Breathe  |  Issue 024
Yes, I can babysit. Yes, I can host book club this week. Yes, I can go out
for a drink. Yes, yes, yes. I can do lots of things. But. Do I really want to? No. Is it the most convenient option? No. Do I really have time? No. And, really, in whose best interests is it anyway? Not mine.
This might be familiar territory. Those situations when a relative, associate or friend puts in a reasonable – even sociable – request to
which an affirmative response seems the only option. To do otherwise would risk appearing unhelpful or unfriendly. To do otherwise, to say
no, would be negative and risk rejection. Or would it? Answer: no.
Why? It’s complicated. Because yes isn’t always positive and no isn’t always negative. It’s more nuanced and emotionally fraught than that.
To say yes to a family member’s plea for a babysitter when body and mind are crying out for an evening lying on the sofa listening to music isn’t positive; to say yes to an associate’s request to take over book club-hosting duties despite being on a late shift isn’t positive; to say yes to a friend’s offer of a drink even if it means missing night-class isn’t positive. What might be more positive here? Answer: no.
It doesn’t mean that alternative options can’t be offered – another relative who’s at a loose end might be able to cover the babysitting; book club can easily skip a week; and how about another night for those drinks? But it does signal a positive affirmation of self-worth.
There are, of course, times when no might be negative, especially if it comes through fear – of failure, of imperfection, of not being good or worthy enough. These might be identified as the instances when the heart says yes but the mind will allow only the word no to be articulated. At these times it can help to pay close attention to how the body feels and to question if an inner-critic is holding back personal progress.
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First published in the UK in 2016, each issue has a thoughtful, seasonal theme, making Breathe magazine your digital dose of self-care. Its slogan: “Breathe and make time for yourself” tells you it’s time to switch off and enjoy some “you time” before you’ve even swiped onto the first page.
Five years later and Breathe has established itself in the UK wellness space as the leading mindfulness magazine. Whether it’s through creative therapies, sleep assistance, idyllic retreats, mindfulness or superfoods, the holistic range of self-care topics covered is designed to help you cope with the pressures and anxieties of modern life.
The thought-provoking features are designed to offer advice and techniques for relaxation and mindfulness. Discover and take away simple ways to ease your mind, from their helpful guides to forgiveness, gratitude and freedom from worries, to healthy food plans and craft activities to focus your mind.
Whether you’re looking to calm your thoughts or energise your body and spirit, you’ll find everything you need to build a happier, healthier life in your annual Breathe digital magazine subscription - download the latest edition to your device today and make time for you!
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You'll receive 9 issues during a 1 year Breathe magazine subscription.
Note: Digital editions do not include the covermount items or supplements you would find with printed copies.
Articles in this issue
Below is a selection of articles in Breathe Issue 024.