In the past, I encountered a profound sense of exhaustion. As a high-performing individual, I often pushed myself harder to climb the accomplishment ladder. As the society taught us to glorify the hustling and grinding culture so that we can fulfil our ambitious drive to achieve more, have more and eventually be more than good enough. Working long hours, including weekends, becomes our priority above all else. Yet, deep down, we feel disconnected from their true desires and values. Have you ever been in this situation?

In recent decades, neuroscience has revealed the presence of not just one, but three brains within us. Alongside the head, or cephalic brain, there's the enteric brain in the gut and the cardiac brain in the heart. These three brains communicate through intricate neural networks, profoundly influencing our mental and emotional well-being.

The head brain handles cognitive functions like reasoning and decision-making, while the heart brain offers relational intelligence, guiding us towards authentic connections. Meanwhile, the gut-brain governs physical functions like digestion and intuition, alerting us to potential danger.

One or two brains often tend to dominate our actions, depending on which we use more frequently. If logical thinking prevails, the head brain takes charge, leading to a more "head-oriented" approach. Relying on just one dominant brain can create conflicts when our mind, heart, and gut don't align, causing confusion and uncertainty.

Research also shows that changes in the gut microbiome can significantly impact the brain, affecting mood and behaviour. The gut-brain axis, connecting our gut and brain, plays a crucial role in this communication network.

Going back to the burnout situation. Our head-brain may rationalise our actions, telling us that success and productivity are paramount. Yet, our heart-brain quietly yearns for meaningful connections, work-life balance, and personal fulfilment. Meanwhile, our gut-brain sends subtle distress signals, warning them that they are neglecting their well-being and inner wisdom.

Despite these internal cues, we continue to ignore our heart and gut brains, solely focusing on meeting external expectations and demands. Over time, this disconnection from our truth and failure to honour all three brains lead to burnout.

We may then experience symptoms such as chronic fatigue, irritability, lack of motivation, and a sense of emptiness or disillusionment. Our physical and mental health may deteriorate as we become increasingly overwhelmed and stressed.

Modern culture is inclined to prioritise the head brain, relegating the heart and gut brains to secondary roles. We rely heavily on logic, planning, order, and strategic thinking in our daily lives. This imbalance creates an unstable model of intelligence, hindering our well-being.

A realigned model, however, honours the wisdom of all three brains. Picture a pyramid with the gut-brain forming a stable base, supporting the loving cardiac brain, which, in turn, supports the wise head brain at the top.

Achieving balance involves acknowledging each brain's contributions and listening to their signals. Practices like yoga, breathwork, and meditation can quiet the mind, stimulate the vagus nerve, and achieve coherence among the three brains, opening us to the wisdom of the heart and gut.

The vagus nerve represents the main component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which oversees a vast array of crucial bodily functions, including control of mood, immune response, digestion, and heart rate. It establishes one of the connections between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract and sends information about the state of the inner organs to the brain via afferent fibres. 

Imagine you're faced with a major life decision: whether to accept a job offer in a new city or stay in your current position. Your head brain, buzzing with logical analysis, tells you that the new job offers better career prospects and financial stability. However, your heart-brain, sensing a deep attachment to your current hometown, tugs at you with feelings of nostalgia and belonging. Meanwhile, your gut-brain, instinctively attuned to subtle cues, sends warning signals of unease, hinting that something may not be right about the new opportunity.

You're left feeling torn and conflicted without coherence among your three brains. Each brain pulls you in a different direction, creating inner turmoil and confusion. The lack of alignment makes making a clear, confident decision challenging, leaving you feeling stuck and indecisive.

As a result, you may find yourself experiencing heightened stress and anxiety, unable to trust your instincts or make a decisive choice. This inner discord can spill over into other areas of your life, affecting your relationships, work performance, and overall well-being.

In this scenario, the absence of coherence among your three brains leads to a state of disarray, hindering your ability to navigate life's challenges with clarity and confidence. You are feeling disconnected and misaligned from your truth.

The HeartMath Institute's research has shown that generating sustained positive emotions facilitates a body-wide shift to a specific, scientifically measurable state. This state is termed psychophysiological coherence because it is characterised by increased order and harmony in both our psychological (mental and emotional) and physiological (bodily) processes. Psychophysiological coherence is a state of optimal function.

Research also shows that when we activate this state, our physiological systems function more efficiently, experience greater emotional stability, and have increased mental clarity and improved cognitive function. Simply stated, our body and brain work better, feel better, and perform better. They operate like a symphony orchestra when they synchronise, guiding us towards confident and effective choices.

The concept of coherence is distinct from relaxation, both psychologically and physiologically. While relaxation reduces autonomic outflow and increases parasympathetic activity, coherence goes further by oscillating at the body's natural resonant frequency, promoting harmony and synchronisation in the nervous system and heart-brain dynamics. Unlike relaxation, coherence doesn't necessarily lower the heart rate but primarily changes the heart rhythm pattern. Breathing is crucial in achieving coherence, with rhythmic breathing at a 10-second rhythm being a helpful tool.

Coherence among the three brains is fundamental to our well-being and success. By fostering coherence through mindfulness and self-reflection, we can unlock a world of possibilities and embark on a journey towards optimal living and abundance much faster and effortlessly.

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