Dr.B, Breahte, Belong, Believe_Sample

Breathe, Belong, Believe: 

Contemplations on Trust 

By Laura Biagi, Ph.D. 

www.drlaurabiagi.com 

#breathebelongbelieve 

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Instagram: biagilaura 

© 2018

Dr.B, Breahte, Belong, Believe 2 

Dear Reader, 

As the title suggests, this book is a compilation of contemplations 

on trust, emerging from my curiosity and practice. Spiritual is, for 

me, the wholesome understanding of how our bodies, emotions, 

and mind are interconnected, and how we, as humans, are 

connected with all that is, inside and outside of us. The three verbs 

encapsulate many teachings I received on how to heal the body 

(breathe), the emotions (belong), and the mind (believe). Together, 

they have taught me a few lessons about trust, which is what I wish 

to share here. 

I have invested my life’s journey to travel the world to learn and 

teach about the interplay of energies, and the dance between 

willing, surrendering, manifesting and receiving. When I felt lonely 

on the journey, various teachings and books supported and inspired 

me. I compiled this book to remind you that are not alone, and that 

you can tap into a flow of inspiration and creativity that is always 

with you. 

I carry a notebook with me and, when I feel inspired, I connect with 

Spirit and ask to receive a message that I can share with others. 

Then, I free-write, allowing the pen to move on the page. I later edit 

the entries on my computer. Each passage in this book is a blend of 

spiritual messages, intuition, and the result of studies in linguistics, 

performance art, Raja Yoga, contemplative pedagogy, sound 

healing, alchemy, astrology, and the art of living. 

May these words provide you with support and inspiration. Each 

contemplation starts on a new page. You are invited to use the 

available space to write your own messages, answer the questions, 

draw, or, simply, to breathe in the silence. 

Be love, 

Dr.B


What is Contemplation? 

In my classes, workshops and retreats, I use the term contemplative. 

This adjective comes from the Latin con-templum, which means “in 

the space of a temple.” Originally, it described a space in which the 

oracle or priestess of a ritual would receive divine inspiration 

regarding a question posed by the community or the ruling 

class/family. I use contemplative (as in “contemplative pedagogy,” 

or “contemplative practices”) to describe an activity that helps 

increase awareness of self, others and the environment. Awareness 

is the gift of contemplation. 

Contemplation is, by necessity, spiritual (spiritual as in 

“inspirational,” not necessarily as in “religious”). Why? Spirit, in 

Latin, is related to the word spiro, which means “to breathe.” Thus, 

inspirational. Contemplation is inspirational. It will always reveal a 

truth about your state of being. That said, contemplation is born out 

of the simplest and most beautiful activities, such as gardening, 

cooking, ironing, driving, listening to music… You don’t need to sit 

on a yoga mat to contemplate. In fact, you are truly practicing when 

you are mindful and still maintain an engaging life out there in the 

world. 

What activities gift you with awareness of yourself, others and the 

environment?


Trust is Resilient 

How do you mange to stay strong in a world that is constantly 

changing? 

The root of the word trust implies strength. In order to trust, you 

need to be strong. The type of strength we are talking about here is 

the one that comes from resilience, from being flexible and open to 

change. Resilience is built on the ability to accept reality as is, and 

not as we would like it to be, and to reframe meaning according to 

new circumstances. 

Abrupt changes in life are unsettling and it is easy to lose track of 

one’s purpose in life. Trust is the strength that comes from a deep 

knowing that certain values in life are indestructible. For me, some 

of the values that give my life meaning are: freedom to travel and 

learn; humor; hope; gratitude; generosity; loyalty; bonds with family 

and friends. 

What are your values? What are the values of your company or 

organization?


Conflicts Arise From Fear 

Con-flictus is a Latin verb that implies a “striking together.” In 

conflict there is a collision of wants and needs, opinions, desires, 

drives and ideologies. When two bodies strike against each other, 

there is no common ground except for the moment of collision. This 

is conflict: no sharing, no dialogue, no interest in coming closer. In 

fact, the energy of the collision separates the bodies even more. 

Identities are reinforced, clashing opinions solidified. 

Conflict hurts. Why? 

Spiritual traditions teach us that suffering and conflict stem from the 

workings of the ego, a part of our mind whose task is to categorize 

and store experiences according to sensorial perceptions. We all 

know that sensorial perceptions are limited, and yet, we let the ego 

rule our lives! Don’t worry, humans have been battling with this 

dilemma for millennia. You are not alone! The issue with letting the 

ego decide for you is that the ego is moved by fear. Its ancient, 

animalistic drive is fuelled by a survival instinct because it makes 

you believe that you are separate from others, and worst, from your 

own self! 

It is tempting to see conflict as existing merely outside of us. 

Conflict, the striking of opposing forces, starts within you. In the 

same way that outer conflict will hurt you, your inner conflict hurts 

your environment and society. 

Are you willing and able to see the connection between outer and 

inner conflict?


Resolution of Conflict Starts With the Breath 

Conflict means, in its original etymology, “a striking together.” 

Resolution, another Latin word, means “to make simple.” When put 

together, conflict-resolution means to ease the impact of conflict. 

Conflict resolution does not imply that everyone will think the same 

or agree all the time, or even come to a miraculous understanding 

of diversity. Conflict-resolution means that we agree to connect 

and listen to each other without reacting, that we allow the impact 

of diverging ideologies or opinions to happen right in front of our 

eyes and ears, and that we, together, hold conflict in contemplation 

to ease the stress that it causes on all involved. 

This is why resolution of conflict starts with the breath. Emotional 

and breathing patterns are strictly connected. We all know this and 

yet, how easily we forget when faced with conflict. In my 

workshops and classes, I ask all participants to breathe together and 

resist the urge to react (scream, yell, close off, leave the room) as 

soon as conflict arises. Conflict is part of our lives, because it is the 

product of our fear-based ego (i.e. identity formations). We need to 

embrace it. It’s hard but it’s necessary. 

How do you breathe when conflict arises in your life and work? Do 

you hold your breath? Clench your teeth? Or do you breathe fast 

and in a shallow way? What would happen if you would take a 

really deep breathe instead?

Dr.B, Breahte, Belong, Believe_Sample

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