“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
How to soothe the savage beat of the heart? In this case, I refer to the hyped-up, hard-to-catch-your-breath feeling known all too well by millions of Americans: anxiety. While there are several “types” of anxiety—differing in intensity, duration, rate of occurrence, etc.—they are all very uncomfortable. Some folks live with anxiety daily, some only when the going gets tough.
Glad we have pharmaceuticals. But if you, like me, also want to use every possible natural tool available, I suggest you start with the breath. The breath begins everything, including life…and healing!
Perhaps through meditation or yoga, learning how to incorporate gentle, deep breathing is the best non-medicinal tool I know. It’s Nature’s panacea for feeling anchored, back to center. Just breathe. And open the way to soothing the heart, calming the mind. Ahhh…