body = brain

© Amanda Blake 2013 | embright.org

BODY = BRAINPart 2: Embodying Social & Emotional Intelligence

Courage

1


Personal QualitiesEI: self-mastery

Somatic competency: Centering Interpersonal Skills

= YOU ARE HERE

Roadmap

Courage Take a StandResilience

Purposeful Action

Change

2


EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Self-Awareness

Empathy Social Skills

Self- Motivation

Se

lfO

the

r

Awareness Action

Self-Mastery

adapted from Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence

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COURAGE

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KAITLEN’S STORY

http://digitalcatharsis.wordpress.com/tag/childhood-sweetheart/

http://blisdva.blogspot.com/

5



http://blisdva.blogspot.com

http://blisdva.blogspot.com


ORGANIZING IN CHAOS

http://aikidoitalia.com/2011/12/15/seminario-la-costruzione-del-randori-e-suoi-principi/

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WHAT’S GOING ON?

Activate stress response

Center : Activate resilience & recovery

Organized around meaning & care

Go beyond perceived limits

Include physical exertion

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ACTIVATE STRESS RESPONSE

CHOICE & SAFETY!!!

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PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL INCOHERENCE

McCraty, et, al. (2001) Science of the Heart

Science of the Heart

© Copyright 2001 Institute of HeartMath 19

as experienced through the Freeze-Frame technique,create positive shifts in ANS function and these shiftsare accompanied by distinct modes of cardiac func-tion. While feelings of frustration create a disorderedor incoherent HRV waveform, characterized by anirregular, jerky pattern, appreciation produces anordered sine wave-like pattern in the HRV waveform,indicating increased balance and efficiency in ANSfunction. It is demonstrated that when the heart isoperating in this more ordered mode, frequency lock-ing occurs between the HRV waveform (heartrhythms) and other biological oscillators; this modeof cardiac function is thus referred to as the “entrain-ment mode.”

Another distinct mode of cardiac function, termed the“internal coherence mode,” is shown to characterize apositive inner feeling state called “amplified peace,”also achieved through using the Freeze-Frame tech-nique. In this state, internal mental and emotionaldialogue is largely reduced and the sympathetic andparasympathetic outflow from the brain to the heartappears to be decreased to such a degree that theoscillations in the HRV waveform become nearly zero.In addition, when the heart is functioning in theinternal coherence mode, the amplitude spectrumderived from the ECG exhibits a harmonic series(Figure 11).

Figure 11. The top graph is a typical spectrum analysis of theelectrocardiogram (ECG) showing the electrical frequenciesgenerated by the heart when a person experiences frustration. Thisis called an incoherent spectrum because the frequencies arescattered and disordered. The bottom graph shows the frequencyanalysis of the ECG during a period when the person is experiencingdeep, sincere appreciation. This is called a coherent spectrumbecause the power is ordered and harmonious.

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FREQUENCY IN HERTZ10 30

Appreciation - Coherent

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Frustration - Incoherent

This study was conducted with the same group ofsubjects in two different environments: under con-trolled laboratory conditions and during a normalbusiness day in their workplace. For the workplaceportion of the study, subjects wore portable Holterrecorders to monitor their ECG and were asked to usethe Freeze-Frame technique on at least three occa-sions when they were feeling stress or out of balance.Results showed that the positive shifts in emotionalstate, autonomic balance and more coherent modes ofcardiac function measured in the laboratory could beattained through the practice of the Freeze-Frameintervention during real-life stressful situations in theworkplace, for which the technique is designed.

ECGStress results in a similar state of incoherence, whether the

emotion is fear, frustration or

something else

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BUILDING RESILIENCE

actions. Bromberg (2006) stated that therapy must address such difficult issues in an atmosphere

that is “safe but not too safe” in order to expand the window of tolerance. If their emotional and

physiological arousal consistently remains in the middle of the window of tolerance (for example,

at levels typical of low fear and anxiety states), clients will not be able to expand their capacities

because they are not in contact with disturbing traumatic or affect-laden attachment issues in the

here-and-now of the therapy hour. However, if arousal greatly exceeds the regulatory boundaries of

the window of tolerance, experience cannot be integrated (Figure X.2).

