Page 3 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Apr 7, 2021

Quiet Your Mind And Breathe
“Peace is happiness at rest. Happiness is peace in motion.” — Yvan Amar
I return to my breath to regain my spiritual ground. From the “quiet mind,” problems are solved and solutions are found. And, most importantly for me, it is from this ground that I can do my work with limitless energy and an un- shakeable sense of peace.
The Rev. Thomas Hong works for Pacific Health Ministry as chaplain at The Queen’s Medical Center – West O’ ahu campus. He is a self-described “spiritual wanderer” who finds his bliss through cooking, meditation and running.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
APRIL 7, 2021
HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK 3
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CHASING THE LIGHT
with The Rev. Thomas Hong
During these times of the coronavirus, it is easy to feel over- whelmed by stress and fear of the unknown. By the end of the day, many of us may feel drained, but before we can replenish ourselves, we are faced with yet another day.
I have found a remark- able method to replenish my energies in the midst of my day, moment to moment. It is elegant in its simplicity. It is called the human breath. It has a profound effect on how we feel and how we cope.
After reading Nestor’s book, my quest as a hospital chaplain is to live in the “quiet mind.” It’s that state of consciousness where I can connect to others with compassion and caring, and not be depleted with these encounters. With Nestor’s breathing recipe, I have achieved that. A five-second inhale, a five-second exhale through the nose; it anchors my mind to a state of calm.
As a hospital chaplain, I know what it feels like to run on empty; to have nothing more to give. Because of this, I have had to rely on differ- ent methods to help me bring
In his groundbreaking book, Breath: The New Sci- ence of a Lost Art, investi- gative reporter James Nestor shares his extraordinary re- search. Harvard, Stanford and other research institutions have shown the transforma- tive power of breath. It can lower stress levels and make a dramatic impact on anxiety and upset. In many cases, it
Whether I am caring for a patient who is struggling with stage 4 cancer or supporting a grieving family member who has suddenly lost a loved one,
the gift of my full presence to others.
can assist in lowering one’s heart rate and normalizing blood pressure, and can re- duce pain.
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