Daily life brings challenges for every single one of us.
We're all faced with situations that have the power to knock the wind out of us and make us feel as though we're going down in a sinking ship. And during these moments, we can either allow for what's happening to swallow us whole or do our best to turn things around.
Turning things around is not always easy, but there are a few tools that we all have in our pockets in this moment.
#1 - Be Thankful for NOW
It's been said that suffering often has roots in either being stuck in the past, constantly thinking about what we don't have, and being obsessed with what's to come in the future.
It's easy to forget that surrounding us at this moment are so many beautiful things. Outside your window are trees blowing in the wind, flowers that bloom because the sun rises each morning, birds of the air, and stars that light up the stars at night.
And then there are the people in our lives — our family members and friends and the people you're soon to meet. Some of us have animals that grace us with their presence and are loyal no matter what mood we're in.
By opening our eyes to all of the beautiful gifts we possess, it's possible to make a huge shift toward breathing easier and getting closer to the wholeness we crave.
#2 - Get Into a Flow
When we're stressed, it's all so easy to get a bit stuck. Sometimes we don't get the exercise we need, fill our bodies with empty nutrients that make us feel sluggish, and lose focus on our goals.
If you feel like you need to recenter yourself, breathing into the moment and pouring focus/energy into being and doing can push you into a state of "flow."
The concept of flow was coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a positive psychology expert, and centers on being fully immersed into what you are undertaking at any moment of time.
You operate with energized focus, full of involvement, and enjoyment in whatever activity you are undertaking. If you're washing the dishes, focus on the warm water running over your hands, the aromatic scent of the soap drifting toward your nose, and the shift from soiled plates and utensils to spotless.
If you need a bit of reference for getting into flow, think back to when you were a child swimming in a pool or climbing a tree. You were in the "here and now" so very deeply. Your activities were most likely pursued with passion, laughter, and sometimes tears.
Wherever you were, you were there fully. Focused.
Getting back to that groove as adults can change everything. Rather than doing things half-minded and "sort of" well, we allow for each mindful accomplishment to lead to the next.
#3 - Find Silence, Meditate, and/or Pray
Take time to find silence. Discover a meditation or prayer practice that works for you and dedicate at least five minutes to it per day.
It's at the root of your being that you'll find true peace. In moments of silence, you'll find the answers you've been seeking about your present life and future successes.
The world is full of chatter, and if we can shut it out for even a few minutes, we'll return to the essence of who we are.
Bonus Tip:
Love freely.
I recently heard the words, "Those who can't say I love you can rarely say I forgive you."
Our mental health and ability to breathe is directly connected with love and forgiveness. If we can't love ourselves and others — if we can't forgive ourselves and others — how can we breathe with ease? Our insides, instead, become gobbled up with resentments, frustrations, and fear.
Life is too short for this!
Let's dare to enjoy the moment, get into a flow that works for us alone, and find a bit of quiet time for breathing free.
It's all so doable and can start right now.
