The core of our being, which is limitless love, compassion and creativity, is available to us in every moment. Just like our breath. Sometimes that is so hard to believe, isn’t it? Especially when we’re stressed out about our finances. Or when we’re struggling and suffering with our intimate loved ones. So much feels like it needs to be fixed or changed or managed. We end up feeling overwhelmed and sometimes powerless. It feels very crowded and claustrophobic inside sometimes.

Contraction. Expansion. That’s how the breath works automatically. If it were only so easy to relate to our inner and outer worlds. It takes conscious effort to expand our world view and bring some natural relief into our lives when we feel contracted. It is possible though.

One thing that helps is to contemplate that you are not alone in your feeling frustrated or sad or angry (or any emotion). Other people feel this way too. Maybe even in this very moment. We have a shared humanity with everyone on the planet. This fosters outer connection through conscious expansion.

Another thing that helps is to know that you’re not alone inside either. If you can say to the part of you inside that’s angry, for example, “I get it that you’re angry. I am with you. Feel me with you,” you automatically facilitate some connection from your authentic core of love to the parts of you that feel so isolated inside. This fosters inner connection through conscious expansion.

We can rely on the breath to be there for us. However we have to work at being consciously reliable with our presence by practicing being connected with the rest of our fellow humans and practicing being connected with the many aspects of our psyches.

Expansion or contraction? I am grateful that the choice is ours in every moment. Of course we still need to attend to all the aspects of our inner and outer lives that need our attention and skills and healing. In the meantime we can cultivate the ability to remember our connection – outside and in.

May we each lend momentum to the practice of remembrance.

Peace!
Christine