Breath: What Is It That We Can Learn From This Moment-To-Moment Experience?

It Rises And It Falls

Another way of learning to be present with the breath is by paying attention to the rising and falling movements of the abdomen while breathing in and breathing out. As we sit in silence and in stillness, all the other bodily movements are minimized or intentionally put on hold for a period of time, except for the movement of breath that naturally keeps happening, with or without our permission. In this setup, how the air comes into and out of the body is more noticeable and this simple process has a lot to teach us as we stay open to the experience and observe it attentively. Breathing in, one notes that the belly is expanding; breathing out, one notes that the belly is contracting. But what exactly is it that we can learn from this moment-to-moment experience?

Embrace and enjoy each moment

Each moment, things in this world are being created and being destroyed over and over again in a spontaneously cyclical fashion. Even on a daily basis with our human body, billions of cells in many different organs that were alive yesterday have died and have been replaced with new cells today; these cells are going to die again soon too and more new ones are coming after. There is something sad about seeing our existence in the world this way but at the same time, there is something liberating about it as well. It is sad because we know everything always comes to an end; it is liberating because it can teach us not to hold onto things but enjoy and embrace the freshness of each and every moment of our lives while they last. Just like the movement of breath, life goes on with or without our permission; there is nothing we can do to stop it. What we can do though with consistent practice is to stay effectively open and attentively present with the uniqueness of each and every moment no matter how difficult or joyful they are.

Happiness and sadness – and everything else in between

One of the most joyous moments in life is often associated with the arrival of a new family member—whether it be a child, a grandchild, or even a beloved pet. The overwhelming emotions that accompany such a moment can be truly ecstatic. On the other hand, profound sadness often comes with saying goodbye to loved ones, whether it's due to a move, a temporary separation, or a significant life change.

Yet, these moments, both joyous and sorrowful, are integral parts of the human experience and deserve to be embraced fully. Just like with mindfulness practices, when we remain open and present to each moment as it unfolds, we can find value in every experience, no matter how it might initially feel. By staying present, we connect more deeply with ourselves and our journey. After all, the true essence of life lies not just in the highs or lows, but in the journey itself.

Non-attached Immersion

The more we sit in silence and in stillness, observe our breaths as our anchor, the more we realize each breath is unique and that there are many different kinds of breaths each moment – shallow or deep, short or long, smooth or coarse, pleasant or unpleasant, satisfying or unsatisfying, and the list goes on infinitum. What we eventually learn too is that no breath is personal no matter what kind of breath it is. By that, what I mean is – that when we observe a shallow breath and we immediately judge it to be unsatisfying, we are more than likely being unrealistic and taking it too personally. After all, in the grand scheme of things, each breath, from the very first moment we were born into the world to all the way until the final moment of our life right before passing on, whether shallow or deep, each inhalation and exhalation does not fail to keep us alive. And as we fully immerse ourselves into this aliveness, we go through rises and falls in life without taking them too personally. Things do rise and fall but we do not need to rise with them or fall with them because we learn through our practice that the nature of life intrinsically is always going to be in flux, while the true observer remains non-attached and anchored. Let us help anchor you through our Holistic perspective of therapy. Contact us when your ready.