#3 What is Vibration?

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It’s late. You’ve tucked your child into bed—again. They’ve asked for water twice, taken two potty breaks, and are now debating the existential meaning of bedtime. You’re tired, tomorrow’s alarm will come too soon, and the dishes are still waiting in the sink.

But then something shifts. You pause. You breathe. You choose love over irritation. Not indulgence, but a quiet, grounded presence. And somehow… it changes everything.

That shift—that atmosphere—is what I mean by vibration.

The Big Idea: Vibration is the atmosphere our life creates.

When I use the word vibration, I’m not referring to mystical frequencies or cosmic energy. I’m describing something deeply human and spiritually meaningful—the felt experience of how we show up in the world.

Some might call it presence, energy, or even aura. I use vibration to describe the emotional and relational tone we carry—the way our thoughts, emotions, and inner life shape how others experience us. It’s not measurable in a lab, but it’s unmistakable. We’ve all felt the difference between someone who brings peace and someone who brings tension.

This isn’t about manifesting desires or attracting outcomes through positive thinking. In fact, there’s no scientific evidence for the “Law of Attraction” or the claim that emotions emit literal energetic frequencies that shape reality.

But science has shown us something else—something real, embodied, and worth paying attention to:

#1 Humans naturally absorb and mirror the emotions of others. Your tone of voice, posture, and micro-expressions impact how safe or stressed someone else feels. Studies show that our brain activity synchronizes with others when we’re emotionally attuned. We’re wired for emotional resonance—this is neurological, not mystical. And it’s called emotional contagion.

#2 Our nervous systems are shaped by relational experiences. Feeling emotionally safe and seen helps us regulate our inner world. A grounded presence—especially in caregiving and leadership—has a calming, organizing effect on others. This science is called interpersonal neurobiology.

#3 Practices like trauma-informed care and embodied coaching show that nonverbal presence matters. Leaders, therapists, and caregivers are often described as having a “settled energy” or “grounded presence.” That presence is the result of inner regulation, self-awareness, and trust. This is referred to as somatic psychology.

#5 Research from the HeartMath Institute shows that the heart has its own nervous system and emits a measurable electromagnetic field that changes based on emotional state. When you’re stressed, your heart rhythm becomes erratic. When you’re calm, grateful, or connected, your heart rhythm becomes coherent—smooth, ordered, and regulated. This coherence supports emotional balance, relational connection, and clearer thinking.

Closing Thoughts

I believe vibration isn’t something you project. It’s something that flows from who you are and what you trust.

When we’re disconnected from our core identity, when we live for approval, control, or fear—we carry an unsettled atmosphere. But when we remember who we are, why we’re here, and who holds it all together—something shifts.

In Christianity, the heart is considered the seat of the soul—the place from which we love, trust, and move toward what matters. Scripture describes the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. These aren’t just ideas. They shape our tone, our timing, our words, and our silence.

We begin to carry a different atmosphere because we’re rooted in something deeper. Our presence becomes more grounded. More whole. More available to others.

And that’s what I call vibration.

Ready to explore your vibration? I’ve created a self-assessment tool to help you reflect on the three transformations: identity, purpose, and trust. [Click here to access the tool.]

Coming next: We'll unpack the three transformations that fundamentally change our vibration – starting in two weeks with the question ‘Who am I?’.

As always, I would greatly appreciate any of the following:

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PS: Why 8:22? That's when I learned my greatest lesson in trust. On August 22nd, as I gave birth naturally to my 9-pound, 8-ounce baby boy, I discovered that our greatest strength sometimes comes from letting go.