The power of breath
Our breath is sometimes a reflection of our physiology. Other times our physiology is a reflection of our breath.
There are a couple of simple ways to use your breath to drive your physiology. If you want to liven up, inhale sharply or long to stimulate your sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system. To calm yourself down, exhale slowly or long to stimulate your parasympathetic (rest and digest) nervous system.
You can also control your breathing to override your reflexive reactions. A cold shower is one way I’ve tested this. If I turn the water all the way to cold, my reflexive reaction is to gasp for breath (and maybe freak out). I learned that if I control my breath, I also control my reaction. It’s still uncomfortable and yet it’s surprisingly not a big deal.
If you’re not controlling your breath, is it controlling you?
Hopefully, my questions cause you to reflect on your own thinking, relationships or choices. Maybe I even inspire you to make positive changes.
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