We live in a world that is super comfortable. Instant gratification is not now a luxury but a necessity. No longer do we need to be educated; Google will take care of that, no longer do we need to socialise out of the comfort of our homes, Facebook’s got that covered. Hot, cold? The room a little too chilly, simply turn up the air conditioner! And would you prefer full cream, skim, soy, almond, coconut or lactose free milk with your coffee today?
In a culture with more comfort, paradoxically we experience more impatience, discomfort, anxiety, and depression. This prompts the question: why? Are you stuck in fight or flight? A physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival.
Increased stress levels increases the sympathetic nervous system. Being constantly stressed or on the edge in “fight or flight” draws blood away from the organs and decreases libido. Conversely by “channeling” the Parasympathetic Nervous System through our breath we can slow the heart rate, and turn off our fight or flight mechanism. By being conscious of our breath we are able to respond with control and remove the toxic stimuli from our environment.
Next time you feel stressed, stop, become conscious of your breath, respond, rest and digest. Your breath does so much for you all it asks is to be acknowledged!
