20,000 Breaths
You Owe Me
“Even after all this time
The Sun never says to the Earth
‘You owe me’
Look what happens with a love like that
It lights up the whole sky”
--Hafez
The human body breathes 19K/20K per day, automatically. Sometimes deep, sometimes shallow, sometimes a yawn, sometimes a sigh.
Spiritual teachings tell us that breath equals Spirit. We breathe in, we are “inspired,” in Spirit, “with Spirit.”
Young men today are being pushed/pulled by social media and reality constructs that prey upon base human emotions. It is easy to go down a rabbit hole of either hyper-masculinity or hyper-sensitivity. A true leader can discern the conflict and find a middle way through ethical action.
When we breathe, we consume oxygen which feeds our circulatory system…this is part of the autonomic system of a human. The air never tells us, ‘You owe me.’
There are techniques that can enhance the quality of your inspiration, respiration, inhalation and exhalation. Becoming conscious of breath is a pathway to being more conscious of our feelings and emotions.
When we open our phones, it is another story entirely. There is a supercomputer in your hand, how will you use it? The menu runs the gamut, from vulgar and hurtful to mocking and thoughtless.
I have spoken with young men who told me they deleted all social media apps from their phones. These young men are focusing on their future, their education and building a quality life and community. This is conscious breathing with technology.
The Monkey Mind
We can teach/encourage young men to raise their level of consciousness and move past the “Rhesus Monkey Mind” of clicking and/or “Doomscrolling.” Just as we can be conscious of our breathing, we can be conscious of which we ‘inspirate’ our brains and eyeballs via our phones. We can pause and ask, “What is needed to feed my soul?”
“We see the world piece by piece, as the sun, the moon, the animal, the tree; but the whole, of which these are shining parts, is the soul.” --Ralph Waldo Emerson
The vibe check is “How do I feel after spending time on the phone? Am I learning something new? Am I “Mindful” with my device? Am I expanding my community? Am I bringing something back to my community?”
Entertainment is fine for a brief escape. The true Hero’s Journey is to “…enter the forest…where there is no path.” You then bring back a treasure to share with your community.
The key is EQ/Emotional Intelligence. What am I feeling? Can I be honest about what I am feeling? This is the goal of the groups. In groups, we listen and hold each other accountable. Boys work through their issues and their brothers/cohorts support them through their feelings. Together, they are building stronger and more conscious men and communities. Together, they gain “Insight.”
