Inhale Hope, Exhale Doubt
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"Inhale Hope, Exhale Doubt" was written in 2000, when I was grappling with my inner critic and the pervasive sense of doubt that can often accompany life's challenges. The poem reflects on the power of our thoughts and the choices we make about what we allow to influence us.
I was inspired to explore the idea that the very air we breathe can be a metaphor for the mental and emotional atmosphere we create for ourselves. We can choose to fill our minds with negativity and self-doubt or cultivate an environment of hope, resilience, and self-belief.
This poem reminds us that we can control our inner dialogue and choose which voices we listen to. It's a call to actively inhale hope and exhale doubt, to embrace the possibilities that lie before us, and to navigate life with courage and purpose. I hope it inspires you to take control of your mental atmosphere and to breathe in the strength to pursue your dreams.
Listen to poem:
The air you breathe, it isn't all it seems,
Not just the oxygen that fuels your waking dreams.
It carries whispers, doubts that fill your head,
A constant murmur, a voice that's often said,
"You're not enough," it hisses, cold and sly,
"You'll never reach your goals, just give it up and die."
It wraps around your throat, a tightening snare,
The air you breathe becomes a burden hard to bear.
But wait, a pause, a space to take a stand,
Is this the voice that truly guides your hand?
Feel deep within, a fire starts to glow,
A wellspring of resistance, where your true self can grow.
The air you breathe can carry hope as well,
The scent of possibility, a story hearts can tell.
It whispers courage, with each gentle breeze,
The strength to rise above, and find the path that frees.
Let go of doubt, exhale the negativity's sting,
Embrace the air of dreams, where inspiration takes wing.
For in each breath you take, a choice resides,
To drown in shadows, or where hope confides.
So fill your lungs with purpose, let ambition rise,
The air you breathe can hold the strength to reach the skies.
Don't let it drown you, this essential tide,
Embrace the good, the bad, and open wide.
You are the captain, navigating every breath,
Choose wisely, traveler, and defy the voice of death.
For in the air you breathe, a power lies unseen,
The strength to conquer doubt, to make your future keen.
Copyright © Joel Hawksley | Year Posted 2025
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