Connect to your breath

In midst of a busy or stressful day, I have often found comfort and solace in my breath.

Often when we are preoccupied, rushing through our day and/or worried, we close our bodies. I feel that this is a natural coping mechanism for us humans, to close our heart chakra. What this does is that it spoils our posture; our backs are stressed, rounded, we develop a hunch, our shoulders droop and move inwards, and our lungs are constricted for open space within the ribcage. There are other changes in the body as well, and these changes differ from person to person.

All this change in our posture directly affects our breathing. We automatically begin to take shallow breaths. These breaths do not carry as much refreshing oxygen, as is required for our body, especially when it is working harder than usual. I feel all this adds to the stress and tiredness that we feel in difficult or harsh situations.

Connecting with my breath has always brought me respite immediately. I find a quiet corner to sit or I go out in an open area where I can sit alone and begin work with my breath.

I immediately straighten my spine, open out my shoulders and pull my chin up. I then close my eyes and take in a deep breath that fills up my abdomen and make it bulge. I hold the breath for a few seconds and then exhale. I exhale for longer than I inhale.

I also add visualisations of colours to energise and heal chakras as the situation may require. A simple technique for all can be to visualise inhaling pure whitish blue light and exhaling black/grey breath. As our system gets stabalised, we will find that the colour of our exhale turns to white or transparent. This is a good way to decide that we are now in a composed state of mind to tackle the tasks at hand. I sometimes, also like to receive messages or keywords to address the situation at hand. This is the first thought or word that comes to my mind immediately after I connect with my breath.

You can also connect to your breath otherwise, and not wait for the day to run you rather than you running the day. In fact being connected with the breath is a powerful tool to remain in the present and fulfill your tasks with grace and joy.

Everyday Miracles: Gratitude List

 

Everyday Miracles: Gratitude List

 

It is easier said than done to wake up each morning with a high voltage charge of enthusiasm and motivation gushing through our bodies. In fact, I have always found it more helpful to wake up feeling refreshed, calm and composed.

The most part of my day is already planned the previous day, yet I allow space for my emotions to decide my barometer of ‘happy, motivated, need inspiration, do not want to be bothered today’. Over the years, I have developed a morning ritual for myself that always helps me to slide into a new day with vigour and zest.

A part of this morning ritual is reading my ‘gratitude list’ after I get ready for work and before I take my breakfast. I usually maintain two copies of my list, one in the handwritten format in my handbag and the other in my mobile phone. I shall share the reasons for this later in the blog.

Many of my clients find it unbelievable when I advise them to reach out for their gratitude list before they read their to-do list for the day. However, once they follow my advice they become converts to the school of thought.

Here is what happens when we read our gratitude list in the morning:

·         We become aware of all the resources that are available at our finger tips. This repository includes not only tangible things like a bed, a roof above our heads, platefuls of food, and so on, but also the rarer and dearer bounties of love of our family and friends, sound counsel of our mentors, clean fresh air to breathe, a refreshing walk in the neighbourhood park, and I can go on.

·         Gratitude releases in us the hormones –  dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins; together these are referred to as happy hormones. What actually happens is when we read about these blessings of our lives, we relive these experiences, and this triggers the release of happy hormones in our systems. So, when a difficult day is unfolding itself, it is always helpful to steal a few moments and read our gratitude list which is saved as a picture or a document on our mobile phone.

·         This exercises also creates a habit of thankfulness within us. I believe that a habit has the quality to be universal in nature. So, it will touch every aspect of our life, if not immediately but eventually. Hence, when we find it atrocious to be grateful for the irritants and challenges in our life, the primary sentiment of gratitude for all the graces of our lives, prepares us to be thankful always, for everything.

Since, I have talked enough about reading the gratitude list, you must be wondering when do we write it, right?

The best time to write our gratitude list is at night before we turn in to sleep. I have found through experience that it is best to initiate a ritual of winding down as we prepare for sleep.

I like to turn down the lights of the room, turn off all technology, keep my mobile phone away, curtail conversation with everyone and prepare to be with myself and my thoughts.

I add two or more things to be grateful for every night. Thus, the list is ever-evolving and ever-growing. I use a notebook and a fountain pen to write. Writing it puts me in a state of bliss. I can focus on the positives as I drift to sleep.

Try this and tell me how the experience has been for you.