Greetings!

In this issue we explore the amazing power of the heart to move the world. Clearly a healthy heart is important to our own well-being. But that amazing organ has its own intelligence — one that may be more important that all other forms of "smarts."

Have you ever thought, 'what can I do, I'm just one tiny person in a great big universe'? Maybe you consider you're not smart enough or educated enough or some other kind of 'enough' to make a big difference? We've all felt that way at times. What we know from our legacy development research is that even small ideas — begun with the power of heart-felt inspiration or drive — can, like a small pebble dropped in a pond, ripple out into giant waves of great work. Taking one step, and then putting one foot in front of another, can become an amazing journey of a thousand miles ...

Maybe all it takes is a focus on what and who you love and care about, and ideas you may develop from there that can promote, preserve, protect or otherwise benefit them. If you take a moment everyday to just focus on your beating heart, and listen, and maybe journal your thoughts, you might be amazed by what moves you and the ideas you generate. And that focus is good for you — probably better than all the striving for so many other things that may bring momentary pleasure but little long term satisfaction.

What we want for you is for you to feel that true sense of deep satisfaction and joy in your life and through your relationships and productive activities in the world. What could be better?

All the best! Enjoy these articles designed to enrich your heart.

Cheers, Dolly

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TAKE HEART!

Legacy projects allow you to aspire to be the best leader you can be, operating from the highest plane of your own personal integrity — to be the “you” with whom you’d truly want to work and live. What sort of intelligence supports that result?

IQ And Beyond ...

Work to answer that question began in the 1970’s & 80’s, and much has been written about it since. Initial studies followed the highest IQ (intellectual quotient, or intellectual intelligence) students through college and beyond, under the theory that they would be the most successful.

Some became the leaders and professionals; some became dropouts. What made the difference? What was actually the predictor of high performance?

Early pioneers developing these ideas included Howard Gardner who published his research on “multiple intelligences” in 1985 in the book Frames of Mind. He argued that the human system has many more types of independent intelligences than mere intellect. Here is a list of examples, where are you the strongest?

• Verbal/Linguistic intelligence ("word smart")
• Logical/Mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart")
• Spatial intelligence ("picture smart")
• Body/Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart")
• Musical/Rhythmic intelligence ("music smart")
• Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart")
• Financial intelligence (“money smart”)
• Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart")
• Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart")

This was followed by the work of Daniel Goleman, who published his research in the book Emotional Intelligence.

So as between IQ and EQ, which was the predictor of high performance?

Turning conventional thinking upside down, the research concluded that success in life is based more on our ability to manage our emotions than on our intellectual capacity. EQ is “characterized by the ability to manage self and emotions (personal skills); and the ability to develop high quality relationships between self and others (interpersonal skills). That is, IQ may get you hired, but EQ gets you promoted. In the studies, the individuals with a higher EQ were more effective and successful. And the good news about EQ is that, unlike IQ, it can be developed and increased throughout life.

In his book, The Eighth Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, Stephen Covey focuses on four important areas of intelligence. Mental Intelligence (IQ) is our ability to analyze, reason, think abstractly and comprehend — driving our vision. Physical intelligence (PQ) is what our body does without conscious effort, coordinating the billions of cells that run our body with incredibly complex precision — driving our discipline. He describes Emotional Intelligence (EQ) as self-knowledge, self-awareness, social sensitivity, empathy and ability to communicate successfully with others, including a sense of timing and appropriateness, and having the courage to acknowledge weaknesses and express and respect differences — driving our passion. Finally, he discusses Spiritual Intelligence (SQ), which is our human drive for meaning and connection with the infinite, and our longing and capacity for meaning, vision and value. It allows us to dream and to strive. He believes that the highest manifestation of our SQ lies within our conscience, driving vision, discipline and passion, to change the world for good. (To illustrate, Covey notes that Adolph Hitler had well-developed IQ, PQ and EQ, but had no SQ or conscience. So much for his form of leadership.)

Beyond EQ to HQ

The Institute of HeartMath is pursuing the developing science of Heart Intelligence through studies confirming the existence of HQ, and development of practices that allow us to access it — simply by focusing on the beating heart within our chests.

This emerging science of Heart Intelligence mirrors what is known about the developmental physiology of the heart. The heart starts beating in the fetus before the brain has formed. What triggers the beating is still unknown, but it develops autorhythmically from within the heart itself. As the brain then develops, it grows from the bottom up:from the most primitive portion of the brain (the brainstem), then the emotional centers, then the thinking centers and cortex.The thinking brain literally grows out of the emotional brain. And contrary to popular beliefs about the brain as the master or governing organ in human beings, there is strong evidence that the heart “thinks” independently of the brain and is not controlled by it.

Might be useful to learn to really listen to your heart, eh?

The heart has its own independent nervous system, including at least 40 thousand nerve cells (as many as in various subcortical brain centers). In a heart transplant, the nerves that run from the brain to the heart through the spinal column are severed, and surgeons do not know how to reconnect them. When the beat is restored to a transplanted heart, it keeps beating without any nervous connection to the brain.

