Next weekend we celebrate Thanksgiving, but why wait to be grateful?
Something I am grateful for every day is my breath.
When you think about it, the breath has been our longest relationship.
From the moment we were born until we take our last breath, we’re together.
Over the years, my breath and I have gone through our ups and downs.
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 my true essence and this moment, I was in constant fear or conflict with.
The anxiety and inner turmoil got so intense and yet gratefully, something within me opened and I had the willingness to let go and trust.
There was a part of me that wanted to live, rather than just get by.
There was a part of me that wanted to feel, rather than numb myself.
When I started to feel my breath, I started to feel my body, and I started to feel alive.
These days, I am enjoying the richness, depth and simplicity that exists between me and my breath. As I spend quality time, giving it my attention and appreciation, I receive so much more in return.
The breath in its own gentle way brings us to the place of presence and to the present - by being itself.
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.
What would happen if we just let go of all expectations when it came to connecting with our breath?
When we let go, we can lose sense of a ‘me’ breathing, or ‘my’ breath - there is just breath. We dissolve into Oneness.
What does this look like for me?
When I first wake up in the morning, I place my attention on my breath, and I start noticing breath flowing through my body. I follow the flow in and I follow the flow out.
During the day I pause and take a breath. I breathe into my body. I observe my breath as I meditate
When I’m lying in bed at night, I connect to my breath with gratitude as it flows through my body. I enter sleep with meditation.
This simple practice brings me to the present moment, grounds me in my body, and connects me to my true essence.
Let’s try it together, right now.
Breathe In.
Breathe Out.
Breathe In and imagine your breath bringing in life to all parts of your being.
Breathe Out thinking to yourself, I am grateful for this breath.
Let go of whether you are breathing right or wrong.
Let go of the world around you.
Just focus on breath.
Sink into the world of breath.
Not a person breathing. Just breath itself.
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
P.S. We can only observe our breath in the present moment (not the past or future). So every time we stop and take one breath we are instantly brought to the present moment. We are living in the now. This is powerful. This is how change happens. One simple choice at a time.