For a long time now, I have resisted the idea that my body is anything other than the "carrier" for my brain. My credo was always "Mind over matter". Turns out that I was wrong. Our bodies are at the very least equal partners in this weird relationship!
Regarding my work, that means this: just addressing the thoughts and feelings is not always enough. Research for example has long pointed out how beneficial regular 20-30 minutes of walking (preferably in nature) is for our mental health. I hate that this is true (and I'm working on getting over myself)!
Recently I have discovered a much easier, quicker way to snap out of my head and its sometimes tornado-like thoughts.
It's called box-breathing, and the simplicity of it makes it so efficient, because everyone can do this, even in the middle of the greatest (real or imagined) emergency, even whilst talking or listening.
Box breathing is an easy 4 steps (like the 4 sides of a square box):
1. Breathe in slowly whilst counting to 5.
2. Hold that breath in for a count of 5.
3. Slowly breathe out for a count of 5.
4. Keep your lungs empty for a count of 5.
And repeat.
What happens in that time is quite amazing. Our heart stops racing, our brain (by focusing on breathing) gets out of the looping thoughts, and our stress level goes down.
Anger, sadness, frustration, all recede into the background.
It's like someone pressed the reset button. A wonderful calm descends. We actually get our thinking power back, the one that got high-jacked by our emotions.
This is too good to not share. Try it a few times and see and feel the big impact it has on your mood and thoughts.
And once the emotions rise again, faster than you can out-think them, do it again. A few boxes. And inner peace is within reach again.
It changed my life - let me know if it changes yours too.