Conscious Luck by Gay Hendricks PH.D

Author:Gay Hendricks, PH.D.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

2.   Use the breath to switch the body’s biochemistry

The breath, the body’s best regulator of emotions, is a good tool for releasing the physical tension we feel when afraid.

Fear can be defined as “excitement without the breath.” When we’re scared or anxious, we tend to contract physically. We hold our breath or breathe shallowly. This stokes the physiology of fear, creating even more agitation.

Fear also makes us see the world differently. People having an anxiety attack get tunnel vision and can see only a tiny portion of what’s going on, which causes them to view the world as a frightening place. Fear creates more fear and traps us in a particularly negative feedback loop. As Sophocles said, “To the man who is afraid everything rustles.”

Fortunately, you’re only three deep breaths away from feeling more fearless. Studies show that it takes only three healthy, long, slow breaths to activate the body’s parasympathetic response and begin to chase the “stress chemistry” out of your system.

If you can remember to breathe deeply in distressing situations, it’s possible to turn the negative experience of fear into the positive experiences of excitement, alertness, and pleasure.

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