Positivity: Fresh Air

Cliché though it may be, there is nothing like fresh air to clear your head.

I like to take a few minutes during my work day to get a sun/air break.  Step outside, get some fresh air, escape the stale office air and my computer.

There is something cleansing, both physically and emotionally, in breathing in fresh air.  It awakens the senses, it rejuvenates the soul, it opens us up to possibilities.

I know that this is super-trite, but I find for me, at least, when stepping outside I breathe deeper than I do when I am in the office.  There is something about the open air under the sky that causes me to draw more breath.

We seriously take the power of breathing for granted.  I mean, for real, this is the single most automatic thing we do.  Our bodies demand oxygen to survive, so we are always subconsciously breathing.  Yet frequently we employ breath to calm our nerves and steel our resolve and to prepare of cope with a given situation.  How often do we “take a deep breath” to allow a moment to get clear on our thoughts before we speak, or to keep ourselves from expressing excess anger or frustration?

One of the reasons why focusing on your breathing is a primary key for mediation is because we are always doing it.  It’s automatic, it requires no thought, and we do it every single minute of every single day of our lives.  When we concentrate on it, focus on breathing in and out, we ultimately become aware, conscious and present in the here-and-now, which in turn lets us tune out the constant chatter in our brains for the preferred void of meditation practice.

When we become frustrated; when we get angry; when we are particularly tired, getting fresh air and being conscious of our breathing can go a long ways towards building and sustaining more positivity.  We all want more positive things in our lives, and this instinctive act provides us a mechanism to easily build more.

If you are currently feeling less-than-good about anything, take a moment, go out for some fresh air.  Breathe deeply, intentionally, and see if that begins to improve your mood.  I know it often works wonders for mine.

Finding positivity is not hard, but it does require action.  Knowing that getting some fresh air and being conscious of our breathing we can clear away negativity, we gain a tool that is always with us, all the time.  When we take the time to get some fresh air, to breathe deeply, intentionally and fully consciously, we empower ourselves.  When we feel empowered, we often spread that feeling to others around us, and as such can build more positive feelings in the collective consciousness.  We can use the positive feelings this generates to dissolve negative feelings.  When we take away negative feelings, we open up space to let in positive feelings, and that is something we can be grateful for.  Gratitude leads to happiness.  Happiness is the ultimate positive attitude.  Positive attitude begets positive energy, and that is always a good thing.

This is the one hundred seventy-second entry of my Positivity series.  It is my hope these weekly messages might help spread positive energies for everyone.  Feel free to share, re-blog and spread the positivity.

In relation to Positivity, check out my Five Easy Steps to Change the World for the Better.