BREATHING EASIER

The final lines of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem What is Success read:

"To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived ~ this is to have succeeded."

How different this is from the way we’ve been taught to define success. In our culture, success is often measured by hard work, financial achievement, and climbing the professional ladder. Even when we think of success as achieving our goals and feeling happy, there is often an underlying pressure to do more, be more, accomplish more.

But what if we saw success through Emerson’s wisdom?

What if success was as simple and profound as helping another ~ or even ourselves ~ breathe easier?

How might we approach each day differently?

Like so many others, I sometimes find myself focusing on what I didn’t do well enough ~ the moments I perceived that I fell short, the things I missed, the impossible standards I can set for myself. But every time I return to Emerson’s words, I feel something shift. I literally breathe easier. A deep exhale. A moment of gentle grace. 

We are living in times of constant change and challenge, and stress takes its toll ~ not just on our minds, but on our hearts and our bodies. When we feel overwhelmed, our breath becomes shallow and erratic, triggering anxiety, tension, and a sense of disconnection.

But what if, instead of pushing through or feeling stuck, we set a simple intention each morning … to help ourselves and others breathe easier?

Sometimes, this might mean offering a kind word, a listening ear, or a moment of connection that eases another’s burden. Other times, it means giving ourselves that same grace ~ pausing, softening, choosing compassion over self-criticism.

And here’s the beautiful part: this practice doesn’t just help others ~ it helps us, too. Studies show that acts of kindness reduce cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, and enhance creativity and clarity. When we support others, we also create more ease, peace, and balance within ourselves and open the door to inspired being and action. 

In moments when we don’t know what to do, from your compassionate heart, help someone breathe a bit easier. It’s a simple, yet extremely powerful thing to do ~ and often creates an amazing ripple effect.  

And in doing so, you will be helping yourself ~ more than you know.

One step at a time, one breath at a time…May we all breathe a little easier today.