There are a couple of perspectives that I find very helpful. First thing in the morning, I have a routine where I tell myself that I have awakened in this familiar body. I reflect on what yesterday's experiences have left for me and what I can leave ahead for ‘future me’. Then, I take a deep breath. As I inhale, I focus only on positive thoughts, and as I exhale, I release any negative emotions, judgments, or fears completely. I follow each exhale with a positive inhalation, spending a few minutes on this practice. During my yoga class, my mission for those 90 minutes is the same: with every positive breath I take in, healing energies flood my body, and with every exhale, I release toxic energies.
I inhale positive thoughts and feelings, exhale negative ones, inhale positive images, and exhale negative images. I continue this practice until it becomes second nature to me.
Of course, there are moments when this practice is put to the test. There are times when, no matter what I do, I feel triggered and overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. In those moments, my new philosophy is to breathe in positive thoughts, exhale negative ones, breathe in solutions, and exhale problems. I remind myself: why would I approach life any other way when negativity can sweep me away? I inhale the timeless essence of who I am and exhale the temporary aspects driven by ego. This doesn’t mean erasing who I am—it simply acknowledges that my ‘ego-self’ carries uncertainties, patterns, and habits that I aim to transcend. It’s perfectly alright for me to cultivate a higher self that aligns with my consciousness and directs me towards what truly matters. What should I be focusing on right now? What promotes my well-being? I find my answers and exhale doubts, fears, and judgments—releasing the unnecessary distractions that drain my energy and waste my precious time.
Time is a precious gift, not to be squandered but embraced. As we sit within it, we contemplate our existence: body, heart, mind, and consciousness. We are conscious beings floating on a planet, within a solar system, within a universe—each moment unfolding in its own miraculous way. Change is constant, evolution inevitable. Yes, we will encounter negative emotions throughout our lives, but we develop processes to let them go, systems to move forward in body and mind.