Breathe Easy

Welcome back to my blog everyone, and happy weekend!
I don't know about you, but this past week was absolutely crazy for me. Lots of deadlines, malfunctions, and many demands from all corners... And on top of that, my laptop's hard drive crashed and I had to rush it into a tech store to get repaired while trying to find new ways of getting assignments for my online class as well as other classes completed on time. Thankfully, all my assignments got finished before my laptop was fixed, and I even finished the assignments early! (I believe where there is a will, there is always a way!)

We all know that life is never truly smooth sailing. Waves will inevitably crash onto our little boats, and storms will sometimes surprise us with a visit. If there is one thing I learned in 21 years of living, you can't fight it, you have to embrace it and find innovative ways to think outside the box in order to find solutions that work. One technique that was really awesome this week was using tactical combat breathing.

Now, what is tactical combat breathing? Great question! Tactical combat breathing is a technique used by policeman, firefighters, and military personnel when they must face a dangerous or scary situation. It helps their nerves stay calm so they can think more clearly and not be so shaky. When we get scared or stressed, our bodies react by shaking and trying to shut down. It's a survival mechanism, but if we let our minds stay in complete panic, we won't be able to solve our problems. So in order to override the stress, we need to learn how to breathe effectively and calm our shaky nerves.

Here's how it works:
1.) Inhale as deep as you can for 4 seconds
2.) At the very top of your inhale, hold your breathe for 4 seconds.
3.) Slowly exhale for 4 seconds
4.) Continue doing this until you feel your body relax and release tension.

I know I've wrote about the power the breath in previous posts, but it's so essential and oftentimes we get so panicked that we forget how to calm down. We can't stop stress and crazy schedules. Life is tough and unpredictable, but if we don't find ways to cope and manage our stress, we won't be able to contribute great ideas to our workplace, we won't be kind and gracious to our family and friends, we won't be able to laugh and enjoy the thins that are going well. Why not give this technique a try, and experience some comfort in the midst of the crazy? Deep breaths, everyone. This too shall pass.

XOXO
Chloe