Just Breathe...

While the Homebuilding marketing was on a fast and furious decline, I struggled daily with the task of getting price decreases from contractors and vendors. I fought the management of my employing company to keep my participation non-existent in activities that were of poor ethics and maybe a little bit illegal. We terminated the relationships of many of our suppliers. Real men and real women who I learned to like and respect as people… as mothers and fathers of children… as husbands to ailing wives and wives to hard-working men… I learned to like them as friends.

And as my heart would break for them, I knew that regardless to how good a job I did for my company by getting the suppliers to work for pennies - by creating an environment so competitive they stabbed each other in the back… I knew that there would be massive lay-offs that would include my position.

Every day I was angry and depressed, sad and excited; at each change of events there was a different emotion to be felt and it was all very stressful. Stressful on my mind. Stressful on my spirit. And stressful on my body.

On one particular day, I was taking a much needed break. A co-worker and I were discussing whatever the latest chain of events had just occurred. A third co-worker had come along and he jokingly participated in the conversation. But as we started to head back to our prospective offices and workspaces… the third co-worker said, “OK, Ladies… Breath in Jesus; breath out peace.”

What? !!!!

He was being a little bit funny… but only a little. He was mostly serious.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t have a thing against Jesus. I mean, even though I don’t “classify” myself as being a part of the traditional denominations or doctrines, I grew up on Jesus!

This guy just sounded a little obnoxious. So, I paid him no mind and kept on with life.

But recently, I ran across a bit of information that has made me take another look at my co-workers advice. I read that correct breathing can minimize stress.

Correct breathing.

Now there’s a thought. CORRECT breathing. Is there an incorrect way to breathe? If you are bringing air in and out of your lungs… is that not correct?

Well, there is a correct way to breathe.

Try this.

BREATH IN REAL SLOW and hold it for a few seconds…
Did your chest walls expand wide? Or did your torso draw up and expand in height?

Okay. Now you can exhale and breathe normally.

If your chest walls expanded wide, then you are breathing correctly. If your torso draws up, more so than out, then you are stress-breathing.

I started doing this exercise of correct breathing and I really felt more relaxed and calm. Now, I am conscious of this during my meditation and I have taken it a step further. I breathe in positive healing energy and breathe out love. Love for my children, my husband, my family and friends…. Love for all of the creations of this world and for life… Love for all things and all people. Sometimes I focus on one person or one aspect of my life and sometimes I am embracing the universe all at once.

Breath in ____(A)______ and breathe out _____(B)____ !

What’s on your ‘A’ and ‘B’ list?