You Can
Change Your DNA
July 14, 2011 Personal Development
When we are
born, the deoxyribonucleic acid/DNA in our bodies contains the blueprints for
who we are and instructions for who we will become. For example, it can tell
our eyes to eventually turn from blue at birth to hazel later on, our length to
grow from 20 inches to 70 and direct a multitude of other changes over the
course of our lives.
Many people
have mistakenly believed that the DNA with which we are born is the sole determinant
for who we are and will become, but scientists have understood for decades that
this genetic determinism is a flawed theory.
The field
of epigenetics refers to the science that studies how the
development, functioning and evolution of biological systems are influenced by
forces operating outside the DNA sequence, including intracellular,
environmental and energetic influences.
Since the 1950s
scientists have accepted that epigenetic influence is critical in our development. Epi – Greek for “besides” – combines
with the word, genetics, to essentially mean “something more than
genetics.” That “something more” is widely held today to
refer to our environment – thus meaning that our genetic code and the
environment in which we develop determine who and what we are.
Researchers
have shown through studies that epigenetics entails even more than DNA and the
places where we live, the climate around us and all the twists, turns and hard
knocks of our lives.
HeartMath deems integral elements of the model for who we are and
what we can be are the thoughts, feelings and intentions we have every day.
After two decades of studies, HeartMath researchers
say other factors such as the appreciation and love we have for someone or the
anger and anxiety we feel also influence and can alter the outcomes of each
individual’s DNA blueprint.
Stem cell
biologist and bestselling author Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.,says the distinction between genetic determinism and
epigenetics is important.
“The difference
between these two is significant because this fundamental belief called genetic
determinism literally means that our lives, which are defined as our physical,
physiological and emotional behavioral traits, are controlled by the genetic
code,” Lipton said in an interview with the online magazine, Superconsciousness. “This kind of belief system
provides a visual picture of people being victims: If the genes control our
life function, then our lives are being controlled by things outside of our
ability to change them. This leads to victimization that the illnesses and
diseases that run in families are propagated through the passing of genes
associated with those attributes. Laboratory evidence shows this is not true.”
A Steady Diet of Quantum Nutrients
“When we have
negative emotions such as anger, anxiety and dislike or hate, or think negative
thoughts such as ‘I hate my job,’ ‘I don’t like so and so’ or ‘Who does he
think he is?’, we experience stress and our energy
reserves are redirected,” an article on HMI’s website explains. This causes a
portion of our energy reserves, which otherwise would be put to work
maintaining, repairing and regenerating our complex biological systems, to
instead confront the stresses these negative thoughts and feelings create.
“In contrast,”
the article continues, “when we activate the power of our hearts’ commitment
and intentionally have sincere feelings such as appreciation, care and love, we allow our hearts’ electrical energy to work for us.
Consciously choosing a core heart feeling over a negative one means instead of
the drain and damage stress causes to our bodies’ systems, we are renewed
mentally, physically and emotionally. The more we do this the better we’re able
to ward off stress and energy drains in the future. Heartfelt positive feelings
fortify our energy systems and nourish the body at the cellular level. At HeartMath we call these emotions quantum nutrients.”
In simple terms
most people can relate to, what this means is that when we are having a bad
day, going through a rough period such as dealing with the sickness of a loved
one or coping with financial troubles, we can actually influence our bodies –
all the way down to the cellular level – by intentionally thinking positive
thoughts and focusing on positive emotions.
Changing DNA Through
Intention
The power of
intentional thoughts and emotions goes beyond theory at the HeartMath
Institute. In a study, researchers have tested this idea and proven its
veracity.
HeartMath researchers have gone so far as to show that physical
aspects of DNA strands could be influenced by human intention. The article,
Modulation of DNA Conformation by Heart-Focused Intention – McCraty,
Atkinson, Tomasino, 2003 – describes experiments that
achieved such results.
For example, an
individual holding three DNA samples was directed to generate heart
coherence – a beneficial state of mental, emotional and physical
balance and harmony – with the aid of a HeartMath
technique that utilizes heart breathing and intentional positive emotions. The
individual succeeded, as instructed, to intentionally and simultaniously
unwind two of the DNA samples to different extents and leave the third
unchanged.
“The results
provide experimental evidence to support the hypothesis that aspects of the DNA
molecule can be altered through intentionality,” the article states. “The data
indicate that when individuals are in a heart-focused, loving state and in a
more coherent mode of physiological functioning, they have a greater ability to
alter the conformation of DNA.
“Individuals
capable of generating high ratios of heart coherence were able to alter DNA
conformation according to their intention. … Control group participants showed
low ratios of heart coherence and were unable to intentionally alter the
conformation of DNA.”
Heart Intelligence, the Unifying Factor
The influence
or control individuals can have on their DNA – who and what they are and will
become – is further illuminated in HeartMath founder
Doc Childre’s theory of heart
intelligence. Childre postulates that “an
energetic connection or coupling of information” occurs between the DNA in
cells and higher dimensional structures – the higher self or
spirit.
Childre further postulates, “The heart serves as a key access
point through which information originating in the higher dimensional
structures is coupled into the physical human system (including DNA), and that
states of heart coherence generated through experiencing heartfelt positive
emotions increase this coupling.”
The heart,
which generates a much stronger electromagnetic field than the brain’s,
provides the energetic field that binds together the higher dimensional
structures and the body’s many systems as well as its DNA.
Childre’s theory of heart intelligence proposes that “individuals
who are able to maintain states of heart coherence have increased coupling to
the higher dimensional structures and would thus be more able to produce
changes in the DNA.”
Read more about
quantum nutrients at Solution for Energy.