Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Strategic Monk

Home
Contemplative
Leading Like a Monk: Breathing In and Breathing Out

Leading Like a Monk: Breathing In and Breathing Out

Last updated on: June 22, 2017 at 2:58 pm by Greg Richardson

Leading Like a Monk: Breathing In and Breathing Out 2017-06-22T14:58:14-08:00 Greg Richardson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

866110617_14d583e540_z

Breathing In and Breathing Out

Monks inspire me to remember, in the words of Benedict’s Rule, “Always, we begin again.”

Each breath is a new beginning. We breathe in and fill our lungs with opportunities to begin again. When we breathe out we expel what we do not need and give ourselves room to begin again.

As long as we are still breathing we can begin again.

Our breathing reflects who we are and how we live. At times when we struggle, physically or intellectually, our breathing can become labored.

Breathing is a form of nonverbal communication. The people around us, consciously or unconsciously, pay attention to how we are breathing. Our breathing can be a calming influence in a group of people or spark an increase in anxiety.

Catching Our Breath

All of us have times when it is difficult to catch our breath. We may be exerting ourselves, or caught up in the excitement of the moment. There may be something within is or something in the world around us which makes it challenging.

Sometimes we need to pause, take a deep breath in, and let it out. We may need a few deep breaths. It could be because we are tired or frustrated, or we have not had a moment to spare. Caught between the past and the future we need to draw in a few deep breaths.

It is easy for our leadership to be either stuck in the past or racing ahead into the future. We may regret things we have already done or wallow in nostalgic memories. The future may fill us with either fears or fantasies. We cannot really lead in the past or the future, only in the present.

Catching our breath helps us remember to live and lead in the present moment. Letting go of what is past and what may never happen makes us more effective leaders.

Breathing in and breathing out helps us clear away obstacles and distractions.

Breathing as a Spiritual Practice

For me, the first spiritual practice is breathing.

Breathing is what we do when we do not do anything else, while we sleep and when we pay attention. Our breath is the practice which makes all our other practices possible.

Breathing is deeply spiritual. Sacred writings describe how the breath of life awakens and inspires us. People tell us how deep insights take their breath away. Some people believe a scriptural notation for God’s name comes from the sound of breathing.

Breathing in and breathing out is the rhythm and pattern our our lives.

Breathing is also a powerful working metaphor for spiritual life. We breathe in fresh air to fill our lungs, and pause to receive. The oxygen we need for our hearts, minds, and bodies to continue working flows into us. Our sense of smell connects the world around us to the world within us.

We breathe out, providing nutrients to the plants around us. We release tensions and toxins, letting go of what is not healthy for us to hold in ourselves.

Our breathing reflects the steps we take inward and back out into the world on our spiritual journeys each day.

Many monks pray breath prayers, even without words. They practice breathing evenly and deeply, filling their lungs. Praying, working, reflection, and chanting help monks learn to breathe well.

When I visit the hermitage where I am a lay oblate monks communicate by breathing. In silence, without saying a word, we breathe together. Even when I am far away, the pattern of our breathing reminds us we share a monastic community. We pause, take a deep breath, and remember.

Breathing and Leadership

We generally do not pay attention to how we breathe. Each of us began breathing when we were born without any previous training or experience. No one taught us how to breathe because we had no time for that.

When we think about breathing it is usually to learn how to breathe more effectively. We each meet a minimum standard of breathing, which is to continue doing it. It can become important to help us breathe better.

Like monks, inspiring leaders practice breathing in ways which strengthen their abilities. People respond unconsciously to how we breathe. The way we are breathing may reassure or challenge them. The rhythm of our breaths can help us connect to others.

We are all breathing, and breathing the same air. We may confine ourselves somewhere breathing the same stale air for a day. It may be more helpful, and more healthy, to walk outdoors sharing fresh air.

Our shared leadership flows out of how we breathe together.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Each breath we take is filled with potential new beginnings.

The monks, and the leaders, who inspire us breathe fresh air and new life into us. Whenever we take a breath we can remember back to that first breath as we were born. As we continue to breathe we fill our lives with fresh air and fresh ideas.

All of our other leadership strategies and practices flow out of our breathing.

As we struggle to work together we will need to pause and catch our breath. Our breathing is powerful. Breathing gives rhythm to our lives and allows us to catch up with ourselves.

It is easy for us to get distracted and caught up in things other than our primary focus. We think about the past or worry about the future. Taking time to breath allows us to remember the present moment.

Breathing in and breathing out calms us and helps us remember where we are. There is no way for us to live without breathing. We cannot store extra air and hold our breath.

Fresh air fills our lungs, hearts, and brains and sends us off in new directions.

When was the last time an insight took your breath away?

How often will you pause to catch your breath today?

[Image by shawnzrossi]

Greg Richardson is a spiritual life mentor and leadership coach in Southern California. He is a recovering attorney and university professor, and a lay Oblate with New Camaldoli Hermitage near Big Sur, California. Greg’s website is StrategicMonk.com, and his email address is [email protected].

Blog

Monastic Strategies

Previous Post

June 20, 2017

Practices From the Inside Out: Spiritual Life Is Not a Spectator Sport

Next Post

June 24, 2017 Practices From the Inside Out: Spiritual Life of Summer

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Book Reviews Everything Else Guest Posts Leadership Monastic Strategies Neighborhood Pilgrimages Sacred Stillness Spiritual Direction Spiritual Practices Work

Select a Month May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group refers to their main worship service as "Mass"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Presbyterians Baptists Catholics Methodists