Positive habits can reverse genetic patterns

Today, we’ll be talking about the science of epigenetics and the concept of neuroplasticity, a brain function that is governed completely by our environment.

What really fine tunes us is our experiences, our environments in terms of what we see and perceive and that plays a very important role in making us what we are…

Our scientists have done a great job in discovering the chemical composition of genes, and today we’ll see how our environment plays an equally important role — which is epigenetics. Now, imagine a mother-to-be, who is perfectly healthy, but lives in a stressful environment at home, facing constant fear and criticism. Research shows that “Maternal stress during pregnancy increases the risk of the child having a range of altered neurodevelopmental outcomes.”

So one way to assure healthy childbirth is to reduce stress. Science has proven the benefits of meditation by recording brain waves, heart rate, blood pressure, etc. It is all out there on the internet, simply a click away. We all know the impact of stress on our bodies, but today, let’s talk about neurons which are continuously firing and wiring amongst themselves responding to stimuli - our external environment.

This ability of the brain to rewire itself is known as neuroplasticity. It occurs from the time of birth till the time of death. The old neural connections get replaced by new ones based on environment and new stimuli. These old neural connections can also be changed by forming new habits.

And that is where Heartfulness Meditation helps in bringing about a permanent change so that we get rid of crippling habits and adopt new ones. Some amount of willpower from our end is required, and that is strengthened with meditation. As the heart is purified and negative beliefs and impressions are removed, the practitioner’s entire consciousness shifts into more positivity and he is able to focus on positive thoughts and attitudes more easily than before.

A happy heart leads to happy neurons, which adjust the wiring and firing and ultimately lead to a happy brain - because the heart and the mind are one interconnected field. So the good news is, genetic patterns can be reversed through our environment and changing habits. But, a suggestion that “experience through experiment” on yourself, by trying the HFN practice.