SHINE … By the Spirit™ with Tonya M. Evans

The Joy of One Simple Breath

© 2012 Tonya M. Evans

April 22, 2012

As I searched for some inspiration and material for a completely unrelated topic I intended to cover today, I was listening to an Oprah Life Class® replay on OWN that featured Iyanla Vanzant. Iyanla was shepherding a young man named Joseph through a forgiveness exercise to help him (and the audience by way of example) release anger, blame and resentment against his father. [Watch this powerful "Forgiveness Life Class" episode here]

Admittedly, I was “tuned out” and therefore not catching every word. My primary focus was on reviewing my notes from the past week for sources of inspiration. I was, as they say in New Age parlance, “in my head” and somewhere other than the present moment. I guess you could call it a trip to “multi-tasking land”, doing everything at once but nothing with my full attention.

But a phrase kept breaking through and whispering to my spirit:

“take a breath”.

Each time Iyanla encouraged Joseph to “take a breath” I found myself inhaling deeply and exhaling fully. Every time she said “take a breath” I became aware that I was either holding my breath at that very moment or only taking very shallow breaths. I stopped “typing and researching” and realized that Spirit had again used my own acts of teaching to teach me. (more…)

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