Inhale- Exhale!
© By Allen Merritt (2017)
I read something today worthy of sharing. Its declaration
bares repeating, because it pacts a punch when you reflect on it. The statement
infers that which you inhale you will
also exhale. In other words, what you take in is also what you put out.
The first thing that comes to my mind in relation to
this is the analogy of we are what we eat, which makes sense. If I stick to
comfort, fried and completely processed foods, I will put on weight, have less
energy and not always feel my best. I get it. I am a vegetarian so I understand
how certain fruits and vegetables provide the nutrients, energy and protein
necessary for a healthier output. I like feeling good. So the chances are, if I
am inputting good content, then I am also contributing good content.
The same applies to the activities
we choose to participate in. The strongest example of this I guess has to do
with drugs and alcohol, which have led many an individual on a downhill spiral
to despair and destructiveness, not to mention the negative impact it can have
on others. It is something to think about. What are we feeding our spirit and
soul and what effect does that have on anything or everything? Personally, I
don’t like feeling bad and the idea of drinking to excess and getting sick over
it is not appealing at all.
The second idea I get has to do with the concept of
how we all breathe the same air and are in the same boat. If we recognize this,
our perspective may change to consider more than our own selfish whims. What is
in the air? What are we inhaling that could produce a negative impact on our
well being. I suppose one could point to how second hand smoke and air
pollution impacts health for many. Another thought is on how many times have you witnessed an angry person in a public situation? Did it have an effect that made you feel negative energy moving through you? There is this thing called cause and effect
and we all live with it.
Buddhism also speaks to this concept when discussing
zazen or meditation. Practitioners
focus on breathing and mental exercises to reach a new state of being.
There seems to be an interesting dynamic or dichotomy
taking place in the midst of such mindsets.
First, there is the self soothing that comes from
breathing exercises where the mind focuses on breathing in healing energies and
letting go of toxic ones. Eastern philosophy has always intrigued me this way.
I feel its connection. The practice of mind over matter is a difficult one for
most westerners to integrate with on a daily basis. But it has great benefits
when achieved.
Secondly, there is also the exercise of inhaling
goodness and also exhaling the same goodness back into the air we all breathe.
(i.e. what you are breathing in you are also breathing out). In this way you
are returning back what you took. You are giving back.
It’s like a ripple effect. The moment a wave begins
on the other side of the world; we begin to feel it moving toward us. The
impact of that wave will vary, but we feel it none the less.
I definitely see two sides of a coin here and both
provide benefits to our positive well being.
I like to think I am making every effort I can to
give back something positive in everything I do and every move I make albeit I
may not always hit the nail on the head and fall a little short now and again.
I would like to challenge myself and everyone else
to focus on this topic throughout the next week and beyond. If my body, mind,
soul, spirit and senses are a temple, then what am I putting into that temple?
How am I nourishing it? And just as importantly, what am I giving back as a
result of what I am taking in?
I don’t know, a few habits might change or be broken
by thinking about this very topic!
Use the following mantra in your breathing and
meditation and see what becomes of it.
Breathe
in the good
Breathe
out the bad
As
I breathe in goodness
Let
me return the same
Enjoy living
this week on a positive note!
Cheers!