inspiration
Inspiration means "to breath in." We inhale air into our body over 5000 times a day. Breathing connects us to the planet in a very fundamental way. It fans the fire of our existence. Our exhalations interact with the vegetable world, releasing the the building blocks necessary for their own growth and survival. Breathing is an essential part of the circle of life and yet breathing remains below our level of awareness unless it is interrupted through exertion, mishap, disease or the focus of our mind.
No other aspect of our life is as important as breathing. If inspiration fails for just a few minutes our body begins to decompose.
Breathing is hard-wired into our brain. We may consciously hold our breath for only a couple of minutes and then our reflexes take over and we gasp. If we hold our breath until we pass out, once the higher brain centers shut down and we lose consciousness, basic regions of the brain remain active and our breathing reflex takes over. Breathing resumes. We continue to live.
Inspiration also relates to ideation. We breath in an idea and that idea triggers an emotional reaction. We suddenly realize something that we didn't realize before. This inspiration may motivate us to change our behavior or our way of thinking, elevating us to a new level of consciousness or achievement while ramping up our joy and feeling of self worth. Breathing makes our life possible. Inspiration makes it worthwhile.
When we link our breathing to our ideation powerful things begin to happen. When we stop ignoring our breath and instead focus our attentions upon it we release our mind to inspire upon itself. We unleash realization.
Take a few moments to watch your breath. Ignore your mind and touch your senses. Feel the air enter your lungs, the coolness of the air on your nostrils. Feel the rising of your chest and the protruding of your stomach. When your lungs are full, let the air flow out. Follow the sensations associated with it, the sounds, the feelings, the smells and perhaps the tastes. When your mind wants to pull away, as it will, and a thought drags your attention away from breathing, simply examine the thought briefly then let it go. Don't analyze. Return your attention to your breath.
worry not
Doing this lets your mind rest. It recharges your brain and allows your body to relax. At first you may be dismayed that you cannot remain focused on your breath, that your mind constantly pulls you into thought. Don't be. You are witnessing the normal working of your brain. Ideas continuously form. You may choose to follow them or you may let them go. You have no control over their formation, just as you have no real control over choosing to breathe or not to breathe. All you may do is choose your focus, and that ability grows stronger the more you use it.
Focusing on the inspiration and expiration of breathing opens a window upon the hidden wellspring of ideation, freeing your mind to inspire. It also reveals that you are something more than your thoughts, emotions and sensations. You are something far greater. You are the witness to it all, consciousness itself.
Give this a try every day, even if for only a minute. Over time your discernment will grow and your stress levels will fall.
How does it make you feel? Is it a waste of your precious time or possibly, like breathing itself, the most important thing for your growth and wellbeing? Let me know.