Begin Again With Joy: Help Yourself Breathe

Life is a constant cycle of beginnings and endings. New jobs, new places, new years. Every day, every moment, every breath. Each an opportunity to begin again with joy. 

In the past 3 months I have been in Amsterdam, Ghana, Liberia, Ghana again, New York, Colorado, Santa Fe, back to Colorado, up to a new area of Colorado, San Diego, New York, Rhode Island, and finally, New York. 

I have had many opportunities to begin again with my environment and I'll tell you, it's not always easy. Every new place has a new routine, new bed, and the biggest adjustment, new culture. 

Here's the thing: 

When you can be present wherever you are, then you have access to abundant gifts, blessings and pure JOY.

What makes it all possible, and continues to help me adjust, is coming back to the most basic practices of beginning again: Breathing. 

Help Yourself Breathe

Notice:

The first step of breathing is to turn your attention inward. 

Notice the air coming in and out of your nostrils, feel your belly rise. Gently let your mind scan your body from your crown down to your toes. Are you holding tension anywhere? Can you invite  that area to relax? 

Affirmations:

To help me breathe I threw in an affirmation… or five! Repeating positive affirmations helps calm the mind. It's always good to have a few affirmations in your back pocket when your thoughts are running in circles with old patterns of worry or fear. 

My most common affirmations over the summer were: 

It is safe to expand. I am enough. I let go and let God.

Nature:

I was blessed to be in incredibly beautiful places and the more I was in nature, the deeper I was able to breathe.

Weave time with trees and flowers into your day if possible. Even just taking a walk around the block - whether you live in the city or the country - can help you approach newness with greater ease.

Your New Beginnings

I would love to know what big and small beginnings you are experiencing in your life. New school year? New home? New career? Tell me about it in the comments or send me an email. It's a gift to hear from you!

Does someone you know need a reminder to breathe? Share this post and help others begin again with joy! 

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Much love,

Kelsey