Moments of suffering, we all have them--it is a shared human experience. Often when we feel most disconnected, and the most challenged, we forget that we are not alone. With practice, self-soothing grows into self-compassion. Do you practice proactively? Or do you wait until the grief and pain is upon you and it feels insurmountable?

Our bodies are magical tools for transformation when we practice meeting the most difficult feelings with our generous attention. It doesn't need to be extensive, and it can be developed from a seed of intention. The beauty lies in how our own self-compassion and self-care positively contributes to our resilience, wellbeing and to the lives around us.

Think of someone who you can rely on to listen, understand, see you--that person who seems to say the right thing, at the exact right time, in a way that you feel it in your body, in your bones. They help you to feel into your own confusion, despair, pain by being fully present. You don't worry that they will judge you or shift the focus to their own issues or opinions.

How did they get that way?

Through their consistent practice of meeting their own moments of suffering, that's how. Though the levels of distress felt by our fellow humans, can vary greatly, we share an interconnected web of consciousness. We share this experience as humans.

If we can imagine this "negative" space as a kind of generative space from which we can create new forms and transform old forms, then we can make our suffering productive. This is the space out of which we attain deeper meaning--it doesn't just happen to us. It happens through us.

Once we begin to grasp the profound intelligence of the body, we can intentionally build greater resilience, deepen our connection to our extraordinary healing power and live our lives with greater purpose, compassion, peace and imagination.

TODAY'S DAILY CHECK-IN: Four-part breath

Find a quiet space. Get comfortable sitting or lying. Close your eyes. Begin with noticing your breath. Develop a habit of breathing in through the nose and out through nose and let sound escape on the exhale.

Next, see if you can become aware of your heartbeat. This is a very subtle, but powerful practice to join your mind and body. It is also a prerequisite to eventually using intention and breadth to support your heart rhythm.

Now, bring your attention to the abdomen. If it is helpful, you can place your hands on the abdomen. I want you to focus on your navel point. Intend to begin initiating your breath from the belly, (this is called diaphragmatic breathing).
Imagine the belly like a bellows, let your attention follow the rising of the abdomen as you draw air in through your nose. When you feel as though the expansion has reached its natural limit. Pause ever so gently.
Take note of this minuscule pause point and drop your awareness into it, as fully as possible. Then gently draw the navel point toward the spine as you expel air through the nose.
Feel the bottom of the breath and another barely perceptible pause--drop everything into that pause, all your thoughts, plans, and attention, everything. Create an embodied resting point.

By keeping your attention on the rhythm of the breath, notice that your body actually does this for you. Often our physiological interventions have interrupted the natural flow of the breath.

When we do conscious breathing practices, we are using the mind in a way it does not work against us. By paying attention, we are not engaged in forming and following thoughts, as is so often the case.

Without forcing or manufacturing a movement, we notice and allow your breath to initiate once again, from the rising navel point, expanding the abdomen. You have begun the next cycle of 4-part breathing. Notice, how bringing your attention to the breadth is facilitating deeper breathing and relaxation. As you practice, you will quickly fall into an almost circle like flow of the four parts. This is a profound practice as it is extending our breath cycle, making it more intentional. The yogis believe that we are allotted only a certain number of breaths in our lifetime. So, here is practiced wisdom of slowing and extending it, simultaneously.

In our next session we will work to liberate the diaphragm and talk more about the benefits of this simple practice of attention and 4-part breath. Peace, Liz