Day 2: 28-Day Meditation Challenge: We Breathe

Welcome to Day 2. If you've just arrived, just learned about this Challenge—no worries!—you're not late. There's plenty of time to begin. We start where we are. Please start now. 


If you've followed my work over the years, you know that I am a big fan of "starting over." In fact, the ninth Transformational Truth in my book, Your Truest Self, proposes exactly that:

"I Can Create My Life Anew Each Day"

So each day we come here, even if we have not meditated as we'd hoped, we begin again.

We connect with our breath. 

The breath, no matter what spiritual tradition you embrace, is the centerpoint of most contemplative practices, especially meditation.

I first learned about the power of the breath when I was 21 (I'm now 56) and in college, in my very first yoga class. I took it to get a PE credit. I had no idea at the time what I was getting into or how this course would change my life.

Our instructor coached us in conscious breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and more. I recall marveling at how my body/mind would settle down when I remembered to breathe properly, deeply, evenly, from my belly. I fell in love with my breath. 

Today, I still love the breath and its ability to calm and center me. I view this breath as sacred. It is not simply an influx of oxygen. It is a divine connection to my own spirit and the greater Spirit—or God.

When I began to understand the origin of the word "breath," when I began to realize that nearly every religious (and spiritual) tradition the world over connected the breath with the spirit or soul, I experienced a monumental shift in consciousness. I experienced another when I learned that there were hundreds of creation stories in various traditions that were based on a life giving deity breathing life into humankind.

The Hebrew word for "spirit" is ruach, and ruach can also mean "breath" or "wind." In other languages, as well, the word for spirit is also the word for breath. In Latin, spiritus. In Sanskrit, pragna. In Greek, pneuma.

At times, when I am attending to my breath consciously for the purposes of relaxation or meditation, I even imagine that the Divine One, The All, the Universe (by whatever name you choose to call the Sacred) is breathing through me ... Breathing sacred air into my nostrils, down into my lungs, permeating all the organs and muscles, oxygenating my blood with life and calm and holy connection.

Sometimes, as I breathe, I even say, 'God is breathing me.' And it truly feels like it ...

Today, no matter what meditation form you choose, or if you are just walking mindfully through your day, return to your breath. It will predictably bring you back to center. Breathing in, feel the sacred source of this breath and how it keeps you alive day-to-day. Breathing out, feel how you spread this gift out into the world. Without your breath, you are not here. You are not alive. This breath is life-giving, life-affirming. This breath will bring you home to yourself. 

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Let's take a moment to check in.

How are you doing with the Challenge? I know it's only Day 2, but I am eager to hear about your successes and challenges, as are many others. Keep us posted, OK? 

Thank you joining us. I am thrilled at how many of you have accepted the Challenge. The roster (right column) keeps growing!

Love and blessings to you this day,
Jan

Read on ...


From Where I Sit — Day 2, My Meditation Experience

I awoke early from a bad dream. I immediately went to my breath to calm and center myself. Within a few minutes, I experienced waves of warmth and comfort wash over me.

My attention moved to my husband, laying beside me. I treasure this man. Every morning I offer a prayer of gratitude for his presence in my life. I snuggled in a little closer and turned this prayer into a few minutes of gratitude meditation.

After he got up to start his day (usually I get up with him), I chose to stay in bed and continue meditating. I lay on my back, placed my hand on my belly, and felt my breath moving in and out. I had no other thoughts except the divine awareness of breathing in - breathing out.

"Inner peace is mine, one breath at a time." 

I lost track of time. It was a lovely meditation morning and I arose to begin my"Morning Infusion." If you like, you can read a bit more about this routine here. I will be posting more on the benefits of a contemplative morning soon.

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Recommended Resources:
If you are new to meditation, you might enjoy reading this article from the Chicago Tribune: "5 Tips to Better Meditation."

If you are an experienced meditator, it's always wise to revisit tried and true resources. Last night I picked up Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh—for the umpteenth time. This book could be a bible for mindfulness. I found myself reading (and remembering!) about mindful driving and mindful dishwashing. It reminds me that everything belongs ...

And if you'd like to refresh yourself by watching/listening to Thich Nhat Hanh "live," click here.


Seek and you shall find.

Inspiration:

Sitting Anywhere

When you need to slow down and come back to yourself, you do not need to rush home to your meditation cushion or to a meditation center in order to practice conscious breathing. You can breathe anywhere, just sitting on your chair at the office or sitting in your automobile. Even if you are at a shopping center filled with people or waiting in line at a bank, if you begin to feel depleted and need to return to yourself, you can practice conscious breathing and smiling just standing there. 

Wherever you are, you can breathe mindfully. We all need to go back to ourselves from time to time, in order to be able to confront the difficulties of life ...


~Thich Nhat Hanh, from Peace is Every Step