A Life Worth Breathing

1. Embrace the Three Pillars of Transformation: Mind, Emotions, and Body

To transform ourselves it is critical to successfully "burn" these negative habits; not doing so can make our transformation next to impossible.

Mind transformation. Begin by stilling the mind through meditation and conscious breathing. This reduces mental stress, negativity, and endless inner monologue, leading to greater emotional stability and physical health. Practice being present in the moment, avoiding constant lurching into the future or dwelling on the past.

Emotional healing. Address buried emotions that may be crippling your spiritual progress. Cultivate gratitude, practice forgiveness, and work on opening your heart center. Recognize how emotions are stored in different parts of the body and use yoga postures to release them.

Physical well-being. Treat your body as a temple, not just a brain holder. Regular yoga practice, combined with conscious breathing, can lead to significant physical and emotional healing. Pay attention to your posture, diet, and overall health as they directly impact your mental and emotional states.

2. Practice Conscious Breathing for Physical and Emotional Healing

If every person in this world took ten minutes a day to practice conscious breathing, this would be a different world.

Benefits of conscious breathing:

• Stronger lungs with increased capacity
• Healthier heart and stronger diaphragm
• Calmer nervous system, reducing stress and improving sleep
• Ability to identify and heal emotional wounds

Ocean breathing technique. Practice "ocean breathing" or Ujjayi breath daily. Inhale and exhale audibly through your mouth, making a sound like you're fogging a mirror. This technique helps open the energy around your heart center, allowing you to feel your true emotions and access your intrinsic power.

Incorporate breath awareness into your daily life, not just during yoga practice. Use it to calm your nervous system, process emotions, and make better decisions. Remember, your breath and emotions are interrelated; by controlling your breath, you can influence your emotional state.

3. Cultivate Gratitude and Forgiveness as Pathways to Joy

Gratitude is always within our grasp.

Practice gratitude daily. Focus on what you're grateful for, no matter how small. This shifts your perspective from what you lack to what you have, fostering contentment and joy. Gratitude and negative emotions cannot coexist in the heart simultaneously.

Forgiveness as healing. Understand that forgiveness is not condoning harmful actions, but releasing yourself from the burden of resentment. Forgive others to heal yourself, recognizing that holding onto anger only poisons your own spirit. Practice self-forgiveness as well, acknowledging that everyone makes mistakes and that you can learn and grow from them.

Implement these practices:

• Keep a gratitude journal
• Perform daily acts of kindness
• Meditate on forgiveness
• Write letters of apology or reconciliation

4. Develop a Personal Code of Ethics for a Meaningful Life

Our battles are not fought by challenging others to change their beliefs or behavior; rather, our own personal behavior is all we really have power over in the end.

The Five Causes:

1. Practice gratitude daily
2. Forgive those who have harmed you
3. Practice kindness and honesty in word and deed
4. Practice humility
5. Practice ethics in business

Living your code. Consistently apply your ethical principles in all aspects of life, from personal relationships to business dealings. Recognize that your actions, not just your intentions, define your character and impact on the world.

Ethical decision-making. Use your code as a framework for making difficult choices. When faced with ethical dilemmas, refer to your principles to guide your actions. Remember, the means are as important as the ends; how you achieve your goals matters as much as the goals themselves.

5. Transform Your Career Through Virtuous Livelihood

Virtuous livelihood is about making a good living, not a killing.

Ethical business practices:

• Avoid trades or occupations that harm others or the environment
• Treat employees, customers, and competitors with respect
• Focus on creating value, not just profit
• Consider the long-term consequences of business decisions

Redefine success. Move beyond the narrow definition of success as financial gain or status. Instead, measure success by how well you embody your values, contribute to others' well-being, and find personal fulfillment in your work.

Balance ambition with ethics. Recognize that pushing yourself to exhaustion or compromising your values for career advancement often leads to unhappiness and poor health. Strive for a career that aligns with your ethical principles and allows for a balanced, meaningful life.

6. Simplify Your Life to Focus on What Truly Matters

Remember: Time = Life. Every hour of time spent is an hour of your life spent.

Practice voluntary simplicity. Reassess your material possessions and lifestyle choices. Distinguish between what you need for comfort and what you accumulate out of habit or societal pressure. Consider donating or selling items you rarely use.

Prioritize experiences over possessions. Invest your time and resources in activities that bring joy, foster personal growth, and strengthen relationships. These experiences often provide more lasting satisfaction than material acquisitions.

Time management strategies:

• Evaluate how you spend your time
• Eliminate or reduce activities that don't align with your values
• Set aside time for spiritual practices, self-reflection, and meaningful relationships
• Learn to say no to commitments that don't serve your higher purpose

7. Confront Death to Live More Fully

Do not fear death. More importantly, do not fear life.

Develop a healthy relationship with death. Recognize that contemplating death isn't morbid; it's a way to appreciate life more fully. Understanding the temporary nature of physical existence can motivate you to live more authentically and purposefully.

Practical steps:

• Volunteer at a hospice to become more comfortable with the dying process
• Write your own epitaph or legacy statement
• Regularly reflect on what truly matters in light of life's finitude

Live fully now. Use the awareness of death to prioritize what's truly important in your life. Don't postpone joy, meaningful relationships, or personal growth. Embrace each day as an opportunity to live your values and make a positive impact on the world.

Last updated: October 4, 2024