There are two types of breathing: the one that is unconscious, and the one that is conscious. Are you conscious of your breathing? For the most part, I believe most of us do not think about it much, nor do we think about how important it is. We just breathe.

However, there is another nature to breath and that is the recognition that breath is the very essence of Spirit in us and as us. Our breath is Spirit flowing through us. When I get connected to my breath in this way, whether it is through meditation or by just pausing to center in my breath at any given moment, I unleash a different energy.

A few days ago, I had an experience where I simply reacted. I’m sure we can all identify with those moments when we just react to what someone said or to a momentary experience. We don’t think or stop to breathe, we just react. Where are we reacting from? Usually we are reacting from instinctual self-defense. Perhaps, for some reason we feel threatened. It doesn’t feel good. I don’t know about you, but I want to feel good. I want to feel peaceful and at ease.

There is an answer to all of this. It is easy and we can train ourselves to do it. When confronted with anything or a situation where we feel uneasy or stressful, just breathe. A breath will change everything. We get clarity. We get perspective. We understand.

I am training myself to use this method when answering emails, when texting. I use it when looking at the news feed. I use it when in a conversation. It isn’t necessary to speak before thinking. If we were really listening to the other person, we wouldn’t be thinking about what we were going to say next.

Breathing does change everything because our breath is Spirit in us. Breath brought us into this world, as we took our first breath on this plane of action, upon leaving our mother’s womb. We will go out on the same breath to our next experience. All the breaths we take in-between will determine how our life experience unfolds.

I commit to taking conscious breaths and to be grateful for the breath of life. If I ever find myself holding my breath or breathing shallowly, which I do from time to time, I will take a deep one and affirm that Spirit is right where I am, conscious through that breath as me.

Love and Aloha,

Rev. Rita