Energizing Our Heart (Step Three)

With the upright posture we’ve begun to stabilize our body. As we become more grounded & solid, we are both more open & more emotionally resilient. Awareness of our inhale & exhale can move our attention away from the worry brain, and center our identity on the breath. We are the one who breathes. So far, we haven’t intervened much in the natural process of our day to day life; mostly just observing our posture and becoming aware of our breath. Now we want to start to use our breath, not just observe it. We can start by recognizing that breath is energy. When we feel fatigued, overwhelmed, discouraged, or pessimistic—it’s a signal that our heart’s energy is depleted and needs to be re-energized. Breath is life; and half-breath is half-life. Our hearts need the energy of a full diaphragmatic breath. Our history is reflected in the way we breathe. As young children we may have learned to tighten our stomach and hold our breath when our parents told us to quit crying. And we may still do so when we feel afraid, angry, sad, powerless, embarrassed…etc. However, feelings are energy, and when they flow the most, they hurt the least. Full breath allows feelings to be processed as they arise, and not stored in the unconscious only to be triggered at some later time. An energized heart is a resilient, radiant heart (we can literally see it in people’s smiles). An energized heart is the source of optimism…we literally think differently and feel more confident when our hearts are re-charged with our full breath. We can’t think ourselves here; but we can breathe ourselves here. We and our family deserve the fullness of life that a full breath creates.