Looking after our hearts

Anxiety comes from the Latin word ANXIETAS, which means "disturbed, lacking, uncomfortable" - far beyond the "constant rush" we are used to describing it as. Another root of the word, also from Latin, ANGUERE, which means "to squeeze, suffocate" accurately describes what happens in the anxious body: lack of air. With all these symptoms on high, we need to learn to take care of ourselves and slow down.

Aurora Winter Festival - Toronto 2019

Depending on how tired we are, even dinner with a friend becomes an exhausting task. It is madness to let this happen. Some feelings that we inherit from our ancestors, such as the butterflies in the stomach, dry mouth and accelerated heart rate, keep us aware of when we are in danger or afraid.

It is great to have these protective instincts, but what happens when we are almost always in this state of alert - which drains our battery and overloads the heart. The consequences of not changing this behavior can lead to depression. Remember that it is through this same body that we will realize our dreams - and it needs to be well for whatever the next step is.

How to improve? By adding doses of slowing down as one of your daily tasks. First and most importantly: stop, take a deep breath, look around and be aware of where you are. Small things like this oxygenate the mind and make us calm down. This method of deep breathing is also one of the principles of yoga and meditation. And contrary to what may be going through your head, these breaks during the day are not a waste of time, they are a gain of life. Let's go together in harmony with our body.

Enjoy your heart!