Figure X.2

The therapist and client must continuously evaluate the client’s capacity to process at the

regulatory boundaries of the window of tolerance to assure that arousal is high enough to expand

Ogden (2009),

Practicepolyvagal + ANS

activation & recovery

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VAGUS NERVE INNERVATION

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/vagus+nerve

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IMMOBILIZATIONUNMYLENATED VAGUS, PSNS

Fear* Safety

FreezeDissociatePlay dead

Passive Avoidance

Growth & RestorationRest & Digest

HuggingNursingSleepSex

* Threat to safety, connection, dignity http://tonks.disted.camosun.bc.ca/courses/psyc110/biopsyc/ANS.gif image source

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http://tonks.disted.camosun.bc.ca/courses/psyc110/biopsyc/ANS.gif





Safety

FightFlight

MobilizationActive Avoidance

PlayExercise

Sustained Attention

Fear*


MOBILIZATIONAMYGDALA, SNA, HPA AXIS

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SafetyFear*

* Threat to safety, connection, dignity

AppeaseSubmit

Self-SoothingCalmingEmpathy

ConnectionAltruism

http://wiki.bethanycrane.com/somaticautonomicnervoussystems

COMMUNICATIONMYLENATED VAGUS, CRANIAL NERVES

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CENTERING & RECOVERYRELAXATION IS POWER

15


PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL COHERENCE

Science of the Heart

© Copyright 2001 Institute of HeartMath 19

as experienced through the Freeze-Frame technique,create positive shifts in ANS function and these shiftsare accompanied by distinct modes of cardiac func-tion. While feelings of frustration create a disorderedor incoherent HRV waveform, characterized by anirregular, jerky pattern, appreciation produces anordered sine wave-like pattern in the HRV waveform,indicating increased balance and efficiency in ANSfunction. It is demonstrated that when the heart isoperating in this more ordered mode, frequency lock-ing occurs between the HRV waveform (heartrhythms) and other biological oscillators; this modeof cardiac function is thus referred to as the “entrain-ment mode.”

Another distinct mode of cardiac function, termed the“internal coherence mode,” is shown to characterize apositive inner feeling state called “amplified peace,”also achieved through using the Freeze-Frame tech-nique. In this state, internal mental and emotionaldialogue is largely reduced and the sympathetic andparasympathetic outflow from the brain to the heartappears to be decreased to such a degree that theoscillations in the HRV waveform become nearly zero.In addition, when the heart is functioning in theinternal coherence mode, the amplitude spectrumderived from the ECG exhibits a harmonic series(Figure 11).

Figure 11. The top graph is a typical spectrum analysis of theelectrocardiogram (ECG) showing the electrical frequenciesgenerated by the heart when a person experiences frustration. Thisis called an incoherent spectrum because the frequencies arescattered and disordered. The bottom graph shows the frequencyanalysis of the ECG during a period when the person is experiencingdeep, sincere appreciation. This is called a coherent spectrumbecause the power is ordered and harmonious.

0 20 400

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

FREQUENCY IN HERTZ10 30

Appreciation - Coherent

Am

plit

ude

(mV

)A

mpl

itud

e (m

V)

00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

FREQUENCY IN HERTZ

ust at o

10 20 30 40

Frustration - Incoherent

This study was conducted with the same group ofsubjects in two different environments: under con-trolled laboratory conditions and during a normalbusiness day in their workplace. For the workplaceportion of the study, subjects wore portable Holterrecorders to monitor their ECG and were asked to usethe Freeze-Frame technique on at least three occa-sions when they were feeling stress or out of balance.Results showed that the positive shifts in emotionalstate, autonomic balance and more coherent modes ofcardiac function measured in the laboratory could beattained through the practice of the Freeze-Frameintervention during real-life stressful situations in theworkplace, for which the technique is designed.

McCraty, et, al. (2001) Science of the Heart

ECG

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CREATING SAFETY

Behavioral Response to Threat

Social Communication(appease)

Mobilization(fight / flight)

Immobilization(freeze / dissociate)

Behavioral Response to Safety

Social Communication(self-soothing / empathy / altruism)

Mobilization(focus / play / exercise)

Immobilization(rest / digest / growth / restoration)

Anatomy

mylenated vagus

SNS, HPA axis

unmylenated vagus, PSNS

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IMMOBILIZATIONUNMYLENATED VAGUS, PSNS

