I can still hear Lillas as she begins to share one of her favourite practices – one aimed at cultivating resilience.
It was the spring of 2013. We stood on stage, looking out at a room full of emerging leaders, presenting on powerful and practical tools for navigating complex times.
This moment came to mind recently, sparked by the growing presence of practices like ‘HeartMath’ that have found their way into many teachings – most recently as a foundation for Kimberely Snyder’s The Hidden Power of the Five Hearts.
Over the years, I heard Lillas offer this practice dozens of times, always with genuine presence and deep care. That day stands out for another reason. Lillas was very ill. She had just returned from Quatar with a nasty stomach bug and wasn’t sure she could even make it to the session. But she did.
She spoke with quiet strength, guiding the room through this simple yet profound practice. It may not have been our most polished presentation, but it was infused with heart. The feedback she received was heartfelt – one young man told us it was the calmest he had felt in weeks.
So, what is HeartMath and what is this practice?
HeartMath is a science-based approach to aligning the rhythm of the heart and brain. This coherence balances the nervous system, can reduce stress and can unlock higher capacities if practiced frequently.
This quick coherence technique only takes a few minutes and involves three (or four) steps.
- Heart focused breathing – bring your attention to your heart area, the centre of your chest, and imagine your breath flowing in and out of that area, breathing slow, deep, rhythmically.
- Activate a positive feeling – bring to mind something you appreciate, a time you felt nourished or loved. Breathe that in with gratitude.
- Check in on how you feel now and let this feeling settle in your body.
Lillas would always add:
4. Radiate – send this feeling out to the world.
I hope you give this practice a try. For more information about HeartMath and a guided video of the technique, check out Quick Renewal: Heart Math.
Enduring Practices
We focused that day on three powerful and practical tools—tools that feel just as relevant now as they did then, given the persistent stress many are experiencing. Our presentation explored both the “why” (drawing from research and personal experience) and the “how” of:
- Growing your self-awareness
- Enhancing foundational relationship skills
- Cultivating resilience
If we were presenting today we would likely return to these core practices.
Lillas passed away in 2022, and I continue to carry tender thoughts of her—her insight, her grace and wisdom, and her steady presence. I remain a holder of so many memories and rich resources from our time together, and I feel both the weight and the gift of that legacy. Here is a link to my thoughts after her passing along with some of her final words.
Kimberley Snyder is a wellness expert. In her 2024 book, The Hidden Power of the Five Hearts, Snyder explores how cultivating coherence among five “hearts” -physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and universal- leads to deeper harmony and connection. The book is inspired by practices like HeartMath, blending science, spirituality, and actionable tools.
I delight in sharing my thoughts, such as these, in a newsletter, typically every few months. And now and then, ideas show up our Facebook page. Always love to hear from you via email.