The heart actually communicates with the brain and the rest of the body in four ways:(1) neurologically — through the transmission of nerve impulses, (2) biochemically — through hormones and neurotransmitters, (3) biophysically — through pressure waves of the heartbeat and pulse and (4) energetically — through electromagnetic field interactions. It is this fourth way that is most recently is being demonstrated through growing scientific evidence. This electromagnetic field not only permeates every cell in the body, but also radiates outside of us; it can be measured up to 10 feet away from us with sensitive magnetometers.

Why is any of this important? Tapping into the power of your own heart may be the ultimate in development and expression of EQ — the strongest predictor of high performance, but also of happiness and satisfaction.

The Personal Impact of Positive Emotions

Studies in HQ show us that the effect of positive emotions — happiness, love, caring, appreciation, compassion — have been shown to reduce stress and increase immune system protection. Using simple heart focused practices can produce a tangible reduction in rapid heart rate, sleeplessness, fatigue, tension, indigestion, and body aches. One corporate study even showed reduction of blood pressure in hypertensive individuals to normal levels in six months, without medication!

Clearly “coming from the heart” benefits us — and it can have a strong impact on others for the greater good. That is exemplified through the concept known as “entrainment,” the power of the heart to synchronize the rest of our body.

The concept of entrainment is not new. It was first discovered in the 17^th century with the invention of the pendulum clock. One night, when inventor Christiaan Huygens went to bed, he realized the pendulums in his collection of clocks were all swinging in unison. He knew from winding them that morning they had not started out that way. Later scientists solved the mystery by showing that the largest pendulum, the one with the strongest rhythm, pulled all the others into sync with it — the phenomenon called entrainment.

The Power of Entraining Others with Our Positive Emotions

Similarly, the heart is the strongest biological oscillator in the human system, and it can pull the rest of the body’s systems into harmony with it — we can literally come into greater sync with ourselves, simply by sustaining sincere, heart-focused states such as love and appreciation. By intentionally altering your emotional states you can attune your head and heart together, allowing you to function at out optimal capacity. With the heart’s entrainment capacity and transmission through the electromagnetic field, that heart-focused state can also support more effective interactions with others. Imagine the influence of this capacity!

So take heart! While the ideas and actions involved in legacy development may seem mind-boggling, keep it simple and focus on what your heart communicates to you. That is the best place to plant the seed of your own personal legacy, from which amazing things can grow for your benefit, and that of the rest of the world.

If you want to know more about the tangible steps involved in legacy development, check out our new website and programs at Creating Legacy Network.

(DMG)

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A Heart-Full Portrait of Belonging

Babies and children are proudly photographed from birth. Fathers and mothers, grandparents, aunts and uncles along with eager friends have cameras at hand to capture every precious smile or childhood expression on fresh young faces. In this digital age, images are quickly, if not instantly, transmitted to the world. Treasured, irreplaceable moments are documented and shared.

But, what if you grew up in foster care, longing year after year to be adopted by a family and there was no one there to take your picture as a newborn, a toddler, a child ready to start school? What if the years passed with you remaining in foster care because no one could really see you? What if all you had to represent you, your sweet spirit longing for a family of your own, was a black and white institutional snapshot that didn’t truly illuminate your vibrant personality? Social services agencies had to use whatever images of the children they could get, and most were as inspiring as a driver’s license photo ... or a mug shot.

Similar thoughts ran through the creative mind of Santa Fe photographer and adoptive mother Cathy Maier Callanan when she first encountered the foster care system where she met Diane Granito a new adoption coordinator for the state. That encounter, and what they realized together, turned into an amazing legacy project. Their idea was to professionally photograph these older children waiting for adoption in a way that truly captured their essence, depth and individuality, and not just their image.

On March 29, 2001, at Callahan’s suggestion, the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) brought the expression "a picture is worth a thousand words" to life at the nation’s first exhibit of these photographs. Callanan proposed a unique way to help children in foster care find adoptive families. Children are paired with renowned photographers to create beautiful professional portraits, and the photographs are exhibited with the hope that it will touch others and inspire them to adopt a child.

The first exhibit and reception at Santa Fe’s Gerald Peters Gallery drew a crowd of people inspired by stirring portraits of children in CYFD custody who were dreaming of finding their "forever families." The portraits were created and donated by some of the region’s most talented photographers. Callanan’s idea and talent was initially paired with a state agency responsible for administering the foster program. According to Diane Granito of CYFD, that's how "The Heart Gallery of New Mexico," an innovative CYFD program was dubbed and born.

More than 1,200 people attended the inaugural event, Randy Travis serenaded the crowd, and connections were made that night leading to the adoption of six Heart Gallery children. They all knew they were on to something special, though what was to come has exceeded many people’s wildest dreams.