Fear* Safety

FreezeDissociatePlay dead

Passive Avoidance

Growth & RestorationRest & Digest

HuggingNursingSleepSex


18






Safety

FightFlight

MobilizationActive Avoidance

PlayExercise

Sustained Attention

Fear*


MOBILIZATIONAMYGDALA, SNA, HPA AXIS

19






SafetyFear*

* Threat to safety, connection, dignity

AppeaseSubmit

Self-SoothingCalmingEmpathy

ConnectionAltruism


COMMUNICATIONMYLENATED VAGUS, CRANIAL NERVES

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MIDDLE PREFRONTAL CORTEX

http://mybrainnotes.com/memory-brain-stress.html

Functions of MPFCinsight into yourselfintuitionability to regulate the body------emotional balanceresponse flexibilityability to extinguish fear-----empathymoralityability to attune to others

DMPFC: cognitive self-awarenessVMPFC: embodied self-awareness

Structure: ties neocortex to limbic system

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GO BEYOND PERCEIVED LIMITS

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PHYSICAL EXERTION

http://www.womenspress-slo.org/?p=4325

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CELLULAR “CLEANSE”

All cells breathe (oxygen) and eat (glucose)

In order to produce energy for growth & movement

By products are also produced: heat, lactic acid, etc.

Chronically contracted cells have a harder time breathing, eating, and eliminating waste

Flushing cells with nutrients, and oxygen cleanses stored lactic acid & other metabolic waste

This is why physical exertion can be opening & de-armoring

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Proprioception

Emotion

Conceptual

Exteroception

Interoception

Resilience + Courage

Limbic & Interoceptive

Building StrengthFlushing Toxins

Movement & Motor Cortex

Meaning / Commitment

Linguistic & Conceptual

...RelationalObservational

CO-ACTIVATE

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PRINCIPLES FOR PRACTICE

Activate stress response

Center : Activate resilience & recovery; meaning & care

Go beyond perceived limits

Include physical exertion

26


COURAGE --> AUTHENTICITY

Authenticity is magnetic

biologically, we scan for it automatically (more on this in Interpersonal Skills)

Authenticity requires vulnerability

putting one of the three essential nutrients at risk, or at least the perception of doing so

activates the protective threat-response systems in your body

Vulnerability requires courage

if it was easy, we’d already be doing it... we generally are authentic where it’s easy (with our partner, pet, child, by ourselves, on stage)

Need to build courage to be authentic & the resilience to recover from undesirable reactions

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THE BIG IDEA

Courage is a function of resilience & the ability to go beyond perceived limits

Build courage through activating stress response + practicing recovery

Centered around what you care about

Physical exertion is a good way to go beyond perceived limits and it’s de-armoring

Authenticity requires vulnerability and therefore courage

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REFLECTION / FIELDWORK

Where in your life would it benefit you to build more courage? What could you practice to strengthen your courage?

Name three practices that have the potential to build courage.

Do any of them co-activate all of these: interoception, proprioception, exteroception, emotion, cognition?

If not, what could you do to round out one of the practices to make it a higher leverage practice?

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RESOURCES & REFERENCES

Carter, R, et. al. (2009) The Human Brain Book, DK

McCraty, R; Atkinson, M; Tomasino, D (2001) Science of the Heart. Institute of HeartMath

Ogden, P (2009) Modulation, Mindfulness, & Movement in the Treatment of Trauma-Related Depression in Clinical Pearls of Wisdom, Kerman, M; Norton

Parker, S & Winston, R (2007) The Human Body Book, DK

Porges, S (2012) Safety: The Preamble for Social Engagement. Somatic Psychotherapy Today 2012: (4)

Porges, S (2004) Neuroception: A Subconscious System for Detecting Threats and Safety, Zero to Three, May

Porges, S (2003) Social engagement & attachment: A phylogenetic perspective. Annals New York Academy of Sciences, 1008: 31-47

Porges, S (unkn) The infant’s sixth sense: Awareness and regulation of bodily processes Zero to Three, Oct / Nov

Siegel, D (2010) Mindsight Bantam

Strozzi-Heckler, R, (2007) The Leadership Dojo: Build Your Foundation As An Exemplary Leader, Frog Books

31


Personal QualitiesEI: self-mastery

Somatic competency: Centering Interpersonal Skills

= YOU ARE HERE

Roadmap

Courage Take a StandResilience

Purposeful Action

Change

32

body = brain

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