Sample from ‘How to be Positive and Happy’
The archer’s breath
In archery, many instructors will encourage you to take a deep breath before you release your arrow to maximise your chances of hitting your target. For this breathing exercise, channel your inner archer and as you inhale imagine your target is in clear sight. Before you release your arrow of intent, exhale your breath with calm control. Try taking this breath when you have clear intentions that you need to achieve and want to be filled with a positive focus.
Remove the labels
The weight of the labels that we attach to ourselves can become a real burden to drag around. Take a quiet moment to yourself, away from the usual noise and chatter of your daily life and close your eyes. Begin to imagine the labels that you have tied to yourself, dangling from your wrists, your ears, your waist, your feet. What do these labels say? Are there any that you do not like? What would you prefer them to say? For the next few minutes, imagine that none of them exist. Feel the negative and the positive labels drop away from you, leaving your body weightless and free. Explore what it feels like to simply exist as you do in this moment. Remember this lightness and return to it if you ever feel weighed down.
Expand and understand
A positive way to transform your negativity is by turning it into compassion by expanding your understanding. Find a comfortable seated position and take 3 deep breaths. Let your mind travel to a negative interaction you had recently online, in person, or over the phone. Rather than remembering the situation from your perspective, try to imagine it from the other person’s end. If there were several people involved, spend a little time in each of their shoes. Approach the situation from all angles. Keep taking deep breaths as you try to expand your understanding and release any negativity…
READ MORE: How to be Positive and Happy: Amazon.co.uk
Sample inside pages from ‘How to be Positive and Happy’