Breathe

Breathing is an important part of our lives. Possibly one of the most important things we do, in fact. Yet most of us do not pay much attention to our breaths. In yoga and in meditation breath is an important aspect to the overall calmness of the mind. It helps to calm and quiet any thoughts floating around in our heads and allow us to simply be. Scuba is similar in that aspect. It is important to be breathing slow and steady to stay calm and enjoy the experience. The hardest difference for me is that it is all through the mouth, but I am learning. Breath is such an important aspect of living and so "regular" a practice that many of us often don't notice it unless something restricts or changes it. Last night I woke from a dream in a panic. I recognized the quick shallow breathing and tried to focus on taking larger, slower breaths. My boyfriend woke and I shared my fear and he calmly gave me me reasons to not worry. But the thing about resistance to a fear is, it persists. I couldn't logic my way out of feeling fear because it had already changed my breathing and my thinking from a place of calm to a place of fear. Instead I sat with it. I acknowledged it. I "greeted" that fear as my mind trying to protect me and then I refocused on, not fear or no fear, but on breathing. Just in acknowledging where that fear came from allowed some peace to come in. I'm grateful for peace. I'm grateful for breath to not only indicate when something is "wrong" but to provide a way to balance as well. I'm grateful for air. I'm grateful for the many techniques I have learned in breathing, including this new way to allow me to explore more of my world. I'm grateful for the mind that jumps to protect and yet can be rebalanced and calm. I'm grateful to know my life is a reflection of my thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. What are you thinking about today? Is your breathing slow and steady? How can you honor your feelings instead of trying to push them out to be "happy" faster? May your day be blessed with calmness. May your thoughts be