Don't Forget to Breathe

Let’s start with a quote from one of my favorite philosophers, Bruce Lee“The spirit of the individual is determined by his dominating thought habits.” The last time I wrote in The Maidan I talked about general practical philosophy, but it’s easier to start with something simple but rather difficult to implement, meditative stress relief.

When you think meditation, it’s probably something along the lines of humming mantras in some high mountain temple, but what if the perfect place to meditate is right wherever you are stressed?

Let me throw another quote at you; this time from a Bill Murray film, The Razor’s Edge “it's easy to be a holy man on top of a mountain.” Wouldn’t you find it easy to find a place of calm in a place that is already far away from stressors and civilization? Why should the place you’re in dictate the mindset you choose to possess? It may be harder to do in a workplace but it would also be more rewarding.

The biggest thing isn’t practicing a lot, it is practicing a little, but often. Just start with a good, deep breathe, then work your way up to 5-10 minutes a day once calm,relaxed breathing becomes second nature. Find a room with a few windows, few distractions and concentrate on letting your mind go blank, or if there’s a clock in the room, concentrate on it’s ticking, as if it’s a metronome. Act as if there’s nothing else in the world right now, but you and the one simple thing you’re concentrating on. And that will work to remove yourself.

And remember, Don’t Forget To Breathe.

Photo Credit: http://www.myithlete.com/tuesday-tip-breathing-affects-heart-rate-variability/