Use Your Breath As Your Anchor

Last week you tried a first sitting exercise focussing on your breathing for 5 minutes once or twice a day. You probably noticed a calming effect, maybe even some sort of inner stability. This is what you call anchoring yourself in the present moment. In meditation you use your breath as an anchor to find your inner balance even in stressful or troubled moments. This is a powerful tool and always available, because as long as you live you breathe.

We can use this anchor not only during formal meditation sessions but also in day-to-day life. Whether you are at work, travelling or carrying out all sorts of tasks, you can focus on your breathing at any time. You can use different triggers such as your phone ringing to remind yourself of becoming present, also called mindful. It takes some practice until mindfulness becomes a habit.

Being mindful helps you to becoming aware of your thoughts and emotions and to take the role of the neutral observer. Instead of being caught up in distressing thoughts or drowning into negative emotions you can detach yourself. This does not mean that you will think or feel differently but you will be able to put things into perspective. Acknowledging your thoughts and emotions is helpful to understand what is actually happening.

So this week I want you to remind yourself of being mindful as often as possible during the day. Notice the difference in your breathing, the fickleness of your thoughts and feelings and the different sensations in your body. Don't try to change or judge. Just become aware of what is happening. Notice how you do things - even simple routine activities such as driving your car or brushing your teeth. How do you use your body? What do you sense? How easily does your mind wander off? What feelings come up?

You might notice that most of the time your mind is not present. You live on auto pilote. By being mindful you have the chance to actively engage in your life again.

After only a few weeks you will start to feel a difference. You will get a better understanding of how you function and gain new perspective.

Tell me your experience!