INVICTUS

                                                                                    

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

                            William Ernest Henley 

   No matter which road we take, no matter how far we are, no matter how poor or rich we become, nor even in the worst plague do not forget you are the master of your fate and the captain of your soul. In this vast and influential world we live in and on the face of   the limitless opportunities life offers us at this stage of our lives,  it sometimes turns tricky and tough to stick to ourselves, our essence and keep what we are, our convictions. Life is full of changes but what we really are should never change. The inspiring and sensible words from the poem bring me back to what really matters: whatever I do must be because of my own will and nobody else’s, and should never go against what I am!

In the middle of the uncertainty we are going through I wish to tell you ‘don’t forget that you are the master of your life’!!

DO WE CARE ABOUT BREATHING?

According to Erica Gómez Del Corral, an Argentinian anthropologist, feeding and breathing are the two vital biological functions for any organism. However, unlike oriental cultures, occidental cultures pay great importance to the first one dismissing the importance of breathing. Now it is not hard to agree with this since in our society everything goes around food: diets, physical exercises, specialists, ‘tips’ of every kind and source meeting of course the social demands for goods and services that aim at the perfection of the body. There is an outstanding need for people to become conscious about eating habits but what about breathing habits? Well this author states that not only breathing but learning to breathe properly is essential to keep our energetic as well as psych-physic balance. It is not enough just breathing. Oriental cultures make use of a method called ‘breathing consciously’ which provides the proper techniques to oxygenate the body thus improving performance at any level. This type of breathing brings various benefits: by providing the body with enough oxygen it helps it to carry out metabolic functions properly and satisfactorily. Breathing consciously also allows greater concentration bringing greater mental clarity. Moreover, it helps you gain more mental as well as emotional control. 

    The author provides the reader with various techniques but I want to share one in particular which is called ‘respiración completa’:

      Put yourself in a comfortable position

      Inhale through your nose, maintain the air and then release it through the nose but taking twice the time you take to inhale.

      Do this exercise from 10 to 20 minutes.

This technique activates your blood flow, helps you calm down your mind and fosters your will. I have tried this one and it is really useful! Let’s see if it works for you… I think we need to devote time to our breathing so that we listen to our body and mind!