"The most creative act you will ever undertake is the act of creating yourself."
--Deepak Chopra
In what is truly the chaos of our modern lives, it's easy to get lost in the flurry of obligations and distractions, losing touch with our true essence amidst the chaos. Each day presents us with an opportunity to reinvent ourselves, to tap into our innate creativity, and to shape our lives with intention and purpose. But how do we embark on this journey of daily recreation? How do we awaken the dormant spark of creativity within us?
Enter the powerful tools of self-awareness, mindfulness, and conscious connected breathwork—each a powerful practice in its own right. Combined, along with true community at home and out in the world, and you’ve discovered a trove of Jedi powers.
Let’s face it. Life is hard. The Buddha was right when he said that “life is suffering.” It really can be. Just when we get our heads above water—BAM! There’s a new wave in our face. Do I think Buddha really meant we’re all meant to suffer miserable lives? No. Absolutely not. The point is that life comes at us all the time. And it is also beautiful and amazing. And sometimes, it’s on the other side of suffering that we see just how beautiful and amazing it really is.
Case in point: When I was quickly spiraling my life down the drain at the end of my troubled drinking, a lot of my life looked pretty crappy. Sure, I was married to a wonderful man and going to law school. But my insides were imploding, and things were getting, well, dark. I honestly thought I was probably going crazy. That’s the suffering part right there.
And then somehow, something gave me the courage to go to 12-step. Also, not seemingly the high point of my life. I mean, no one grows up with aspirations to end up in a 12-step group. And yet… And yet, showing up and doing the work—also more suffering—has yielded more gift and opportunity than I could have imagined. It’s where I learned about meditation, mindfulness, self-reflection, self-awareness, compassion, and the breath, among many other things. It’s where I learned to human.
And one of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned is that I can start over any time. Literally, at 3:05 in the afternoon, if things have been painful or difficult or challenging, I can start over. And this is a powerful act of re-creation. And really, we get to re-create in every new moment, if we want to.
The other thing I’ve learned over the years, is that the act of creating or re-creating myself is less about adding paint to the canvas to cover up blank space, or worse, dark space. Instead, it’s much more like sculpture: Each day I can chip away at the dust, the rock, the loam that I’ve covered myself in, or that society has thrown upon me. I slowly chip away to find a remarkable, unique sculpture. The diamond that was already and always there, buried deep inside.
All the tools—self-reflection and awareness, compassion toward self and others, mindfulness, coaching, therapy, exercise—these are all instrumental in any change and growth we undertake. That said, I have found conscious connected breathwork to be a short-cut to profound awareness and forgiveness of self and others.
It’s like a shortcut to our deepest reservoirs of inspiration and innovation. Much like an artist with their paintbrush, conscious connected breathwork allows us to sculpt our inner landscape. We move out what needs to be moved to create space for that diamond. For that spark within to burn brighter.
If you’re unfamiliar, conscious connected breathwork is a rhythmic and intentional breathing technique that facilitates a profound shift in consciousness. By harnessing the power of our breath, we unlock hidden awareness, release what needs releasing, and tap a wellspring of creativity that resides within us all.
So, how does conscious connected breathwork help us in our quest to create ourselves anew each day? First and foremost, conscious connected breathwork serves as a catalyst for self-exploration and introspection. As we engage in deep, rhythmic breathing, we create a sacred space within ourselves—a space where we can delve into the depths of our subconscious mind, unearthing buried dreams, desires, and insights. In this state of heightened awareness, we are free to explore the vast expanse of our inner landscape, discovering new facets of ourselves and our creative potential.
Conscious connected breathwork serves as a potent tool for releasing stagnant energy and emotional blockages that hinder our creative expression. With each breath, we purge ourselves of limiting beliefs, self-doubt, and fear, clearing the path for inspiration to flow freely. As we fall into the rhythm of our breath, we open ourselves up to the possibilities that lie beyond our perceived limitations, allowing creativity to bloom and flourish.
But perhaps most importantly, conscious connected breathwork invites us to embrace the present moment fully—to inhabit our bodies and our minds with presence and awareness. It is in this deep, connected space of presence that true creativity thrives, unburdened by worries of the past or anxieties about the future.
And for those of you who may be skeptical as I was initially, or simply unable to understand how this practice can change your life, your work, your relationship with self and others, I get it. There’s science—a lot of science—to support this assertion. But, be your own scientist. Give it a try with an open mind, and see what it does for you.
Comments