Peace and Joy for Busy BIPOC Women

Breathe and Smile

As BIPOC women, we  face many stressors in our daily lives. With challenges like micro-aggressions and systemic barriers that challenge our self-esteem and happiness, it can be difficult to find peace and joy. This simple and easy exercise can help us to find calm and peace in the moment. 

In his book, Peace is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh recommends conscious breathing to keep you in the present moment and calm your body and mind. This simple technique only takes a few moments to complete. Simply recite to yourself:

Breathing in I calm my body (breathe in)
Breathing out I smile. (breathe out)
Dwelling in the present moment, (Breathe in)
I know this is a wonderful moment. (Breathe out)

If you can’t remember that, simply say to yourself:
“Calming, Smiling, Present Moment, Wonderful Moment”

If you can’t remember that, just remember to recite to yourself:
“breathe and smile” as you slowly breathe in and out.

Regardless of the version you choose, be conscious of your breath and your smile. Take slow and deep belly breaths to calm your body and signal the mind to relax. An easy and gentle smile relaxes the muscles in your face, helping to relieve tension in your forehead and jaw.

Give this simple technique a try to see if it works for you! Thanks for reading!