Listen Instead of Reading
If you enjoy listening, you can subscribe to the audio version on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Audible so you don’t even have to look at the email 😊
Reading Time: 2 min 4 sec
I hope the next 31’ish breaths are the most nourishing of your day.
4 THOUGHTS
1. Full Effort is Full Victory
“The result is not the point; it is the effort to improve ourselves that is valuable. There is no end to this practice.”
– Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
This is a nice reminder that we can only control our effort, not the outcome. And fortunately, it’s the effort that counts.
This brings to mind Gandhi, who says, “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.”
2. Choosing Effective Responses for Healing
“By learning to be present and to stay connected with your body and mind and what is happening in the present moment, you have your best chance of understanding your own experiences ... Out of that understanding, you will make the most effective response for healing.”
- Jeffrey Brantley, MD, Calming Your Anxious Mind
This is perhaps one of the most powerful benefits of any breath-focused practice. By teaching you to stay connected with your body and mind, you find clarity in the present moment, allowing you to “make the most effective response for healing.” 👏👏👏
3. Cry: Your Breathing Will Thank You
Did you know there’s a natural neti pot—a natural way to flush your nose with warm salt water? Yep, it’s crying.
Tears go through a duct draining into the nose (which is why people often need a tissue when upset). In fact, the solution of neti pot mixes is supposed to match the composition of tears:
“To capitalize on this fact, the nasal wash should be done with water that is of the same composition as tears. It should be exactly that salty, and it should be at body temperature.”
That blows my mind. So, the next time you need a cry, let it out. Your breathing will thank you 😊
4. Three Gift Ideas for Breath Nerds Like Us
Treat yourself or ask a loved one for one of these:
ViO2 Mouth Tape: Honestly the best tape I’ve used. Super neat design. They sent me some to try and now I’m a fan. I will definitely buy them from now on.
iCalm: By now, you know I love these (I buy monthly). If you make a one-time purchase, use NICK20 to get 20% off. If you set up a recurring subscription, you automatically get 20% off.
Breathing is Cool Sweater: A must-have for winter. I wear mine every chance I get. I have even been asked where I got it twice while at the grocery store, which made my day both times 😊
1 Quote
“The great lesson from the true mystics…is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one’s daily life, in one’s neighbors, friends, and family, in one’s back yard.””
P.S. and I would also add in one’s breath : )
1 Answer
Category: Philosophy
Answer: Perhaps by mistaken etymology, Plato and Aristotle at one point related this to the soul or process of thinking.
…
(Cue the Jeopardy! music.)
…
Question: What is the diaphragm?
In good breath,
Nick Heath, T1D, PhD
“Breathing is the compound interest of health & wellness.”
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I’ve been recommending books for almost 6 years. Yet somehow, I just discovered that I could be an Amazon affiliate [face-palm]. In any case better late than never. Now, any Amazon link you click is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So, if you’d like to support my work, buying books through these links is helpful : )
* An asterisk by a quote indicates that I listened to this book on Audible. Therefore, the quotation might not be correct, but is my best attempt at reproducing the punctuation based on the narrator’s pace, tone, and pauses.