It’s easy to be influenced by what’s going on around us. If you are in a situation where you find that others are operating out of fear, defensiveness, ego, and short-term gain, then remind yourself that you do not have to follow them.
Bringing attention to our breathing is a way of carving out a quiet moment for ourselves amid any external pressure. The movement in our lungs puts focus back around our heart center. Awareness of the quality of our breath—how deep, how slow, how steady—gives us a chance to choose calmness for our inner state.
Such moments are good for reminding ourselves that like lotus blossoms that bloom above muddy water, we can thrive amid negativity and “lower” energies if we know how to shake these off ourselves.
Let go of your need to control what is happening outside of you. You have control over your own state of mind.