Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change. — Wayne Dyer

Sometimes it feels like coping with a technologically developing culture can create as much difficulty as it does convenience.  When you feel frustrated by things “beyond your control,” I believe it is always a good idea to come back to your breath.

In Taoism we are all seen as manifestations of divine breath. With my students of The Way of Joy, I talk about how when we actively inspire (draw in breath), we are more easily able to connect to our larger vision and, in so doing, experience a personal connection to the divine or the cosmos.

If you are willing to take the time for even 1 -3 long slow breaths before reacting to something that is happening in your life that you don’t want, you are far more likely to be able to shift your knee-jerk reactions into a response that is open and empowered. This indeed has the capacity to change how you experience what is happening.

Vicki Dello Joio, founder of The Way of Joy: A Spiritual Fitness Program, is a teacher, speaker and performing artist. Integrating over 40 years of Chi Kung practice with other martial arts as well as her work in Yoga, Feldenkreis, physical fitness and theater, Vicki has developed a dynamic set of tools to increase awareness, transform obstacles into opportunities and enhance creative potential. Classes and WorkshopsBook: The Way of JoyCD: Short Meditations for a Busy Life.