With Heart in Mind

From the creator of the Mindfulness Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) program, an accessible, science-backed guide to lowering blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health through mindfulness, self-awareness, and practical lifestyle change High blood pressure can feel confusing, discouraging, or even inevitable—but it doesn’t have to define your future. In Your Heart in Mind, Eric B. Loucks, PhD, offers a compassionate and practical path for understanding what drives blood pressure and learning how to respond with greater wisdom, steadiness, and care. Grounded in modern cardiovascular science and ancient contemplative wisdom, this book translates the evidence-based MB-BP program into nine clear steps: mindfulness, curiosity, energy and courage, joy, ease, concentration, equanimity, lovingkindness, and compassion. Through these steps, readers learn to build the core skills of self-awareness, attention control, and emotion regulation—then apply them to the everyday habits and stressors that influence blood pressure, including diet, physical activity, sleep, social connection, and stress reactivity. Blending research, patient stories, and guided practices, Your Heart in Mind helps readers move beyond knowing what they “should” do and toward making meaningful, sustainable changes that fit their own lives. With warmth and clarity, Dr. Loucks shows that lowering blood pressure is not only about numbers—it is also about learning to listen deeply to the body, mind, and heart. Evidence-based mindfulness for blood pressure: Adapts the proven MB-BP program into a practical guide readers can use at home Addresses the real drivers of hypertension: Helps readers explore diet, movement, weight, alcohol, stress, sleep, and social support and how to apply the 9 steps towards them.  Turns awareness into action: Builds self-awareness, attention control, and emotion regulation so readers can make healthier choices with less self-judgment and more confidence. Patient stories that inspire: Shares relatable patient experiences that show how mindfulness has helped people make meaningful changes, lower blood pressure, and feel more confident in caring for their health