Just Breathe

Are you breathing? Sounds like a silly question, but it’s legitimate and important! Pay attention to your breathing pattern. Do you hold your breath throughout the day? Do you utilize the full capacity of your lungs when you inhale, or are your breaths shallow leaving your body deprived of oxygen? Do you breathe through your mouth, or the place where air was intended to flow...your nostrils? When you breathe does your abdomen move? It should! When you breathe in your chest and belly should expand, and when you exhale they should retract.

The first thing that becomes compromised when we are stressed or anxious is our breath. This is why it is important that you make every effort to be aware of and regulate it because it’s the very thing that can bring you back to yourself and calm you during stressful periods. The breath never lies. It is the informant of your current state of mind. Don't believe me? Pay attention to your breath when you are anxious, fearful, stressed, relaxed, calm, or at peace.

So, how about giving it a try? Breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply for a count of six seconds. Hold at the top, and slowly exhale through your nose for a count of eight seconds. As you inhale feel your body receive the free air that plays a vital role in your aliveness. As you exhale, connect with the feeling of your inner body as it releases your breath back into the Universe. Practice honoring your breath, and seeking its support when you need it most.

Namaste,
Terri

What if?

What if you have more control over the quality of your life than you think? What if you get to decide how you would like to experience your life? What if it really is all about your thoughts and behaviors and not others’ thoughts and behaviors that makes your life rich? What if you cherish both the ups and downs of your journey? What if you make yourself a priority in your life? What if you really do have control over those things about you that you believe you don’t? What if you stepped out of your comfort zone, and recreated your life in a way that works for you? What if you have all of the power to create a new normal? What if the experience of your life is completely up to you? What would you do about it?

Love and well-being,
Terri

I Was Wrong, and I'm Sorry

A genuine “I was wrong, and I’m sorry” can go a long way. It actually helps to heal both parties…the apologizee AND apologizer. Sometimes we find it very difficult to say “I’m sorry” because behind an apology is the confession that we did something wrong.

When we feel we’ve done something wrong we are burdened with the emotion of guilt. And when we don’t find a healthy way of releasing our guilt, it remains bottled up inside. When such an intense emotion toward ourselves remains confined inside of us it tends to turn into debilitating emotions such as self-hatred, anger, disgust, and resentment, which ends up being expressed outwardly toward others. This is called projection—what we feel toward ourselves is redirected toward others. It’s a defense mechanism that keeps us protected from the pain, shame, guilt, fear, and anger we feel toward ourselves.

When we house contempt toward ourselves it’s very likely that we will begin to suffer physically (physical pain, migraines, digestive problems, ulcers, illnesses, disease, etc.). Your immune system becomes compromised when it has been overtaken by toxins, and this includes negative emotional pollution. Don’t underestimate the power of your psychology—your thoughts and behaviors—it is directly connected to the status your physical body. Another byproduct of holding yourself in emotional imprisonment is psychological disorders. Anger turned inward often times surfaces as depression, and/or substance abuse. Unresolved guilt can manifest as chronic anxiety.

Are all of these ailments worth protecting your ego from admitting a wrong doing? If we can begin to see that our self-worth is not connected to whether or not we are right or wrong, we will free ourselves and others from a lot of unnecessary suffering.

Love,
Terri

What Do You Do For Yourself?

What does it for you? What makes you feel grounded, connected, content, exhilarated? What produces feelings of joy, satisfaction, ease, relaxation? What do you do to make sure you feel these things on a regular basis?

Spend time with friends
Swim
Watch your favorite program on TV
Go on an outing with your family
Nap
Take a walk by the ocean
Golf
Sit quietly in a serene surrounding
Cook
Do something enjoyable with your significant other
Write
Throw a dinner party
Read
Yoga
Bake
Go to the beach
Play a sport
Go for a walk
Go to the movies
Bookclub
Shop
Hang out in nature
Play cards
Meditate

What do you do for you that makes you enjoy your life?

Happy Labor Day weekend.

Love,
Terri