Yeah, it's been almost a year since I posted.
But cheers to re-start's!
I just wrote a new e-course for the newsletter list. (you can sign up for it at the top of the blog)
If you are already on the list, it won't let you subscribe again. So here is a piece of it.
Breathe...Deeply...And Fully Breathe. Please, take a deep breath right now. Inhale in through your nose. 1...2...3... And out through your mouth. 1...2...3... Make a 'whooooooo" sound as you exhale. Ah! Don't you feel better? Even just a little bit? We cannot live without breathing, as we can for sometime without food or water. Essentially, air equals life on this planet. It is that important. But more specifically, deep, full, rich breathing is the most powerful tool you have, naturally built into your body, for creating the feeling of confidence inside of yourself. I know, doesn't that sound crazy? Or at least a little exaggerated? Well, it's not. Imagine this. You're standing in front of a group of people. You are about to open your mouth. But you can feel your heart racing. Your mouth feels dry. Your throat tight. You may not realize this but your breathing is also very shallow. Your body is not getting enough oxygen. Your body is signaling to your brain that it is under duress. That it is threatened. You are not safe. This is the experience of performance anxiety or stage fright or fear or self-doubt. You are literally--as far as your body is concerned--not safe. You are threatened and in danger. Breathing. Deeply. Is the way out. Take another deep breath now. In for the count of 1...2...3... Exhale out 1...2...3... This slows your body down. Your heart beat slows. Your organs relax a little. You are getting more oxygen into your body. Your body literally begins to send signals to your brain that you are safe. You are calmer and more relaxed. You are 'okay'. With enough practice of this, you can literally feel confidence returning to your mind-body system. Yes, your mind may discount this. It may say that breathing cannot stop the level of anxiety you feel. How silly! It may say you need to straighten out your thinking. How could something so simple help you overcome this horrible, complex experience of anxiety and fear? And say, okay, to that. And then keep practicing. Breathe! Give your body the gift of safety. Give it a deep breath. Generally we are totally unaware of--and never taught--the importance and power of this tool called breathing. And you might not believe it until you use it for yourself. Until you use it in a stressful situation. Then you will find it does support you and help you feel safer...and remarkably...suddenly...you will sense something, something like a feeling of being able, more capable, 'okay'. wow! Over the next 24 hours, take a minute to just breathe. And if you have a stressful situation or interactions to test its power in, then go for it. Try it. And see what impact it has.
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