What is Exhale?
The story of Exhale has an origin that is both a more interesting story to tell and very different to what it is today.
What I can share is that the trajectory and direction of my journey changed the day when I experienced the power of a simple exhale. I remember the day in my therapist’s office where — after an intense unloading passage of speech — I exhaled to catch my (frantic breath). Instead of allowing me to move on, my therapist focused my attention on the sensation of that exhalation which brought about significant relief, freedom and change in my heart.
Ever since I have purposefully pursued that exhale and this post is about what this means to me today.
Exhale is a moment of awareness. Sometimes just before an anxious eruption. It is a mechanism of self-release that brings relief. And when experienced a couple of times in a row, it brings freedom, contentment and calm.
Exhale is about non-duality; knowing that truth has more than one side which can all be true. It is the acceptance of the idea rooted firmly in contrasts: we can only know light because we too know dark.
Exhale is not about good or bad, right or wrong, best or worst. It’s about everything in between those spaces. It is about our conscious pursuit of the things that we value most and of the best the universe has the offer. We do this without infringing on anyone’s rights to do the same.
Exhale is about connecting with others in a way where we know that we will always be more alike than we can ever be different. I am the universe just as the universe is me. I am because we are. Magic and the mysterious happens when we share a moment of exhaling with another human being.
Exhale is about learning that the same action can have different motivations, applications and outcomes. Knowing when and how to take these steps is a beautiful journey of trial-and-error and self-discovery.
Exhale is a system of habits and reminders that mindfully nudges us back to flow. It is the canvas that we have to make our most meaningful contribution to the universe.
Exhale is a purposeful and ambitious pursuit of meaning in our life’s work. It has a soft-focus and mindful awareness of our limitations. It is about challenging ourselves with great love and care. It also knows that mistakes are not failures, but merely another step taken on our life’s path.
Exhale is always less before it can be more. It is a way of creating and accepting space without the desire or challenge of doing anything. It encourages active sitting — especially with one’s discomfort — as a way to stay in this present moment just a little longer.
Exhale is both earth-shattering in its impact — when practised mindfully and diligently — and as simple as the roots of the tree that connect it to the earth. Small action, big impact.
Exhale is about relinquishing control of the things over which one has no control. It is a delegation of the responsibilities that only our minds have assigned to us.
Exhale is about impermanence. This breath I just took will be different to the one that follows. Change brings uncertainty which fuel fears, but it is with curiosity that we wonder what the next breath brings.
Exhale is beyond our thinking mind, which can create both beautiful and destructive meaning. It is about letting go and reconnecting with a true part of ourselves: just this current breathe.
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