Brain-Heart Coherence, Mental Health and JOY

Welcome to the seventh installment in my yearlong series on Joy Intelligence (JQ)! 

Brain-Heart Coherence, Mental Health and JOY

The science of aligning your heart and mind for peak emotional and physical well-being, and to cultivate a JOYful mindset.

I was introduced to the concept of brain-heart coherence at one of my very first coaching conferences over 20 years ago when the HeartMath Institute presented their research. It was considered pretty cutting edge at the time, and they’ve only added to their extensive research library since then.

Basically, it refers to the alignment and synchronization of the heart’s rhythms with brain activity. Neuroscientists have discovered that the heart and brain are in constant two-way communication: the brain influences heart rate, and the heart sends powerful signals that affect our perceptions, decisions, and mental health. When we experience uplifting emotions like joy, love, or gratitude, the heart’s rhythm becomes smooth and ordered–a state called coherence.

Impact on Mental Health 

Physiologically, achieving heart-brain coherence has several benefits for mental health. Research from the HeartMath Institute, Psychology Today, and others shows that a coherent heart rhythm is linked to reduced stress hormone levels and increased alpha brain waves–the kind associated with relaxation and creativity. People in a coherent state often report feeling calmer, more focused, and emotionally clear. In fact, cultivating this alignment can build our resilience to stress over time and help to improve emotional regulation, cognitive function, decision-making, and our capacity to handle challenges. Essentially, when your heart and brain are in sync, you’re in an optimal state for mental well-being. 

What does all that mean for our ability to build our JQ? 

Joy doesn’t show up on command—it arises when the nervous system feels safe enough to shift from survival mode into restoration. In the JOYELY® model, a “joyful mindset” isn’t about fake positivity. It begins with Safety. When we feel emotionally and physically safe, we gain access to Presence—the capacity to be here, now, in the truth of what we’re feeling. Only then can Joy emerge as a regulated state. That’s what we call the SPJ formula at Joyely®. Basically, a joyful mindset is earned through nervous system safety. It’s not just a mood — it’s a physiological upgrade that begins with safety, deepens with presence, and radiates as joy. 

And a powerful catalyst for activating the SPJ process is to consciously cultivate our heart-brain coherence. 

How to foster heart-brain coherence to reap the benefits 

Practices that combine mindful breathing, positive emotion, and focus are key. And of course, the top one on my list is the Chair of JOY® four-step ritual: Sit, Breathe, Think, Feel! I outlined it in greater detail in the second video of this series, so you can get a refresher there, and in this month’s video, I’ll share a simple coherence exercise as well.  

You can watch the video below to deepen your understanding of this important coherence/mental well-being/joy trifecta and get additional resources. Then join me next month when we’ll explore how to overcome barriers to joy.

https://youtu.be/J4epL7AyMt0

And finally, in the spirit of encouraging you to really engage with the JOY theme of the month, I invite you to start a Chair of Joy® journal if you haven’t already and record the memory that came up for you in the CoJ I guided you through in the video. I’d love to hear about it, too!

Connect with Deborah on The Wellness Universe and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

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Life & Relationship Coach, Deborah Roth, MA is also a Counseling Astrologer, and Interfaith Minister. She leads women’s New Moon Circles and Full Moon TeleMeditations every month and loves designing creative, meaningful rituals for individuals and couples to energize their lives and relationships.

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