Breathing in Hope

Excerpt: Grounding Exercise - Breathing in Hope - Anxiety Session 2

Course: Freedom From Anxiety

Speakers: Matthias Barker

Breathing Hope: Finding Calm Amidst Unbearable Moments

If you feel lost, your thoughts racing, and the present moment unbearable, you’re not alone. It’s like running on a hamster wheel, the more you try to control the feeling, the more it spins out of control. Let’s try something different.

Visualizing Emotions: Color as a Tool

Imagine a color associated with your fear, that feeling of impending catastrophe, the self-criticism. Now, imagine a color associated with hope.

A Visual Exercise

Visualize the color of hope entering your lungs, and the color of fear leaving. Imagine it like smoke, a tangible representation of your emotions.

Breathing Hope and Releasing Fear

Breathe in hope. Breathe out fear. Continue this, staying in that space for as long as you need. You don’t need the thoughts to disappear or the storm to calm for you to feel okay right now. Just breathe in hope, release fear.

Conclusion: Finding Calm in the Present Moment

You don’t need to eliminate the thoughts or the chaos to find a moment of peace. By visualizing your emotions as colors and intentionally breathing in hope while releasing fear, you can create a space of calm within yourself, even amidst the storm. It’s going to be okay.

If you like the content, you can continue in a few different ways…

See the outline below and check out other sections from the Freedom From Anxiety course.

Take the full small group course to your church community! The first course your church runs is free! Reach out to us here to learn how.

Connect with a Share The Struggle Coach for one-on-one support. Let’s face it, some of us have tried kicking this thing, and we’ve had no luck. It’s time to start looking toward forms of support that can help us see and feel the beautiful life God has in store for us.

Understanding the Roots of Anxiety

Session 1

Video: Grounding Exercise - Grounded in the Present

Anxiety Stories

Video: What is Anxiety

Topics: Defining Anxiety; Responses to Anxiety

Session 2

Video: Grounding Exercise - Breathing in Hope

Video: Neuroscience of Anxiety

Video: The Experience of Anxiety

Topics: Neuroscience of Anxiety; Feelings Wheel; Anxiety Sweep

Session 3

Video: Blessing Prayer

Video: Reframing Anxiety

Video: Roots Discovery Process

Topics: Inner Voices; Critical Voices

Session 4

Video: Root Cause: Our Cultural Moment

Video: Root Cause: Spiritual Warfare

Topics: Cultural/Political/Racial Tensions; Spiritual Warfare; I Hear/God Says

Session 5

Video: Root Cause: Family of Origin & Wounds

Topics: Family of Origin Issues

Healing Through Relationships

Session 6

Video: Relationships of Trust

Video: Relationship with God

Video: Inner Healing Prayer

Topics: Trust; God; Prayer; Scripture

Session 7

Video: You are not your Anxiety

Video: Relationship with Self

Topics: Goals/Aspirations; Shame/Feeling Loved; Emotional Awareness

Session 8

Video: Relationship with Others

Video: The Journey Onward

Topics: Listening Triad; Sharing with Others

Share the Struggle Courses are topical expert led video courses to help you understand life’s greatest struggles and provide you with tools for navigating them. Moreover, STS courses create a space for you to connect with others struggling with similar things, experience belonging, and encounter God’s nearness in a place of wilderness in your life (pain, confusion, healing journey). Want to start a group at your church? Reach out to us here to learn how.

Here at Share The Struggle we believe Jesus is present with us in the middle of our pain and mess, and it is in that place that we often experience and encounter Jesus most deeply.

We understand the unique challenges faced by Christians dealing with mental health. Our mission is to bridge the gap between faith and mental health support, providing a platform where individuals can find resources, coaching support and guidance, all tailored to their spiritual life and emotional needs.

We invite you to explore our resources, share your journey, and find the support you need to overcome the struggles you face.

Share The Struggle is an initiative of Taming Mustangs, a 501(c)3) Non-Profit