I have been reflecting on the breath recently.
The breath is what accompanies us through life from the moment we enter this world to the moment we leave it. Yet we take it for granted and it has so many lessons to share with us. As I reflected, I realized that it is a beautiful model for how to live our lives.
Giving and receiving freely
The breath is a beautiful reminder to give and receive freely. With each breath, we are just borrowing and giving back. Borrowing from our environment and giving back to our environment. We do it freely, without thought, it just happens.
- Where in your life could you receive more freely?
- Where in your life could you give more freely?
Your Own Rhythm
Whether you are running or sitting quietly your breathing changes to meet your needs, to provide you with just the right amount of oxygen. You naturally find your own rhythm based on what best supports you.
- What is the best rhythm for you to thrive?
- How are you honouring that natural rhythm?
- What happens when you don’t honour your own rhythm?
Trust
When we exhale, in most cases, we trust that the next inhale will come. We don’t fret over whether it will happen, we don’t force it to happen, we understand and trust that the inhale will come with exactly what we need to support our life.
- In what area of your life could you trust more that the inhale will come?
- In what areas of your life do you find trust to be easy?
Supported
With each inhale, we welcome into our bodies the oxygen that plants have produced for us. Each inhale is a reminder of how we are supported in life, without question, we are supported. Sometimes we look for support from people and places that are not available to provide us support and we overlook the beautiful and constant support that we are getting from the people and places we don’t notice.
- Where are you longing for support from the wrong people and places?
- What support are you receiving but not noticing?
Supporting
When we exhale, we breathe out carbon dioxide that the plants require to grow. When we inhale we feel supported. When we exhale we are giving support. We don’t keep exhaling until we pass out. There is a give and take. We give support, we receive support. It is a beautiful exchange of support. We don’t give what we need. We exhale what the plant needs – naturally, daily, in every moment.
- Where are you providing support beyond your capacity?
- Where are you giving what you need to feel supported rather than assessing what someone else or a situation needs to feel supported?
It is amazing to think that we have this constant reminder about how to live, that accompanies us through life – the breath. There are more lessons from the breath that I will share next time.
Until then remember you are amazing, you are capable and you are supported. Trust it is so.