It’s said that the way you do anything is the way you do everything.
This makes me feel uncomfortable when I think about the way I eat popcorn, but I do think the old saying is onto something. Unless we’re specifically paying attention, our defaults are strikingly standard.
Test the theory out with a breathing exercise. See if the way you breathe says anything about the way you live:
Slowly breathe in for a count of five. Hold for five seconds. Slowly exhale, counting to five. Repeat this for a total of three times. Notice how it feels to hold your breath at the top.
Then reverse. Do the same thing, but now, instead of pausing after the inhale, pause for five seconds after you exhale. Do three rounds like this and again notice how it feels to hold your breath out.
If you found the first part of the exercise (holding your breath after an inhale) was harder, you may be inclined to take on too much and struggle to process it all effectively. Perhaps you’re prone to feeling overwhelmed.
If part two was more of a challenge, you might have trouble releasing what’s inside of you, and be likely to hold on and hold back.
Do either of these ring true?
The first one does for me. I’m undeniably prone to putting too much on my plate and frantically rushing through it. Popcorn and all.
Regardless of your outcome, and even whether it worked for you, the intention here isn’t psychoanalysis. It’s simply to offer an interesting insight and an opportunity to start using your breath to effect greater change.
Use the technique but with pauses in both directions (which could be shorter than five seconds if that feels better), anytime you feel yourself getting worked up. Bring more balance to your breath to bring more balance to any moment.
It could, maybe, change everything.