Reading Time: 1 min 53 sec
I hope the next 23’ish breaths are the most nourishing of your day.
4 THOUGHTS
1. The One Skill to Get Good At
“Remember, above all, breathing is the one skill to get good at!”
– Dr. Dana Sinclair, Dialed In
Dr. Sinclair has two PhDs, one in sport psychology and another in developmental psychopathology. She works with athletes from the NFL, MLB, NBA, and other sports. She also works with executives, surgeons, students, and beyond. The #1 thing she teaches all of them, regardless of their profession? Breathing. As she says, it’s “the one skill to get good at!”
2. Find Your Activation Ritual
“An activation ritual is a morning routine that helps them get into a state of non-thinking and flow. It can be any activity or routine that helps you feel grounded and allows you to practice getting into a state of non-thinking. Examples might be exercising, meditating, performing breathwork, praying, journaling, or making tea. It does not matter what the activity is as long as it helps you feel centered.”
- Joseph Nguyen, Don’t Believe Everything You Think
I’m a huge man of morning practice, but calling it an “activation ritual” makes it that much better. So, if you don’t already have one, here’s your gentle nudge to ensure you’re taking time each morning to start your day off right 🙏
3. More Vitality and Resilience in the Face of Stress
“Slowing down the mind means not only achieving better quality but actually getting more done. A smooth-running flow of thought saves a lot of wear and tear on the nervous system, which means more vitality and resilience in the face of stress.”
- Eknath Easwaran, Conquest of Mind
Here’s more support for having an “activation ritual” each morning. When we take time to slow down our minds first thing, it gives us more vitality and resilience against the rest of the day’s inevitable stressors.
4. Finding the Universal and Eternal
“Principles are universal and eternal; tactics are temporary and fleeting. The key is to study what is true and never changing, and you will always remain grounded no matter what you experience in life. If you want to find the truth, look for simplicity. The truth is always simple.”
– Joseph Nguyen, The Art of Creating
Amen to that 🙏
1 Quote
“You don’t need a course in silence or relaxation to be able simply to pause. Silence can be anywhere, anytime—it’s just in front of your nose.””
1 GOOD BOOK
Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen
James Clear had this book on his list of three books he’d recommend to new graduates. And now I know why…it’s so good. It’s short, easy to read, and full of wisdom. It’s a perfect introduction to the world of contemplative practices.
In good breath,
Nick Heath, T1D, PhD
“Breathing is the compound interest of health & wellness.”
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Amazon Associate Disclosure
I’ve been recommending books for almost 6 years. Yet somehow, I just discovered that I could be an Amazon affiliate [face-palm]. In any case better late than never. Now, any Amazon link you click is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So, if you’d like to support my work, buying books through these links is helpful : )
* An asterisk by a quote indicates that I listened to this book on Audible. Therefore, the quotation might not be correct, but is my best attempt at reproducing the punctuation based on the narrator’s pace, tone, and pauses.