Every breath you take.

Did you know that your breathing affects your feelings?

It's true!

The way you breathe is significantly linked to the way you feel. When you are relaxed you breathe slowly and when you are anxious you breathe rapidly.

I will begin by breaking down what happens to your body and how it responds when your breathing patterns change.

When you become anxious your breathing rate increases. As you begin to take in more oxygen you also breathe out more carbon dioxide. Because carbon dioxide is being expelled faster than it is being produced its concentration in the blood goes down (leading to a temporary change in the pH of the blood called "respiratory alkalosis"). This physical change may leave you feeling unpleasantly light-headed, tingly in your fingers and toes, and perhaps clammy and, sweaty.

When you are calm, the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide are balanced, so you feel more content. Breathing not only helps you to physically relax it can also help you to clear your mind and cultivate optimism.

Below are a few steps I, recommend to create a sense of peace when you are feeling anxious, angry or stressed.

1) Sit or lie down comfortably and close your eyes.

2) Inhale slowly and steadily through your nose for about 4 to 5 seconds, mindful of your lungs expanding with air.

3) Exhale slowly and steadily, releasing the air that has filled your lungs.

4) Repeat this exercise at least 3 times or until you start feeling your heart rate begin to slow and your body beginning to respond.

* - Try a dark or low-lit space and think about positive moments in your day, or people and places that make you feel safe and, happy. (If you need to blow off steam, take a brisk walk before applying these breathing techniques. This will aid in alleviating any excess negative emotion you may be harboring).

Once you have completed this exercise you should begin feeling more secure and relaxed. Former restrictions and negativity that once filled your body will begin to dissipate and your responses to emotional stimuli will be less aggressive. Your mind will have more clarity and you will possess the ability to respond to situations more intelligently and calmly.

Every breath you take is an opportunity to live your life in the healthiest and most loving way possible. Your self-awareness and mindfulness are gifts that will guide you to self-love and respect.

You are a miracle!

Using breathing as a grounding tool when you are anxious can be great way to change behavioral patterns and habits, like emotional responses to stressful situations. The next time you are feeling anxious or stressed about something, try focusing on your breathing.

Let your conscious mind fully engage with the rhythmical rise and fall of your chest. As you begin to channel these thoughts and attentively interact with your body, your mind will begin to focus and clear. This exercise will position your subconscious to do its job properly, ensuring that your programmed response is executed exactly as intended.

As your subconscious mind receives and stores data, it’s obedient to the commands it receives from your conscious mind, thus making your mindfulness at the forefront of changing your habits and, behaviors.

Your conscious mind is divinely constructed to be rational, logical and respond quickly to stimuli, however your subconscious mind plays a parallel part, connecting your emotions and memories to your feelings. Your subconscious mind can even try to trick your conscious mind. This powerful part of your mind has the ability to record every one of your life’s experiences and store them for recall at a later date and, it does just that.

It’s the subconscious mind that directs the conscious mind to respond. When you are angry, fearful or anxious your subconscious mind recalls how you responded the last time you experienced these emotions and then tells your conscious mind to respond the same way. When you interject a new response, focused on your breathing, you slow down the information that is being transmitted to your conscious mind. This process provides you the ability to record a new thought and store a new memory.

Things like mediation and mindfulness practice can be very useful to your everyday health and wellness. The benefits of these practices can even be life changing.

There are many forms of meditation that encompass useful breathing techniques. Find one or two that are the right fit for you and begin your journey to fully embracing every breath you take.

Believe in the positive power of breathing.

References:

https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/how-breathing-affects-feelings/

http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=12062

https://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/understanding-your-subconscious-mind/