Thanks to media coverage and technical support from CYFD, the Heart Gallery spread to several other states. In January 2005, a Parade magazine article about the project by Santa Fe reporter Rosemary Zibart touched and captured the hearts of millions of readers. Later coverage included People, the Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, USA Weekend, the New York Times, ABC World News Tonight and 20/20.

That resulted in thousands of e-mails from photographers, social workers, gallery owners, photo printers and adoption professionals; from parents, grandparents, college students and teens; from those who’d been adopted themselves and those interested in adopting. Some came from people who simply loved children. All wanted to get involved in their own communities. The widening ripple effect was a virtual explosion of Heart Gallery groups across America.

Since then, the annual Heart Gallery of New Mexico exhibition has found homes for many children who were considered "hard to place" due to their age or the fact that they were members of a sibling group. One of the happiest endings came in June 2005, when a very special portrait inspired one couple to adopt five teenage siblings. Two photographers even "clicked with" and adopted their charming subjects.

Today, there are Heart Galleries in 45 states and the number of Heart Gallery-inspired placements is growing in the thousands. CYFD continues to be the conduit for the positive energy of these dedicated planners. The federal Children’s Bureau’s adoption initiative "The Collaboration to Adopt US Kids," has been a strong supporter of the project, and has named the Heart Gallery a "best practice." On November 1, 2005, they hosted the first National Heart Gallery exhibit at Union Station in Washington, D.C. CYFD is played an integral role in this milestone event. Visit adoptuskids.org for more information on The Heart Gallery as a national movement.

The mission of Heart Gallery of America® Inc. is to facilitate and utilize the power of photography to capture the individuality and dignity of children living in foster care, in order to advocate for their permanency, raise public awareness about their needs, and obtain support to help meet those needs. An integral part of honoring this mission is to provide assistance and resources to Heart Gallery chapters nationwide to help them achieve parallel goals for the waiting children they represent." As a result, interested individuals and families can begin a search for children awaiting adoption in the United States through their online gallery.

Some interesting statistics from Heart Gallery of America’s site:

• There are nearly 500,000 children in foster care in the United States.
• Over 250,000 will never return home.
• Over 123,000 need adoptive homes right now.
• More than 29,000 aged out of foster care in 2008, at age 18 without anyone, to live on their own, unprepared and unsupported.
  

This extraordinary legacy project all started with a simple inspired idea. Little did Cathy Maier Callanan or Diane Granito know how big this vision would grow, how many people would be inspired to participate and how many precious children would find their forever families. Statistics reveal there is room for other innovative ideas and legacy projects to address this need — and turn a problem into a resource in the form of empowered young people, a positive difference that could indeed last for generations.

What is your heart calling you to do in the world? How can we help you develop it?

(EBC)

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Send us an e-mail about someone you know who is living or building a legacy. We’d love to feature their story. Maybe it’s you?!

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SOME SUMMER LEGACY READING ...

The Why of Work: How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations That Win
by Dave and Wendy Ulrich

Is it time to move from "productivity" to "meaning" in your work? Dave Ulrich, a man widely considered to be the champion for the continuing evolution as HR as a strategic force within organizations. In their new book, Dave and his wife, noted psychologist Dr. Wendy Ulrich, write about 8 big questions to ask yourself as you move towards abundance. They expand this and grapple with an critical question for us all: how do we create meaning in our work for ourselves and for those around us? Learn more here.

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think
by Laura Vanderkam

If we re-examine our weekly allotment of 168 hours, we’ll find that, with a little reorganization and prioritizing, we can dedicate more time to the things we want to do without having to make sacrifices. Laura Vanderkam draws on her own experience and the stories of other successful people who have fulfilled their goals by allocating their time according to these principles. It is a fun, inspiring, and practical guide that will help men and women of any age, lifestyle, or career get the most out of the time and their lives. Learn more here.

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MIGHT YOUR LEGACY BE IN THE FORM OF A BOOK?

Our amazing colleagues Lynne Klippel and Christine Kloser are at it again — with a not-to-miss-event that will take only your time to derive great benefit!

Successful Author Secrets — a global virtual event- is perfect for anyone who even thinks they may want to write a book. During the month of August, Lynne and Christine are interviewing 21 best selling authors who will be sharing the truth about what it really takes to succeed as an author.

The lineup of speakers is a who’s who of the best and brightest in the non-fiction book world!

If you want to be among them, do not miss this amazing virtual event. Click here to check it out!

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CREATING LEGACY STUDIO

• TheStudio isyour opportunity to explore the concepts of legacy in your own life, work or business. We focus on how to take practical action toget a full life and fulfilling work, give your best gifts — and make a significant positive difference in an enduring way that brings you great joy.
  (Come on, you know you want to change the world ...)
• If you miss the live show, you can listen to the recording on the Creating Legacy Studio page on BTR. Download past shows in mp3 format for listening in your preferred player.
• See more info about the Studio on the Creating Legacy Network website, where we post the updated schedule and call in information.
• Tune in, turn on and take part!

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