Creating breathing space for executives and others

Time is one of the most precious commodities in all of our lives. As technology infiltrates more areas of our lives, thoughts and deeds, our minds rarely stop processing or are quiet. As we are, busy living our lives, creating mountainous to-do lists, grappling with opportunities and congested calendars, how do we find time to breathe?

The creation of space for oneself has become an essential survival skill. It is important to create moments of peace in which to acknowledge how we feel, to quiet our breath in order to re-orient ourselves and move forward. We react rather than respond to life, due to the speed at which our lives move, which gives us little time to consider our next move. Living like this can be detrimental to our well-being, to our souls. So how do we achieve more balance?

Let’s learn to take moments daily, to consciously create breathing room, a space in which to be mindful and encourage balance. These pauses will help us to consider our thoughts and deliberate the next steps, or manage the challenges life puts on our paths. Breathing spaces do not have to involve mediation; they can be stolen moments in our days to just intentionally slow down and breathe. Many will say that they have no time for such an activity; however, I say that there is no time like the present to begin.

Take this moment, right now, and place both feet flat on the ground and breathe. Breathe slowly in through your nose to the count of five. Hold this breath for five more counts before slowly releasing it through your mouth. As you repeat this, become aware of your body and relax any tension, slowly. You have successfully created your first breathing space, and it only took a minute!

Continue to practice finding and creating breathing space in order to relax your mind and free yourself up to identify your purpose for the future.