One of the most effective ways to improve your life is deceivingly simple.
Take a breath before you speak.
Good communication is the foundation of strong relationships. Even though we all know this, we still struggle to show up how we want with our partners, friends, and professional peers. We sometimes say things we wish we hadn’t and are unskillful with the energy we share.
When we’re tired or burned out, we go on autopilot and simply react to our lives instead of mindfully engaging with them. This makes us stop paying attention to what we’re doing and zone out–even mid-conversation. Then inevitably, the record needle skips, and we look up and realize we wish we had been wiser with our words.
Building a habit of taking a breath before you speak is incredibly valuable. It disrupts the habitual nature of talking on autopilot by creating a “pause” as you inhale.
Not only does that inhale help ground you, but it also gives you a few seconds to come back to the present moment, think mindfully, and communicate with precise intentions.
What you can accomplish in the space of one breath is infinite.
For example, inhaling before you speak gives you the chance to:
Let go of a harmful and reactive negative comment.
Remember to ask a question instead of being self-focused.
Embrace kindness, compassion, and patience.
Calm yourself and your emotions before speaking your truth.
Focus on what you’re about to say in important moments.
Realize that you don’t need to say anything at all.
Once you start practicing this, you’ll notice an immediate improvement in your ability to communicate with everyone in your life.
You’ll also see that negative comments are simple suggestions that arise in your mind, often based on insecurity or fear. When you choose to release them and not speak them out loud, the positive vibration of your whole life rises.
You’ll be able to confidently express your full authentic self in the world because your words aren’t based on reactions from the past. They are rooted in the clarity of who you are in the present moment and the incredible person you are forever growing into.
That’s all for today, my friend.
Much love.
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It's crazy how fast paced this world is. We're so caught up in chasing the unknown that we forget how important the little things in life are. Breathing, like you mentioned, is so powerful. It's a reminder of the beauty the present moment brings with its stillness. I try to wake up 5 minutes before my usual time only to sit and breathe in silence for a bit. It's so calming🧡
This is harder to do then it sounds. We get so caught up in our lives that we forget the value of conscious breathing.