Whether you’re starting your day or ending it, breathing is a way of life for us all. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve spent countless mornings and nights waking or going to bed stressed with so much running through my mind. Often times, the thoughts and stressors of what needs to be done would carry on throughout the day and week. Instead, I want to challenge you to use the very thing that keeps us humans living to bring you peace: BREATHING.

The key to mindful breathing is to eliminate the thoughts of everything else around you and to concentrate on inhaling and exhaling deeply, calmly, and by releasing any tension or worry.

To begin your day,

“Inhale Courage and Exhale Fear”

Focus on the air moving through your nose and down your lungs and then smoothly flowing out of your mouth. Notice the scents in the air around you. Notice the speed and temperature of the air traveling throughout you.

REPEAT until you are ready to move with calmness, with love, and with courage. Do this type of mindful breathing when you are challenged throughout the day or need to regroup for life’s stressors. Remember, you can and will calm your own soul always.

To end your day,

“Inhale Peace and Exhale Worry”

As you mindfully breathe, remember to let go of all the things you coulda, shoulda, or woulda did for the day. Use that breathing time to come to peace with what you accomplished for the day. By letting go of worry, you allow your physical mind and body a chance to get good rest and gear up for the next day.

“Worrying does not take away tomorrows troubles, it takes away todays peace”

In order for mindful breathing to benefit you most effectively, you should not be rushing, distracted (turn the tv off/ ask your partner to be quiet as well), and remember it takes practice. Breathing is a way of life for us all, but doing it mindfully is a way of peace.

Sending love and light always, A.