The Two-Minute Pause

When my mind races, peace rarely arrives with fanfare. It shows up when I stop chasing it. Here’s a tiny practice: set a timer for two minutes. Close your eyes. Inhale gently for a count of four, hold for two, exhale for six. With each breath say, “I’m here.” Notice the ground, the chair, the air. If a thought barges in, smile at it like a friendly neighbor and return to the breath. Two minutes won’t fix a lifetime of noise, but it will invite quiet to sit beside you. Repeat before tough conversations, after the news, or whenever your shoulders climb toward your ears. Peace isn’t far it’s the space you make for it.