It feels aggravating, even rude, to be told, “Take a breath”, “Calm down”, “Chill”! Even so… the request during a heated conversation, in whatever form, is often spot on! We need to calm down. Our mind’s perception rarely provides a full picture, especially if there’s tension. If we take a moment to quiet ourselves, even just five seconds, we’ll better discern our feelings and truths before responding.
The good news? One big breath, followed, hopefully, by a couple more, can be absolutely redemptive, insightful and glorious!
The next time you need to ground yourself, even if there’s no crisis, simply take a breath!
Here are five thoughts on how and why to do so:
- “…just tune in to the feeling of (the breath)…the feeling of the breath coming into your body and the feeling of the breath leaving your body. That’s all.” (“Keeping the Breath in Mind”, Jon Kabat-Zinn)
- On the inhale, receive the breath as a gift; on the exhale imagine giving back to the world with gratitude. (“Honoring Our Difficulties”, Julien Lacaile)
- “In with the good; Out with the bad.” (This is a “standby” that has come to our attention multiple times over the years. We’re unsure of its ownership)
- As you breathe in, arrive HERE, in this moment… What can be so wrong with right now? (Inspired by thought leaders & authors, Jeff Foster, The Way of Rest and Matt Licata, The Path is Everywhere)
- Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God (the Divine, the Universe)?…the breath inside the breath. (https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kabir)
Our breath is precious and always present. There isn’t a human activity that’s more reliable. Let’s make the most of it!
