Finding Yourself Again with Breath

Stress can cause us to get lost and loose our feeling connection to the peace and joy available to us. We have our to-do list and an inventory of shoulds or ought-to’s. We have mental programs running that keep us on task saying, “I have to do this or I won’t be happy” or “If I don’t get this done, my day will be a waste”.

What has happened to simply allowing the day to unfold gracefully and surrendering into it? That is to say to merely slow down long enough to feel what needs to be done, what is calling you to do, or where you are most inspired and take action from there. Too often we hold ourselves separate from life, from peace, and from truly living because we’re too busy doing.

In many ways we are our own worst task master. We push ourselves beyond the natural harmony our body seeks. We drive ourselves past the point of healing or health. We go, and then we go some more. Always seeking…doing. What about being?

The idea of simply being seems frivolous. What does being entail anyway? Simply allowing what needs to be done to be done—and more importantly, being able to know from a feeling place what you need. That is true inspiration.

A list won’t tell you want you need. Your heart can. Your emotions can. Feel your way through you day. Feel your way, gracefully, through your to-do list or need-to list. Find your center before doing anything, that place where your truth and honesty are housed. Simply breathing can take you there.

Consider the following: Your mind follows your breath and your body follows your mind. If you can focus on deepening and expanding your breath in times of stress, tension or indecision, your body will soften into a state of relaxation and your mind will become clear into a place of knowing.

When you bring air into your body, you nourish it, support it and bring in spirit and vitality. Everything can change with just one breath—from doing to being and from thinking to feeling. Take a moment now and recognize the surrender and grace gifted to you through your own breath, then go about your day being inspired and taking action from there.