I was reading a Brene Brown book, where she talked about the concept of inhaling before exhaling. (It had to be Braving the Wilderness, and she credited someone else with the concept also.). The concept is that exhaling is the giving and inhaling is the filling yourself up to prepare yourself to give. Giving can be teaching or guiding. Giving can be prom dress shopping or helping someone study for a test. We all give every day, and we need to inhale when exhaling is required.

It is the same concept as putting on your own oxygen mask before helping someone else with theirs. If you are not taking care of yourself, you are not going to be able to properly take care of the other. If you have not inhaled, you cannot exhale.

Inhaling is different for each person – whatever gives you oxygen. If you need to exercise, that is inhaling. If you need to meditate, that is inhaling. You might rest or nap, you might watch a movie, you might paint or read or take a bath. Only you know how to inhale.