Jed decided to purchase a gold mine. Jake, the former owner, had done well. But when the gold ran out, he decided to quit digging and move on. So he sold the mine and all the equipment he used to explore.
Jed, however, sensed that the “claim” would produce more gold if he dug a little further. He consulted with the old salts in the nearby town—folks who knew the lay of the land. After thoughtful consideration, Jed started digging at the point where Jake had left off, and it didn’t take long before he struck gold. The new vein was far bigger than Jake’s previous strike, and he prospered beyond his wildest dreams. Interestingly enough, Jed realized that Jake had quit only three feet from gold.
We all reach frustrating junctures in our lives and are tempted, at times, to stop pursuing our most precious goals. These crucial forks in the road offer a choice: Call it quits or choose resilience and persevere through challenges and blocks.
There’s no question that it’s hard to keep going when you’re tired or losing hope. Fortunately, your body has extraordinary mechanics that can energize you when you’re feeling low, such as a rapid breathing technique that has been described as the “Yogic cup of coffee.” This routine can fuel resolve to prevent you from quitting three feet from gold.
Before you begin, it’s important to relax.
Sit tall in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Then, complete the following steps to signal your brain to activate your body’s relaxation system:
- Exhale, bringing the navel back toward the spine.
- After gently expelling all the air, inhale deeply and slowly to a count of 3, first filling the abdomen area of the breath, next expanding the chest and upper back, and finally allowing the intake of breath to gently push up the collar bone.
- Then exhale to a count of 6, releasing completely with the navel drawn back.
(The longer exhale is an essential feature of this exercise.) - Complete 3-10 rounds until you feel a sense of calmness.
Now, it’s time for “Yogic coffee!”
- Exhale completely, and then take a small, partial breath.
- Expel the air sharply through your nose 10 times, using the diaphragm to force air out quickly—almost as if a bug flew into your nose and you are trying to force it out. (Inhales will occur naturally.)
- Take a full, 3-part breath (see #2 of the relaxation exercise), exhale completely, and take a partial breath.
- Do 15 rapid breaths, take a deep 3-part breath, and take a partial breath.
- Do 25 rapid breaths, take a deep 3-part breath, and slowly open your eyes as you exhale.
This technique will oxidate the body and build resilience throughout transitions. You don’t have to give up on golden opportunities just before achieving them.
A “yogic cup of coffee” can fuel resolve to keep you moving toward your goals.