Breathing to build inner calm amidst worldly stress
Recognize the global energies affecting you
Do you feel your emotions are running high right now? Maybe your energy is a bit scattered and you aren’t feeling grounded to your being?
Often the global world inserts itself in our life, disturbing our inner peace and mental fortitude. Getting back into that safe space within ourselves is important so that we don’t lose our grounding and spiritual connection. Breathing is a great exercise to bring us back into ourselves, towards healing and embracing others with love and tolerance.
I strongly feel it's absolutely crucial to hit the pause button now and engage in a deep breathing exercise. Considering the ongoing developments unfolding in the United States and the collective energy circulating among humans globally, let's place emphasis on what we do individually and collectively to heal ourselves and be the most loving version of ourselves that we can be. This goes beyond a mere exclamation demanding a quick deep breath from you. It involves taking a prolonged moment to breathe consciously, anchoring yourself in your inner world for a few minutes.
Breathing for healing within
So right now in this very moment, I encourage you to place one hand gently on your heart and the other hand on your abdomen. Start your breathing journey with a connected breath, seamlessly flowing from inhale to exhale without interruption. If it serves you, try inhaling for a count of 6 and exhaling for a count of 8, keeping your focus on a longer exhale to ease any anxiety you may be carrying.
Research shows that elongating your exhales can work wonders. Counted breathing is a powerful tool to break free from the chains of an overactive mind. After a few minutes of this mindful practice, take a moment to scan your body. Identify areas that feel tight, tense, or disconnected. It's time to introduce some gentle movements into your being. Regardless of your location or circumstances, find a way to sway, stretch, or shift - even if it's just a subtle motion. Let your body be your guide on this liberating journey of self-discovery and healing.
In order for energy not to get stagnant or stuck within us, we have to keep it flowing by physically moving. Whether it's tapping your feet, shaking your legs, stretching a little bit or a lot – any movement can make a difference. If you're feeling the need for release, you could head to your car, take deep breaths, and let out a good scream! But for now, simply move your body gently, creating space for breath to flow and expand, allowing for release and renewal.
Embrace each other for connection and community
I also want to gently emphasize that our current reality is filled with attempts to create divisions among us. And the outcome that happens as humans persist in isolation and division, is being rooted in a self-centered state that keeps us susceptible to manipulation. This susceptibility facilitates our control, leading us to function as mere components in systems like capitalism, where our purpose is reduced to that of worker bees generating wealth for others.
Meanwhile, in the hustle and bustle of modern life, we often overlook the importance of fostering a sense of community. By remaining detached from the support and camaraderie that a community offers, we tend to gravitate towards self-centeredness, driven by a deep-seated fear of losing our individual possessions and achievements to others.
Isolation can hinder our ability to lead with heartfelt sincerity, making it challenging to establish genuine connections built on compassion and kindness, as well as to view others with less optimism and more hostility, ultimately fostering a sense of self-righteousness and anger.
So much of what we experience as humans is indeed debilitating. The pain, trauma, loss, tragedy, stresses, and fears we encounter often hinder our ability to be vulnerable and open with one another. These challenges can lead us to exist in a state of aggression, reactivity, and anger. Finding healing often involves embracing community and joining together with those who share similar values and perspectives. When we come together to support one another emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually, we begin to counteract the fear that divides us.
With each gentle inhale and exhale, allow yourself to softly expand into the depths of your own internal knowing and the wisdom within your heart. While the mind sometimes deceives, the heart does not.
So for today, make a meaningful community connection.
Head out to join a wellness workshop, dive into an art class, or explore a festival that sparks your interest.
You could also simply spend quality time on the patio with a neighbor or dedicate some hours to volunteer for a cause.
Engaging in activities that bring joy and positivity can take the form of game nights with friends, attending lively music concerts, or browsing through local markets.
Let's relish being present in each other's company, away from the noise of media and differences, sharing laughter and creating memorable moments together.
If you aren't opposed to touching, hug it out! Extend those hugs a little longer to truly connect heart to heart. Let the warmth and energy flow freely between you and the other person as you share this beautiful moment.
Whatever you do, remind yourself that everyone is navigating through their own unique set of traumas, tragedies, and stresses. They are also constantly being influenced by the vast interconnecting web of information, similar to you. Therefore, approach every interaction with compassion, kindness, and a deep breath.
