WoW 114: On the simplicity and power of your breath

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A quick New Year's note.

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Happy 2024.

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In the last two weeks, I didn't

post any words of wisdom as I

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took a much welcomed break and

slowed down to close off the year.

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I hope you're able to do the same.

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I know the season can be especially

difficult for some, and I pray

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you have been able to find God's

comfort in the midst of it all.

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The start of the new year

brings hope, dreaming, and the

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possibility of new beginnings.

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I have some big things cooking for 2024.

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I'm writing a book.

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If you're interested to follow along

my process in more detail, click on the

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link in the descriptions and I'll send

you some emails to keep you in the loop.

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I Hope you are leaning into some new

beginnings and restarting practices

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that will lead to your flourishing

words of wisdom one 14 on the simplicity

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and power of your breath, Deepen your

presence by intentional breathing,

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the more present you are, the more

aware you are of your feelings,

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the more connected you are to God.

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The more you'll be able to respond

to stressors rather than react.

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Become skilled in breathing.

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Develop a stillness practice perhaps

after you work out or first thing

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in the morning or before bed at

night, or before every meeting.

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Simply take time to be

still and breathe slowly.

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If you aren't practicing being intentional

about your breath, you're missing out.

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Breathing is constant,

yet so easily forgotten.

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Breathing is a skill, but you

don't need to overcomplicate it.

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Simply slow down your breath.

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Practice breathing slowly every

day for five to 10 minutes.

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That's it.

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Slow down your breath and grow in wisdom.

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Slow down your breath

and deepen your presence.

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Quotes.

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If you can see your path laid out

in front of you, step by step,

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you know it's not your path, your

own path you make with every step.

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You take, that's why it's your

path attributed to Joseph Campbell,

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but I'm not sure of the source.

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I recommend breath work to almost

all patients that I see, because

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in my experience, stress is a

primary cause or an aggravating

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cause of most cases of illness.

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And even if people have diseases that

clearly have organic physical causes,

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relaxation can nonetheless benefit

them and help their body's healing

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system work better by Andrew Wheel md.

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His book Breathing The

Master Key to Self-Healing.

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This is actually an audio book that

you can find on Amazon questions.

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What is something courageous you've

practiced in the past that you've let

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go of and would be helpful to return to?

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When is the last time something

or someone took your breath away?

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Can you commit to doing five to 10

minutes of intentional breathing today?

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Why not try it now?

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Use these questions as a journal prompt

and to guide your prayers this week.

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Endnote, take some slow

intentional breaths today.

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Notice how it helps you feel

more relaxed and grounded.

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Breathe, pray, and then

take courageous action.

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Live wisely, Josh.

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PS if you haven't yet, do deeper my

five days of guided prayers, which

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includes a slow breathing practice

integrated into the guided prayers, pSS.

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If you want to hear more about the book

I'm writing, follow along my journey.

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You can click on the link in the

descriptions to follow along the

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journey of my book or to do the

deeper five day prayer practice.