Breathe

When you are feeling stressed or down, focus on breathing!

Stop thinking in the moment and completely focus on your breathe coming in and out through your nose. Continue this for a while, let your mind not wander around but be completely focused on the here and now in which you are focused on the breathe. If you continue this for a while, your mind will start to feel much calmer and relaxed. You will feel less hijacked and maybe you will start having a different perspective about what gave you stress our what was the reason for making you feel down.

I am frequently using this simple technique when my mind is constantly occupied thinking and it really helps me a lot. Sometimes the simple methods are the most effective ones, we are always breathing, either more or less focused at any of given time. There is no need to close your eyes during that process, just feel the sensations of the breathe and your stomach movements. Don't let get overly overthinking get in the way, take a breather, take a break through this breathing exercise. I notice after a long day of work, when I go to the pool for a swim, how calm my mind becomes. The only thing I do is focus on the movements of my body in the water and my the rhythm of my breath. All stress or thoughts will disappear and I feel so much more alive again. So even through swimming and exercise I noticed how much breathing has helped me.

You can add one more element to this breathing exercise, it is remembering about a pleasant feeling that made you feel good and/or loved in the past. Once you breathe and re-call that moment, you will see how much even your feelings will shift too. Not only will you feel calm, but in case you were annoyed or angry, you can shift your feelings to more pleasant ones. You are in charge and you can shift and decide about how you want to feel instead. Give it a try and let me know how you feel and what it does for you. Wishing you enjoy a wonderful 2026 so far. With love & light, Sabine