Catch Your Breath by Dina Emser

I rarely meet people these days who complain about having too much time on their hands. Rather, we are all racing around like crazies, looking at our watches, cursing the slow-moving traffic and the ubiquitous road construction, while wondering how we can do one more thing in the car while driving. We have taken multitasking to a whole new level!

I don’t know about you, but when I’m caught in that cycle, so busy moving from one task or appointment to the next, the thing that seems least possible is slowing down to catch my breath.

And yet the breath is a perfect example of a free and abundant resource. It is the one thing we cannot live without for any length of time, yet we rarely even notice it. In the mad rush it may sometimes feel like you hardly take time to breathe at all. The breath comes in high in your chest and stays very shallow. Breathing is one of the only systems in the human body that can be controlled both consciously and unconsciously. Fortunately you don’t have to think in order to breathe—it happens automatically. And you can exist this way, but do you want to?

One alternative is to take time to catch your breath. Be purposeful about slowing down periodically and noticing the gift of the breath. For at least a few moments each day, pay attention to what you are doing, bringing your soft focus to the people who are near or the nature that is present or the scene that presents itself before you. Take the opportunity each day to single task. Doing one thing at a time can be challenging, especially if that one thing is not about accomplishing something. Yet it is a good practice for slowing the thought process, lowering stress and blood pressure, as well as creating a sense of ease and relaxation. Who couldn’t benefit from slowing down occasionally to breathe?

Seems children need this skill too. Experts agree that teaching children how to soothe themselves when they feel out of control, angry, or agitated gives them very practical life skills for coping with stress. No surprise here that deep breathing techniques are highly recommended. How about this mantra for children and adults?

Take a deep breath.
Count to 5.
Until you're calm, calm inside.

Wow, who knew that the act of simply breathing could be so powerful? When you slow down sometime during each day and focus on breathing and single tasking, chances are you may notice something, or someone, you’ve been overlooking. You may be moving about in an unconscious fog and while you can get some things done from this place, the price can be high!

So take a moment now to catch your breath. No one will notice. You’re just reading anyway. Take a deep breath in. Breathe out. Now breathe in, holding your breath for a few seconds before releasing it. Breathe all of it out.

Great catch! In this moment, all is well.

Dina Emser

Dina Emser is a Professional Development Coach. She’s offering a coaching package that will help you catch your breath at year’s end and make a plan for 2011. Call her (309.467.4429) or visit her website, www.dinaemser.com.