Heart health forms one of the key pillars that build a stable base for women to build resilience through challenging periods of time in life. I’m not talking about coronary care, or our cardiovascular fitness! I’m talking about our emotional health, our ability to connect to joy, connections with ourselves and relationships with others, and our connection to something greater than ourselves.

Women can find their heart health depleted through different experiences and events in life.

• Perhaps it’s a relationship breakdown, and a sense of anger or betrayal that contributes to a reactive shutdown.
• Perhaps it’s life being too busy and giving into the demands of others that contributes to lack of self-care.
• Perhaps it’s grief or loss that contributes to that sense of isolation with no one supporting or understanding your journey.

All of these experiences can contribute to a sense of being adrift, alone or isolated, with our heart health suffering.

So, let’s explore simple ways of building your heart health.

Connection with self by regulating your emotions and recalling joy. Start by simply acknowledging how you feel in one or two words. This anchors you in the heart space without the need to leap into the mind stories of the blame, shame, guilt or regrets that have added to your emotional story. Acknowledging how you feel in one or two words, and asking the question what do I need now? Perhaps your sadness means you need some time out or rest. Perhaps your anger means you need to take some action steps or set boundaries.

Understanding and acknowledging simply how you feel and asking what it is that you need for yourself can be one way to start connecting to yourself.

Asking the next question, what brings me joy? Is it having a bath, climbing a mountain, dancing with friends, painting, cooking, singing or being nature? Is it patting your dog, watching a comedy, reading a book, lying in the grass-  what is it that brings you joy and can you bring this into your weekly life in small steps.

Connection with others. When navigating life challenges it can be easy to feel a sense of isolation. That perhaps no one else really appreciates, acknowledges or even understands what you’re navigating. Soon we are become reactive in a you versus me world without open hearted communication. Start by asking yourself the question am I seeing all sides? Do I understand their perspective? Breaking down the walls and approaching conversations in an open hearted way helps build compassion and positive connections with others.

Connection with something greater than yourself What social causes inspire you? What can you give? Is there a charity you would like to be involved with? Finding what you’re passionate about and taking one step to offer out your help is a great way of building your heart health. Connecting with something greater might involve social causes, but may also include religious or spiritual connections. What helps you feel a greater connection to something greater than yourself? Is it prayer, chanting, meditating or being in nature? Is it stargazing or listening to music? Opening the doorway to your heart, with the realisation that life is far greater than any of our troubles can help bring perspective, hope, and for some, can bring a sense of purpose.

Connecting with yourself, connecting with others, and connecting with something greater than yourself are three great steps in building your heart health.

The final key piece is finding gratitude.

Simply asking yourself at the end of each day. What went well today?

Starting each day with what am I grateful for?

These simple steps and questions can create an opening of the heart and a healthier heart in order to build resilience.

Lots of love – Niky

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Like to learn more about developing resilience through life challenges?

Niky offer’s her Rise UP program for women online as well as her within her four day Rise UP retreat.

• Find out more about her retreats here
• Learn more about her online program with this free resource to help women transform grief to resilience here
• Listen in to the Synergy Women podcast here

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