Your Next Breath Could Change Everything
BodyMind Blueprint Installment #5
Dear Adventurers,
Welcome to the fifth installment of the BodyMind Blueprint. Today, we explore a gentle, grounded truth: Peace is not a distant destination—it’s already here, waiting in our next breath.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s Peace Is Every Breath invites us to slow down, breathe with intention, and see the sacred in the ordinary. For those of us who have lived with anxiety, chronic illness, or emotional overwhelm, this idea might sound lovely… but far from practical. I felt the same way—until I tried it.
In moments of chaos, this book reminded me that peace isn’t something we earn by hustling hard enough or meditating perfectly. We practice it—one breath, one step, one moment at a time.
"Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see."
—Thich Nhat Hanh
I’ve known what it feels like to live ungrounded. In times of deep stress—like when my PhD dreams took an unexpected turn this year—my body felt like a stranger. The pressure in my chest. The tension in my joints. The racing thoughts and exhausted muscles. And for someone who has lived with asthma and chronic inflammation for most of their life, moments like this are more than emotional—they’re physical. The pain in my mind had made roots in my body.
That’s why this book means so much to me. It didn’t tell me to escape my experience. It taught me how to be with it. It reminded me that mindfulness isn’t about control. It’s about connection.
Thich Nhat Hanh writes,
"If we are not fully ourselves, truly in the present moment, we miss everything."
Mindfulness, then, isn’t just something we practice cross-legged on a cushion. It’s a way of living. It’s how we brush our teeth. How we eat. How we breathe while stuck in traffic. How we greet ourselves in the mirror. (More on that in the next installment of BodyMind Blueprint.)
Here are a few ways I’ve started embodying his wisdom in everyday life:
🌿 Breathing While You Wait
Instead of reaching for my phone when I’m anxious or in a long line, I return to my breath.
Inhale: I arrive. Exhale: I am home.
This simple practice grounds me—even in uncomfortable spaces like long staff meetings, crowded waiting rooms, or those in-between moments that feel thick with uncertainty.
🍽️ Mindful Meals
Eating slowly, without screens, has made a real difference in managing my inflammation.
Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us: “When you eat, just eat.”
No guilt. No rush. Just presence and gratitude—even if it’s a quick snack. Savoring what’s in front of me reminds my body that nourishment is safe, and joy can be simple.
🧘🏽 Walking Meditation
One of my favorite go-to practices when I’m overwhelmed or stuck inside too long. A short loop around my building becomes a moving prayer:
Inhale: I take a step. Exhale: I smile. This step is peace.
It’s not about how far I go—it’s about how present I become. And every time, the wind catches me just right… like the Universe whispering, “I’ve got you.”
📓 Returning to the Body
When my thoughts spiral or I feel ungrounded, I pause. One hand over my chest or belly.
Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.
It might feel silly—especially when I feel anything but peaceful—but this simple act helps me soften. It brings me back to gratitude for what is, rather than grasping for what’s not.
"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."
There’s something powerful about choosing joy on purpose—even when the world around you feels unkind or uncertain. That joy doesn’t have to be loud. It can be a warm drink. A deep exhale. A soft moment of gratitude in the middle of your messy day.
I learned this during the darkest points of job hunting and navigating chronic stress. When I didn’t have answers, I still had breath. When I felt ashamed of being “behind,” I could still return to now. That now—this moment—is always enough to begin again.
Peace Is Every Breath doesn’t ask us to become perfect or peaceful all the time. It asks us to come back to ourselves, over and over again. It reminds us that healing is not always about doing more—it’s about being here, now, with love.
A Thought for Your Journey
Where can you bring mindfulness into your day—not to fix anything, but simply to notice and breathe?
Or, If you’d like to support my work in a simple, meaningful way, you can buy me a cup of coffee ☕✨
Healing Roots, Transforming Stories, Cultivating You
Much Love, Jae