Performance & Profit Lesson #4 How to Breathe Properly

There’s something you’re doing about 16 times every minute, nearly 1,000 times an hour, 25,000 times a day, and more than 8 million times every year.

But chances are, you’re not doing it right.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, the answer is:

Breathe.

It’s pretty clear that if we stop breathing, things won’t go so well.

But did you know that there really is a right way to breathe and a wrong way to breathe?

Most of us don’t give much conscious thought to our breathing.

But that’s a mistake.

Why?

Because proper breathing is probably the fastest and easiest way to instantly lower your stress and feel more relaxed – and guess what?

It’s free!

Let’s start with the wrong way to breathe – the way many people are doing it.

Try this right now:

Take 5 short, shallow breaths.

Did you notice that you almost instantly feel more tense, more uptight, more stressed?

That’s because short, shallow breathing is the body’s natural way to jump-start the “fight or flight” response.

Meaning, your body is basically telling itself, “Hey, get ready to fight this thing that’s threatening me or flee this thing that’s going to attack me!”

Not exactly a recipe for relaxation, happiness, or creativity, is it?

  You will breathe nearly 25,000 times today. Breathe properly. You’ll feel better in an instant.

Now try this:

Take 5 nice, long, deep breaths.

Breathe in through your nose.

Hold for the count of 3.

Breathe out through your mouth.

Make sure you breathe through your diaphragm – meaning, let your stomach expand more than your lungs.

(Breathing from your diaphragm will produce a deeper feeling of relaxation than just breathing from your lungs.)

Feels better, doesn’t it?

Congratulations!

You have mastered the art of proper breathing or diaphragmatic breathing.

It sounds so simple and basic.

But remembering to breathe properly is probably the fastest and simplest way you can instantly lower your stress, increase your creativity, and feel better.

You’re going to breathe about 25,000 times today.

Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to proper breathing today.

And it won’t cost you a penny!Speak to Him, thou, for He hears, and Spirit with Spirit can meet —
Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet. – Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Noah’s Note: Breathe in peace, breathe out stress. Breathe in forgiveness, breathe out fear.

Got questions about how to breathe properly?

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I believe in you!