There is Beauty in Breathing
Once upon a time, I attended a meditation workshop where the facilitator guided us through deep breaths as she offered the powerful affirmation : I am the breath of God.
I love how simply breathing in this affirmation empowers me.
However as I reflect, I am also mindful and compassionate for the times I didn't feel so empowered. For most of my adolescence, the feelings of anxiety and tension were so normal that I wasn’t even aware that they were there.
Sure I'm happy, relaxed, and peaceful now but I remember when I wasn't and this remembrance inspires me to a deep space of reflection. I send love and forgiveness to myself for all the times I neglected my feelings and distracted myself from my needs by rushing to tend to another. This obviously wasn’t sustainable but I continued until I was so out of balance that I could barely make any sense of my purpose within relationships.
For a time, I was so used to trying to help fix the pain in another that I failed to acknowledge my own needs for attention and healing. Even becoming aware of my needs required a painful process of transformation. From where I stand now, I am grateful for the pain as it has been a wonderful teacher.
Now when the teacher appears instead of avoiding or distracting myself, I sit and I listen. With the power of breath coupled with affirmations and mantras, I find my lessons with teacher becoming more and more fulfilling.
In my seeking, I came across this Tonlen breathing exercise as a tool for empathic souls like mine, who know the sting of slipping out of balance and into the realm of codependency.
This practice creates space to process pain. Sometimes the remedy is to simply sit with the teacher, accept the lesson, and allow yourself to embrace the wisdom.
The healing for the pain is in the pain.
What if instead of avoiding, or ignoring, or attempting to rush to the relief; we paused and chose to sit and soak in breaths of solidarity with what ever is in pain. As we breathe the breath of God, perhaps we can also breathe in solidarity with others who share in a similar pain.
As we expand our capacity to accept, Perhaps we can also expand our power to care for our self and share that care compassionately with others.
A Fresh Breath
I challenge you to breathe deeply and heart-fully dear soul.
Breathe for those who can't anymore.
Breathe for those feeling the same pains you are currently learning from.
Inhale the challenges you face completely and exhale the Remedy that you need to overcome.
With each breath, may you be reminded that we are in this thing together dear soul. Let us honor our breath and do so in solidarity with the all powerful Source that invented the air and breathes that we breathe.
Thankh you for tuning in :)
