When the solution is a simple thing called: Conscious Breathing

Breathing is an essential part of living, but have you ever thought about the stress-relieving benefits of conscious breathing? Many people are not aware of how focusing on their breath can bring clarity to their minds, especially in challenging situations. By taking deep breaths, you can rapidly oxygenate your brain and promote clearer thinking, which can help you find solutions to problems.

When we are stressed, our muscles become tense, making it difficult to take deep breaths. However, if we become conscious of this tension and focus on relaxing our bodies, we can take in deep breaths and send a fresh supply of oxygen into our bloodstream and brains. This can help us think more clearly and avoid confusion and negativity.

As Daniel Goleman, author of "Emotional Intelligence," says, "If your emotional abilities aren't in hand, if you don't have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can't have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far."

By practising conscious breathing, we can develop self-awareness and better manage our emotions, leading to more effective relationships and happier life.

In addition to the stress-relieving benefits, deep breathing can also help us ground ourselves and be more aware of our physical bodies and the present moment. When we take deep breaths, we focus our attention on our bodies and become more aware of the present moment. This helps us ground ourselves and stay in the moment, rather than getting lost in our thoughts or worries.

Deep breathing also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's rest and relaxation response. This can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormone levels, and improve digestion, among other benefits. By practising conscious breathing regularly, we can train our bodies to activate this relaxation response more easily, leading to better overall health and well-being.

Incorporating deep breathing into our daily routine can be as simple as taking a few minutes each day to sit quietly and focus on our breath. We can also practice deep breathing during yoga, meditation, or other mindfulness practices. By becoming more aware of our breath and our bodies, we can stay grounded and present at the moment, leading to greater clarity and peace of mind.

In a corporate setting, taking a few minutes to focus on breathing can help improve stress management abilities. When I used to do corporate talks on EQ & Stress, I would lead breathing exercises with the participants, and many were surprised at how much clearer they felt afterwards. By taking several 2-5 minute breaks daily to focus on breathing, we can reduce stress and improve our overall well-being.

So, the next time you feel stressed, take a moment to focus on your breath. Allow yourself to feel the fresh air entering your lungs, and experience a sense of renewal in your mind. 

Conscious breathing can help you live more fully and improve your emotional intelligence.

@2010, Edited 2023 Shamala Tan

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Shamala Tan is an author, spiritual entrepreneur and healer. Her work focuses on transforming the lives of others on the spiritual, emotional, mental and earthly levels.

One of her success stories as an author is to be featured alongside New York’s bestsellers Sonia Choquette, Robert Allen, Arielle Ford, Marci Shimoff as well as Christine Kloser in the book Pebbles In The Pond.

Shamala’s clients include small business owners, holistic practitioners as well as those seeking to find more significant meaning and value in life. Shamala offers laser coaching to her clients on a one-to-one basis or in a group environment, offline as well as online.