Permission Granted

I made a decision yesterday, that starting today, I would write here daily for the time being. I will keep it short & hopefully succinct for you, my dear reader!

You don’t need my permission for anything, but I am using those two words: permission granted.

To do. To be.

To simply breathe, today. Right this minute, while you read. Just breathe.

Our tendency, when anxious, is to hold the breath, stack the breath, go into fight or flight and live there unconsciously. This was happening before our world changed, and it’s certainly happening now.

So, what can we do? How can we be? Just with the breath.

Be gentle. Be aware. Simplify.

Release your breath before you think of taking in more. Use a gentle “ssshhhhh” and release slowly. That will then reflect a gentle and slow inhale that will stretch you, lengthen you, create dimension within you.

Instead of “holding” the breath, think of creating a sense of statis: stillness and unmoving within, while the air around you continues to move. Count it. Start with 3 beats; gradually increase that length of statis to 4, 5, 6 beats. What allows your comfort.

Then, release on the gentle “sh” slowly, gently, staying present in the movement.

Repeat as often as you need, as often as you want.

Permission granted to release.

Permission granted to inhale.

Permission granted to sense your breath.

Permission granted to release.

Permission granted to observe.

That’s more than enough.