Trusting Breaths
Dear friend,
I have a growing sense that there is a better life available to each of us—a whole other way of living: a life without fear.
When I say “without fear,” I don’t mean that fear isn’t in the picture—just that it isn’t the driving force. It’s in the room, it’s just not the room itself.
To be honest, when I try to imagine my life without fear, it seems ridiculously impossible. Enough for me to dismiss the idea completely. But think of all of the important changes in our history that would have been easy to dismiss… how did they become our reality? Someone believed, and took a step.
Yes, when I try to imagine my own life without fear, it seems impossible. But if I picture just the next 10 seconds without fear… that does feel possible.
Rather than dismissing life without fear, why not just start smaller? With just this moment? In fact, why not try it now, together:
Instead of 10 seconds, we can use 10 breaths. If you’re up for it, pause everything else, and for the next 10 breaths, choose to let go of all fear. If a fear comes up (it will), just let it go again. Trust that in a few seconds you’ll still be here and you’ll still be okay. 10 breaths…
How did that feel? Did you notice any kind of shift?
If we can manage to breathe even a single trusting breath, then life without fear is possible.
Why is trust so hard? And why is it so easy to worry? Practice. We have had a lot of practice worrying. But don’t blame yourself. Look around—our world has noticed the abundance of fear and has found a way to capitalize on it. But don’t blame them, either—industry will always find a way to capitalize on that of which there is an abundance. Instead of blaming, let’s work to shift the balance. Let's create an abundance of trust instead.
It’s easy to worry, and it can be so hard to trust… but trust can be easy. We just need practice.
And as all the greats will tell you, the more you practice a thing, the easier it becomes.
Why is it so easy to worry? Practice.
How can we learn to trust? How can we develop a life without fear? How can we shift the balance and make trust the abundant substance in our world? Practice. Practice. Practice.
Therefore, for the rest of today...
Every time I feel my worry-habit flaring up, I’m going to pause and choose to practice 10 breaths of trust.
I’d love for you to try this with me. Let me know how it goes (reply or comment)!
Every habit starts small. If we keep practicing, soon industry will be forced to find ways to capitalize on the abundance of trust that fills our world.
—Nathan
Originally posted at: https://nathanpeterson.net/trusting-breaths/
Well-said! Breathing exercise was helpful. My world perspective tells me we’re tethered daily to worry by design - rather, that it’s part of our sinful nature that we put off each day and are given grace for by the God Who sees us and tells us to fear not, while also knowing we are expert worriers. Thank you!