When one needs to make a decision, before even thinking about it, just breathe. Take a really deep breath. Then, take another one. Stop in your tracks and let the air fill your lungs.  Let the air out slowly and then take a moment to feel the effect. Makes you feel better, doesn’t it?

According to Harvard Mental Health Letter , this skill is inborn, but often lies dormant. It goes on to say that reawakening it allows you to tap one of your body’s strongest self-healing mechanisms.  I know that whenever I do this exercise that I wonder why I don’t breathe deeply more regularly.  I have recently been trying to do this exercise daily and it really does make me feel good.

Upon further research, I found many, many benefits from deep breathing.  Some of them are: releasing tension, relaxing the mind and body, and relieving pain.  It massages your organs and increases muscle. Deep breathing strengthens the immune system, the lungs and heart.  And it boosts energy while improving stamina and cellular rejuvenation. Proper breathing assists in weight control and elevates one’s mood.  It is key to the very beginning of each person’s life at birth.

I could go on, but you get the idea.  So why don’t we all wake up and do breathing exercises?  I hate to admit it, but as for me, I think it’s laziness.  And there is no excuse, because I used to do this daily and felt great.  This past week, I have begun the practice again. However, I am not as regimented as I was before.  Small steps will get me there.

It has just occurred to me, that a deep breath would be a great way to begin every important meeting because it has the power to clear one’s mind.  In a person’s individual life, it is always possible to do this anytime and anywhere. It costs nothing but a little time and a little energy. But the benefits are like a welcome breeze, that refreshes us on a hot, humid day.