Day 18 ~ July 26, 2023
Happy Wednesday! Day 18 of the Awaken in the Present: Embrace the Now Challenge has us Breathing Easy!
We breathe all day long without thinking about it, but something truly transformative happens when our breath becomes something we do think about.
Attention to the breath, and intention of the breath, is fundamental for being in the present. Our breath is an anchor to the present because it is with us and happens naturally all the time. If we get in the habit of using our breath as an anchor, and become more aware of our thoughts and emotions, we can stop anxiety, stress, being pulled to the past or future, and much more before they gain momentum.
We already know how to breathe – to inhale and exhale. To use beath work to our advantage, we just need to put intention into it. The more we observe our breath, sense it, and return to it the more we can use this remarkable power.
There are so many breathing techniques we can use to move ourselves to the present, influence our thoughts and emotions, and promote calmness. The choice is yours ~ deep, alternate nostril, counting, pursed lip, belly, 4-7-8, lion’s breath, box, and the list goes on and on.
My usual go to is three deep breaths. I fully inhale through my nose, then I hold it for a second and then exhale through my mouth. As I exhale, I let it out with a sound. The sound absolutely helps me to release what I’m holding onto.
I hope you find a technique or several that really work for you. Happy breathing!
Till tomorrow…
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