How many breaths have you taken since you started scrolling wherever you’re reading this?

Oh, you don’t know?

Of course you don’t know. I’m sure until this moment, you of course knew that you were breathing, but you weren’t exactly aware of the sensation of the air moving in and out of your lungs like you are now, were you?

What other things could you be unaware of?

We have all sorts of internal bodily processes that happen outside of our awareness. Blood rushing through your veins and arteries. The inner workings of your mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell). The tensing and relaxing of your muscles as you scroll down this page.

Most of us also have little habits that we do without even realizing it. Maybe it’s bouncing your leg, maybe it’s humming a song, maybe it’s running your fingers through your hair or absentmindedly scratching an itch.

All of those things happen without our even noticing.

What else could happen outside of your awareness?

Maybe your blood is rushing to particular places in your body, making you blush or having other effects.

Maybe you don’t even realize you’ve been chanting a mantra.

Maybe your hands are wandering to sensitive places.

Who knows? I don’t know what your body is doing. That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?

I don’t know. 

And, just maybe, neither do you.