentines, think again. Did you know that the heart's electromagnetic field is actually 5,000 times stronger than that of the brain or that it can be detected between five and ten feet away?
Research conducted by neuro-cardiologists shows that our hearts actually perceive and transmit information in much the same way that our brains do. In fact, our hearts and brains dialog.
Our hearts speak to us through electrical impulses, pressure waves and hormones. These heart hormones open us to intuition and enable us to feel empathy for others and to care. We read others with our hearts, taking their measure against our own heart-felt values. Our hearts actively seek ways for us to learn and grow. They not only influence how we perceive the world, but how we respond to it through our emotions and actions.
By no coincidence, the human vocabulary is filled with expressions, such as:
Obviously, our brains aren't the only organs we engage when we set words on paper. If as writers, our goal is to touch the hearts of readers, we need to involve our own hearts in the process. When we write half-heartedly, we cheat ourselves as well as our readers.
Take a few moments to brainstorm all of the phrases and expressions you can think of that contain the word heart. Pick one to write about.