Breathe

[mercuryrising]

Over in the Relationships forum, Angela was talking about 100% Responsibility and how that changes your reality. In another forum all together that I subscribe to, they are talking about 100% Acceptance or as they call it, appreciation.

Acceptance/responsibility. Two sides of the same coin. It's weird how much these concepts have to do with what reality you are creating. It doesn't seem logical that the way to change where you are is to fully accept where you are and take responsibility for being there, but that's exactly how it works.

What does that have to do with breathing?

As you go about whatever voodoo you do so well, stop now then and see how you are breathing. Like when you are mad, you'll exhale heavy. When you are sad, you'll inhale heavy. When you laugh, you'll take those short gasps. It's interesting how closely our breathing is to our state of mind.

When you inhale, you are accepting reality as it is. When you exhale, you take responsibility for being there. Must of the time, we don't inhale and exhale all the way. We're not 100% accepting or 100% responding (?).

I'm bringing this up because this has to be the quickest way to change your world. Totally breathe in and totally breathe out. The whole thing shifts.

[The Cloud]

Technically, you can't exhale 100% or your lungs would collapse. However, I'm just splitting hairs This is an interesting way at looking at something that seems so mundane.

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

Technically, you can't exhale 100% or your lungs would collapse. However, I'm just splitting hairs This is an interesting way at looking at something that seems so mundane.

Smarty pants!

Though I don't often apply it, it occurred to me a few years back that you could change your state of being at any time simply by changing your breathing pattern and posture.

[dali]

I agree with this but its really hard to keep it up for long. I suppose its practice. I will really try today to practice breathing in and breathing out. I am told if you write things down you are more likely to do something about it. Lets hope.... Lets keep breathig! With mindfulness that is. Thanks for the post.

[PVince81]

I have noticed that my breath is always very short, as I tend to feel stressed very easily. I also tend to hold my belly instead of letting it be moved by my breathing. So now I am trying to become more aware of my breathing and adjust it to feel more relaxed.

[dali]

lets breathe together.

[mercuryrising]

I used to keep what I called a six times book. It's based off a Tibetan Buddhist idea that you should take refuge in the Three Jewels six times a day. This might be a good way to return to mindful breathing as you and I go about our daily activities.

All you need to do is take a sheet of paper and split into six sections (I recommend keeping a special book). In each section write down the time you will check your breathing in intervals of 2.5 hours (or whatever works for you). I'm not sure what you would write down at each interval... perhaps an affirmation or something. I used to keep track of certain vows. On the back of the page, I would write down what kind of meditation I was doing and my experience that day.

This really helped me a lot... I think because the whole act of keeping the book is a form of mindfulness. And it is probably no accident that it has come back up in my consciousness at this time.

You might give it a try and see what happens.

Namaste