I’d like to share something with you I started doing years ago. I do it every day, it’s simple and it has brought real meaning to my life.
When I wake up in the morning and am lying in bed, before I do anything else, I gently tune the dial inward and place my awareness on my breath.
I start noticing my breath on the inhale and on the exhale.
I notice my breath as it is naturally moving through my body.
I notice how the body and breath are moving together. I follow the flow.
As I observe my breath flowing, I focus on what I am grateful for. Quite often I’m feeling grateful for my breath, the day ahead and life.
I am connecting to the sacredness of my breath, my body, and the moment.
This simple exercise soothes my soul and sets the stage for my day.
Now, if we were to rewind my movie back to pre-mindfulness my morning looked very different. When my eyes would open up, my mind instantly started raising and before my feet hit the floor there was a checklist running in my head. And if there were smartphones at the time I’m sure I’d be checking my emails or social media.
There was no pausing or tuning inward. I was ‘on’.
How we start our day sets the stage.
If we think about it, the breath has been our longest relationship.
From the moment we were born until we take my last breath, we’re together.
It’s safe to say for most of my life I took my breath for granted. My breath was there for me 24/7, and I just went on my merry way not giving it much attention or thought until - I became really anxious.
It was then I became aware of my breath, but not in a good way.
It felt like I was in battle with my breath, it didn’t feel safe to be with my breath, I felt threatened by my breath, and whenever I focused on my breath it made me even more anxious.
To think, the very thing that was keeping me alive, the very thing that connects me to Source and this moment, I was in constant fear or conflict with.
When I started to feel my breath, I started to feel my body, and I started to feel alive.
Like any relationship, if we are open and have a sincere desire to connect, things can change. We may find it provides healing and improves our over-all well-being.
Starting in simple ways. Really simple.
Life can be complicated; do we have to complicate our path of self-discovery?
The breath in its own gentle way brings us to the place of presence and to the present - by being itself.
The breath is within us, patiently waiting, or sometimes not so patiently waiting, for us.
‘Hello friend. Thank you for being there for me.’
What would happen if we just let go of all expectations when it came to connecting with our breath?
If you are someone who struggles to connect with your breath, to be able to rely on it as your anchor, grounding you and bringing you into the present, know you’re not alone.
Take a moment to consider, what would happen if,
We had the willingness to let go of stories of what the breath is or isn’t.
We let the breath comfort us how it does so naturally.
We let go of trying to breathe the right way.
When we let go, we can lose sense of a ‘me’ breathing, or ‘my’ breath - there is just breath. We dissolve into Oneness.
Just focus on breath. Sink into the world of breath. Not a person breathing. Just breath itself.
Feel. Listen.
In a world that feels so complex and out of control, may we find solace in simplicity knowing we don’t have to look outside of ourselves to feel safe and whole.
Peace, comfort, and wisdom is within us and the breath will take us there, one breath and one moment at a time.
In loving kindness,
Diane