It’s here already.
Thanksgiving, I mean.
Is it just me or did the year seem to fly by?
This time of year is always a great time to discuss the magic of
gratitude. Because one of the most powerful things you can do to
improve your overall health and feeling of wellbeing is to cultivate
an attitude of gratitude.
Here are some thoughts on how you and I can apply this concept to our
breathing and our health.
This is a great time of year to express appreciation for the people,
things and events in your life.
As you take stock of all the good things that have happened to, and
for, you over the past year — and yes, there were good things, no
matter how poorly your year may have gone — you feel full of
positive energy. You feel expansive and happy.
The feeling of appreciation is probably the most profound you can
have. It’s actually a lot like love – a pure form of love.
You vibrate on a higher level. You feel more in harmony with the
world. You feel your energy skyrocket and you become less
self-centered and withdrawn.
When you suffer from any kind of chronic problem, whether it’s
health related, stress related, relationship problems, you name it
— you tend to get too wrapped up in yourself and your problems.
You view your world through the patina of pain, disappointment,
or frustration brought about by your present condition. Trouble is,
this does nothing to relieve you of your condition. In fact, it
just makes it worse.
To snap out of this negative cycle, you need to “get outside
of yourself”.
What I mean is, you need to focus your thoughts and feelings
outside of yourself and your personal problems, even if just
for a few minutes or hours.
And the easiest way to do this is to express appreciation.
The holiday season provides a perfect opportunity to do that.
In fact, it’s what Thanksgiving is all about…so what are you
waiting for?
Start to look outside yourself and your present problems or
frustrations. Count your blessings, both large and small.
Doing this can help get you into a very positive and relaxed
state of mind. It cancels out the negative energy you may be
feeling due to health problems, stress at work, stress about
the holidays, and so forth.
We’re staying in town this year – for the first time in several
year. So I’m looking forward to a nice long weekend and some
relaxed time with my family. And I’m grateful that we have
this opportunity to take a mini-vacation and share this
holiday time.
This same mechanism – of feeling gratitude for your blessings,
both great and small – is used in many techniques that combine
visualization with deep breathing. These techniques are used
to improve breathing capacity, counteract breathing disorders
such as asthma symptoms or attacks – even to control pain.
The visualizations may vary, but the goals are the same: to
(1) move your attention and focus away from your ailment;
(2) make your breathing fuller and freer; and
(3) energize and relax you.
It only takes a few minutes of thinking gracious thoughts to
begin to relax and free your breathing. ‘Tis the season —
take advantage and try it!
You Can Do It!
Karen Van Ness
“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
http://www.BestBreathingExercises.com
P.S. One of the best ways to achieve a relaxed, calm state and
focus on what’s important is through your breathing. In the
Secret Power of Dynamic Energy Exercise Course, Volume I:
Invigorate and Rejuvenate, I teach you how to breathe completely
AND how to coordinate your breathing to simple but powerful
movements that spread energy effortlessly throughout your
entire body. To experience the sensation of being relaxed,
in rhythm, and in control, order your copy of program today.
Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011