Breathing When That's all You Can Do - Like in Childbirth!

I am happy to say that I was able to get through the labor of my second baby without medication, but it wasn't easy! I prepared and prepared with a hypnosis technique, focused on my breath and relaxing every muscle. This was a great help me relax in pregnancy and through labor, and then came the point, towards the end, where I felt like it was too much - I couldn't handle any more, and I said so. My wonderful midwife, Kath Ryn told me, "All you have to do is breathe."

It was not an easy task then - to breathe when I would rather just stop the whole thing! But I did my best - breathe in, huge effort, out, huge effort, just focus on it. It's a metaphor for getting through grief or anger or frustration too - When you can't DO anything to change it, and you have to BE there and ride it out, breathing in, breathing out, gives you something you CAN do. It helps you exist in the moment till something shifts. For me, it ended with the cry of my baby, for you, it will be something else. But remember your breath as a friend always waiting for you. It doesn't make the hard thing go away, but it gives you an anchor to be there with it.

Blessings to you this holiday! With all the mixed blessings the season brings, I wish you time to go within and be peaceful. Much love!