Awareness of breath is the first step towards reconnecting with life and wellbeing...
"Breathing is the bridge between mind and body, the connection between consciousness and unconsciousness, the movement of spirit in matter. Breath is the key to health and wellness, a function we can learn to regulate and develop in order to improve our physical, mental and spiritual well-being." Dr. Andrew WeilConnecting to the breath, can be a first step towards developing awareness, about how we're relating to what to life. This conscious awareness is what helps us to notice when we're caught up in thoughts or beliefs. It helps us see, that what's happening in our lives isn't what causes suffering; it's the way we're relating to it. We can pause and shift out of reaction/thoughts/beliefs and notice how:
- the body is reacting to pain (tightening, heart racing, defenses arising)
- whats happening in the mind (reactive/defensive thoughts closes and contracts our ability to be open minded and our minds can feel closed and contracted i.e. narrow minded)
- what happens in the heart (we armor our hearts to try to protect ourselves from getting hurt only to experience deeper hurt).
Meditation as a path to waking up....
Meditation helps us reconnect with the vibrant life that is right here. Instead of being caught up in stories, worries or concerns about past or future we come into contact with what is actually happening moment to moment. There is a stream of life that flows through us and when we pause to notice we reconnect with spacious, open awareness.Gift yourself today by pausing to practice. It may seem like you don't have time...the question is do you have time to live? Do you have time to breathe? The answer is of course yes! Your body breathes and you need the breath to live...so take time to pause and connect with the life that's right here.
There is much more I can say about this practice. For today it's enough to know that this practice has transformed the way I relate to others, myself and life and that is a gift!
Listen to this beautiful meditation by Jack Kornfield, a wise and wonderful teacher of mindfulness.
May you be peaceful and well