Breath and Emotional Regulation

“Your breath is like a ribbon linking you to infinite resources within” – Rolf Sovik, PsyD

It may be because breath is one of the simplest aspects of life that we tend to take it for granted—we know we are alive, so we must be breathing. Instead of attending to it as a source of hope, inspiration, and cleansing, our mind’s fascination shifts instead to the external world, its distractions, and the variety of thoughts and beliefs that anchor us to it.

As our breath fades to the background, the mind begins to take over, making way for self-condemnation, beliefs that we aren’t enough, anxiety, depression, and more. And by and by, time after time, we forget that there is this intrinsic fountain of hope and inspiration lying dormant inside, ready to move consciously through us.

There are many tools to help us through tough times. But breath awareness emerges as a uniquely impactful one: it lies within you, constant and simple, all of the time.

For more information on this topic and a beautiful breath awareness practice, take a look at this article from the Himalayan Institute. In practicing breath awareness, the rejuvenation potential of every inhalation and exhalation will become more apparent.