Nothing marks the passage of time as concretely as a growing infant. Lea, now almost seven months old, marked the new year by sitting up tall and taking her first bites of solid food. For her, each day is a triumph as she tackles the world without expectation.
Her mother, on the other hand, marked the beginning of 2012 by being over two weeks late with her winter newsletter! Two weeks late!
Alas, not all years are created equal. Sometimes we shine and sometimes we fall behind. Some years, January 17th rolls around and we realize that we have already forgotten our heartfelt resolutions.
Throughout it all, one constant remains – if we center ourselves and take things one step at a time no task is impossible, no time too stressful or “crazy” to manage, and there is no missed deadline that can’t be made up.
What is the first step to getting back on track? Taking one deep breath… followed by another… and another… and another…
The breath guides the Qi. Not just the Qi within our bodies but also that which allows us to act upon our environments with intention. If you start paying attention, I’m sure you will notice that your breath changes with your mood. Most of us have stressful periods during the day when we forget to breath altogether. Notice how holding the breath effects you both physically and psychologically.
Mindful breathing helps to relieve tension, restores energy and concentration, and clears the mind. Notice how the rhythm of your breathing varies continuously. When we are upset, anxious or exercising your breathing speeds up, when you are relaxed or sleeping, it slows down.
Try breathing shallowly and see how you feel. Then breathe deeply and feel the difference. If you catch yourself holding your breath and then consciously deepen and slow down your breathing, you will quickly calm your body and mind.
As breaths come and go, they teach us about the transience of all states of being while at the same time affirming that this fluctuation is, in itself, a constant. The same can be said about our lives. Events and anxieties also come and go. It is not possible to control everything and be perfect but it is possible to maintains one’s grace and be one’s own gentle guide through life’s twists and turns. This is the root of health and well being.
