When confusion arises, start with the body. I learned that the most basic, vital and natural impulse of our body is also the most powerful. Breathe. Breathing mindfully in and out, although obvious, is frequently forgotten. It took me years to notice that my short breathing was a reflection of self-controlling and suppression of emotions. I sometimes even held the breath without noticing it, as if I was diving in a pool to hide myself from what I had to face. We may live in different ages, parts of the world, have different cultures, values, challenges… but throughout human history, we all have something in common. We breathe day and night, night and day. Even animals, plants, rivers, seas, mountains. We are all connected by a cosmic pulsation, the breath of life. I guess nature provided this valuable device to enable us to remember, at every very second of our existence, that we are one. We are individuals connected by a life force that makes us one, a totality. When we pick-up a flower and cut its stem, we separate it from the whole. The same happens to us when our body is cut off from this life force. Breathing helps us to get back to the here and now and to come back home. Whenever I feel sadness, fear or anger, I realize that it is either related to a thought about the past or the future. Some situation in the past that I still cling to or a future event that I feel anxious about. I breathe deeply in and out and ask myself : “Do I have a problem now? Do I have a problem at this very moment?” Amazingly, the answer is always “No”. This does not mean that I do not have challenges. However, whenever they arise, I breathe and deal with them at the present moment. Easier said than done, but when we are aware that our preoccupations (as the word speaks for itself) derive from our thoughts that are not in the now, we may try to stay present by simply observing our breath. When challenges arise, sometimes action is required and sometimes acceptance is the way. Whatever difficult emotions and situations we face, breathing helps us to create space and go back to our center. Like a fresh breeze cooling down the overheated mind and body. It is simple, available anytime and for free.
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