Applying What We Learned About the Heart-Brain to Be Champions in Healing and Wholeness
The closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics brought with it a final demonstration that with a focus and commitment to a higher cause and a shared goal, anything is possible. Just as athletes continued to break “impossible” records and awed the world with what feats the human body can achieve, so did the infectious spreading of the heart-warming idea that unification and peace among a divided country could be attained.
Although the start of the games began with apprehension, it proceeded with a historical display of hope. The concern for safety relating to the ongoing tensions of the missile crisis between North and South Korea transformed into a demonstration of a merger between the two. With the pressure of several countries threatening to skip the games unless security was assured, communication for the first time in years took place between the Koreas and ended with a promise for further conversation. This story coincided with the ideals, symbolism, and morals of the Olympic games and transcended its participants. If heeded, it can set the stage for nations.
There is a saying, what happens in the macrocosm can occur at the microcosm. There is a lot of history to this, but in simplistic terms, it means that the human being cannot be separated from the outside world. It is influenced, and its state reflected by, what happens surrounding it. (For those who are scholars and want more on this concept, encyclopedia.com has a wonderful overview.)
It is now time for the series of articles that I’ve written for a lesser exhilarating celebration, American Heart Month, to come to a close. I would like to suggest what we witnessed as touching and heartwarming in the Olympics on a global level could be achieved on a smaller, localized scale. By incorporating how to be more in touch with our heart-brain, we may be able to transform ourselves creating a ripple effect out into our own local “universe.” This could create waves of necessary and transformational changes for all nations.
The Heart of the Olympics
This international sporting event that is divided into winter and summer competitions is a time when the greatest athletes of each nation come together to compete. The participants’ desire to win is on a scale of magnitude most mere mortals cannot imagine. After years of commitment, sacrifice, dedication, extreme work ethic, and pride for their country, it’s time find to out who can earn something beyond the title of “national champion.” The world watches in wonderment to find out… who among this group of perfection in the human body, in all authenticity, is the best in the world. (source, source, source, source, source)
Whereas, in the modern world, it can appear that brute force and offense may win; unfair play and dishonest competition is met with apathy, disappointment, and is not tolerated in the Olympic games. (IOC pg. 10) The players are ideally taught to respect their competitors’ talents and abilities.
The end does not justify the means. You can almost hear the disappointed sighs from audiences across the continents when it is found out that an athlete had used doping to obtain an unfair advantage. The world is disgusted that it was deprived of truly discovering the genuine leader of the game amongst all the nations in the world.
Similarly, when misunderstandings occur among groups, separation, retaliation, unfair play, and disharmony can occur when every nation comes together to exhibit their athletes as “Citius, Altius, Fortius.” This is the Olympic motto in Latin for “Faster, Higher Stronger.” (source, source, source,)
This year was no different. Controversy and attempts at retaliation from Russia relating to their ability to compete occurred. (source, source, source). Regardless of any attempts to steal thunder from the flame of promise of a newly unified nation, it was unable to taint the symbolism and creed that the Olympics represent. (source, source, source, source, source, source)
The ideals and the feelings of those who witnessed the awe of their country’s amplified prowess were still expressed by the Olympic Credo:
The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well. (source)
These are the ideals, yet it is known that sometimes hunger for fame and greed can take over a greater vision. The good news is humans have devised codes, ethics, and principles which are meant to keep human desires in check and protect their members and their nations from falling into disharmony and eventual disintegration.
Below are excerpts from various sources on what the Olympics symbolizes and the Fundamental Principles of Olympism.
Imagine if the all world’s nations’ leaders considered these for their citizen’s every day:
The Olympic Movement uses symbols to represent the ideals embodied in the Olympic Charter. The Olympic symbol, better known as the Olympic rings, consists of five intertwined rings and represents the unity of the five inhabited continents (Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe). The coloured version of the rings—blue, yellow, black, green, and red—over a white field forms the Olympic flag. These colours were chosen because every nation had at least one of them on its national flag. (source)
“The Olympic symbol expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.” (Olympic Charter, Rule 8) (source)
The Fundamental Principles of Olympism
- Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind . Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles .
- The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
- The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism . It covers the five continents . It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the world’s athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games . Its symbol is five interlaced rings .
- The practice of sport is a human right . Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.
- Recognising that sport occurs within the framework of society, sports organisations within the Olympic Movement shall have the rights and obligations of autonomy, which include freely establishing and controlling the rules of sport, determining the structure and governance of their organisations, enjoying the right of elections free from any outside influence and the responsibility for ensuring that principles of good governance be applied .
- The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Olympic Charter shall be secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status .
- Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC . (Olympic Charter)
Taking Care of Our Heart’s Microcosm for a Better Macrocosm: Applying What We’ve Learned
I would not dare to proclaim I have the answers to society’s divisions and political controversies. As a researcher, science-lover, and clinician, I do know that love is medicine. I also am aware that the heart sets the stage for coherence in the individual. This spreads to better emotional intelligence for better relationships and flows into the potential for a more humanistic and understanding society.
Recently, I provided a summary list of the topics I covered throughout this month. I discussed integrating the mind-body with personalized medicine for every individual in order to achieve the best outcomes for cardiovascular and whole-body health.
The outside world could change for the better as each persons’ perspectives are broadened. Starting with applying what we’ve learned on integrative heart health as individuals, we can become more coherent, heart-healthy, and in alignment with our true selves, values, emotions, and social connections and communities. With the understanding of mind-body coherence, hormones and emotions are brought into balance, nurturing relationships are prioritized over conflict-seeking behaviors, and your heart and brain have the nutrients they need for optimal functioning and more life-giving choices.
The beneficial impact that results as we transform our emotional hearts and grow stronger in our bodies could create more cohesive daily interactions that would spread to all we meet. If we change our reactions, the receivers’ responses would also change. This could ultimately lead to a population that is also able to communicate through their differences, learn from these differences, and unify for the greater good of all its people.
I hope you can use some of the tools listed and apply them in your life.
If this spread from family to family, and we taught each other how to care for our hearts in a broadened, integrative way, what would occur?
One can only dream of the possibilities.
The Next Step
Please click here to get the 5 main summary points and learn about the importance of integrative support relating to these heart-centered tools right now.
Read and apply the applications.
Find what method works for you to transform your life. Start your ripple of transformation today!
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This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.)
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