STOP and BREATHE

Take a moment and think about how you coax an excited or emotional child to calm down. You might say, “relax” or “calm down.” The most effective technique is to ask someone to “take a deep breath.” Try to remember how you were advised to calm down and how you currently calm yourself. Do you remember to take a deep breath?

Breath is the connection between mental thought and verbal expression. When the breath is not connected to the thought, the words have less meaning. The resulting message may also be different than the original intention. When breath and thought are not connected, people speak rashly, out of turn, and (most importantly) incorrectly. When one is not speaking on the breath, he or she can damage the voice as it becomes strained and fatigued. A person who does not connect breath to thought also appears less in control, less knowledgeable, less powerful, and even unpleasant to be around.

Challenge:

Start monitoring how you breathe around others. Make a point to check in on your breath throughout your work day. This is the prime environment for poor breathing. Check the depth of your breath and the quality of it. How long is your exhale? How relaxed is it? Are you breathing naturally, holding your breath, or engaging in shallow breathing? Try to keep your breath relaxed while you speak. At the end of a phrase or thought, give yourself the freedom to inhale. Imagine that with each inhalation, you are more inspired. Inhale for inspiration. So many clients believe that speed is more important than connection. Do you fall into this category? Do you force a dead or stale breath to carry you through as many sentences as you can possibly manage? Then, are you forced to pick up a breath in the middle of a thought? This interrupts your momentum, message, and meaning. If you have to pick up in the middle of a statement, you have to work harder to regain the attention of your audience.

Solution:

Give yourself permission to BREATHE. Give yourself permission to slow down. Allow your breath to center, focus, and ground you. If you remember to “STOP AND BREATHE,” you will find people are more interested in your response. You will also find that your response will be clearer and more concise. You appear direct and confident. When you are connected to your breath, you hold the power in every conversation!