Anxiety, Grief, Anger, Fear--and Breathing

[Guest guest]

The war in Iraq is having a powerful influence on people worldwide.

Many people find themselves filled with constant grief, anxiety, and

fear as they hear or watch the latest news of death and destruction.

Those of you who feel overburdened by these emotions may have noticed

that your breathing--which brings you your vital life force--has

become shallower, less harmonious, and more depressed. You may also

have noticed that your breathing is faster than usual, that it

resides higher up in your chest, and that you are holding your breath

a lot.

 

Such breathing, of course, is brought on by the kinds of emotions

that many of us are experiencing these days, and tends to support

chronic negative thoughts and emotions of all kinds. It reduces our

our life force as well as our ability to appreciate the miracle of

our being and to relate in a loving, compassionate way with ourselves

and others. It is possible, however, by recognizing this in the

moment--by seeing and sensing the relationship of our own breathing

to the various thoughts and feelings that keep us imprisoned in our

suffering--to begin to free ourselves from these life-defeating

patterns of experience.

 

Yes, this tragedy is occuring. But that does not mean that we need to

amplify it further in ourselves through chronic, excessive anxiety,

grief, anger, and fear. We do not need to keep replaying the very

thoughts and feelings that make us and others suffer. Nothing good

can come from this--neither increased understanding nor clear,

effective action.

 

In this regard, it may be helpful to observe your breathing several

times a day and make sure that you do not hold your breath. Sense

your shoulders frequently, and keep them down. When possible, breathe

in and out through your nose and let your exhalation be longer than

your inhalation. Put your hands on your belly several times a day and

allow your breathing to drop down toward your center of gravity just

below your navel. As your awareness of your breath increases, so will

your awareness of your thoughts and feelings and your ability not to

get attached to or identified with them. Your breath will begin to

become more spacious as will your sensation and feeling of yourself.

As this occurs these negative emotions will no longer have the same

power over you and you will see clearly what you can do in yourself

or your own family, neighborhood, community, city, state, or country

to bring healing and peace.

 

Dennis Lewis

http://www.authentic-breathing.com