Two of my favourite words at the moment are Inspire and Inspiration. These two words seem to pop up everywhere right now.

Inspire has two meanings:

• To breathe in air- inhale
• Fill someone the urge to do or feel something

Our breathing or respiratory cycle is divided into two phases- Inspiration and Expiration.

The most important thing we first do when we are born is that first breathe. The first time we inspire.

Throughout our lives we often pay very little attention to this important bodily function.  We may become aware if we are out of breath through exercise or illness, while other people are aware of their breath for relaxation and meditative purposes.

When the time comes and we breathe out our final breath, we expire. Our life starts when we inspire, continues as long as we carry on inspiring and when can no longer inspire, we expire.

There is an expression “Fear is excitement without the breath”

If this is the case, what do we need to do when faced with a fear- inspire.  Could we overcome fear by being consciously aware of our breathing?

Is it possible to conclude from this expression that fear equates to expiration (death) and excitement equates to inspiration (life)?

A couple of weeks ago I had an amazing experience while returning to my body during a guided mediation. As I became aware of my body, I also became aware of the finite amount of time we have here. I felt a great sense of urgency and upset because of how life can be wasted.

The last thing I experienced before fully regained consciousness was this:

Every breath we take is a gift. Why waste a single gift on hatred or fear when it could be used to inspire love and harmony.

Are you inspired now?

Isn’t the English language amazing?

Mark –The Alchemist’s Journey