Big Deep Breath

Well today was a day. Like a day where I woke up figuratively and literally tangled. Ironically, my messy bun was so tangled I had to tear my hair tie out of hair. So frustrating and painful! So seriously since the moment I opened my eyes to Gods green earth I was greeted with frustration. Once I untangled the hair tie I gently put my hair in a loose pony and washed my face. I can hear the kids down stairs and I am just working myself up to chaos. Probably, because I feel chaotic and projecting/predicting the day already. I love to catastrophize, assuming the worst will happen, when one thing goes wrong. Like I know I am not a morning person and it still shocks me every morning the grump that escapes from my soul. Before I opened the door to walk downstairs where I know I will be happily greeted with two smiling faces I take a huge deep breath. I took an Elephant size breath, that’s how we describe it to our 3 year old when we ask him to breath… it’s super cute because he pretends he has a trunk! After the first breath I feel little less entangled but then I take 3 more for precautions. Precaution breaths because once my feet hit those stairs there is no turning back to our quiet, comfy room.

My choice to take a deep breath is my alternative and best way to keep my motor mouth from engaging the blow horn at the masses. I have a tendency to blow that horn when I am uncomfortable or inconvenienced. Yes, it’s childish. So the mature and healthy choice is to breathe. Prepare, and engage the diaphragm before changing the atmosphere in the house.

4-7-8 Breathing Technique = breathe in 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and release 8 seconds

Benefits of Deep Breathing

• Decreases STRESS and increases calm by releasing endorphins which are like a natural painkiller
• Stimulates the lymphatic system (Detoxifies the body)
• Improves immunity
• Increases energy by providing the body more oxygen
• Lowers blood pressure 
• Improves digestion 
• Helps support correct posture by breathing from the diaphragm you are engaging your core muscle with helps support your spinal posture. (which can ideally help lower back pain)

Leading By Example

Even more importantly we are trying to teach our son to take deep elephant size breaths when he gets upset or angry. Since he is 3 and emotions are big it is not right to discipline or respond with anger when he gets upset. Instead, we model a deep breath and say the emotion he is feeling and then remind him before you do something sad or mean let’s stop and take a deep one. We even have him put his hand in front of his face and blow his hand away with his breath. Which then becomes a competition of who can push their hand further away. Of course this doesn’t always work. Repetition is key. Even if he refuses to do it we still do. I probably need the deep breath anyways to handle the loud fit or hard object he is about to throw. I’m sure I would contemplate punching you in the face at 3 if you tried to get in my way of being destructive LOL but it’s the habit we are trying to implement. One day when his maturity is a little further along he will find himself taking deep breaths instead of blowing his horn at the masses. Showing him we understand his emotion, validating it and giving him a tool to handle it not only helps him but it reminds me I need to do the same for myself and others.

– BREATHE DEEP –

PREPARE BEFORE YOU ENGAGE THE BLOW HORN,

OR

START THE ENGINE TO YOUR MOTOR MOUTH