[blockquote source=”Christopher Pointdexter”]”Never could I breathe love if I did not first learn to inhale a little bit of chaos.” [/blockquote]

There is a saying in Buddhist teachings, “though you may be capable of great things, remember always – that life consists within the small.”

There is often a density to our struggles, a tendency to amplify the true nature of our experience. To attach our ‘story lines’, to editorialize – instead of opening to the center point of our awareness.

Certainly, it’s human nature to withdraw when we feel at risk. But, how much running is really to be done when the threat is mostly in our head?

More importantly, how do we – in those microscopic, split-second moments of reactivity – discern between that which is perceived and real?

Insight Meditation Center teacher, and author Tara Brach offers,

“It’s hard to hang out with the truth of what we’re feeling. We may sincerely intend to pause and be mindful whenever a crisis arises or whenever we feel stuck and confused, but our conditioning to react, escape, or become possessed by emotion is very strong.”

Which begs the question, how do we continue to ‘carry our Zen’ – when all of our senses urge us to run away?

Breathe…“Let go of the battle. Breathe quietly and let it be.”

And though, it might seem impossible, at best – remember, that this breath is the ‘stepping point’ in opening to our awareness.

With each breath, comes the opportunity to pause…to reflect; to breathe deep the laughter, the joys, the regret; to open to our sorrows and our splendor, as well; to take it all in, before we react.

My darlings, it is this very breath that becomes our soul connection.

And, in this tiny, split second fraction of a moment – we find our passageway to awareness.

Namaste, my most beautiful friends…remember, to let go and just simply breathe.