Just Breathe
So simple, yet so powerful.
When I was a vendor at the summer markets in town, I sold little pins—some of you may even have one! The pin that always got the biggest laugh read: “Don’t forget to breathe.” One woman even bought three for herself, pinning them all over her jean jacket because she connected with that reminder so deeply.
It always struck me as funny, and I was grateful for the sales, but part of me wanted to scream: “Breathing shouldn’t need a reminder! Let’s refocus your priorities, remove some stress, add some joy, and get you back to a place where breathing is normal, honored, and not a funny, ‘I never do that but probably should’ kind of joke. This is a call for help, and you can help yourself!”
Instead, I smiled, made a joke about myself, and we carried on.
Breathing is something we all can do—whenever, wherever, and at zero cost. I’ve done some research on breathing, and one fabulous book I recommend is How to Breathe: 25 Simple Practices for Joy, Calm, and Resilience. This book helped me view breathing as a real tool—one we can learn from and use to improve our lives.
This month’s focus is Just Breathe. Life is going to get hard. Life is going to feel amazing. Life is going to feel impossible. But through it all, we can breathe. We can let each moment pass through us without holding on too tightly. We can breathe through challenges, letting them guide us without lighting the fuse that leads to burnout.
Four Breathing Mantras for February
Here are four mantras to incorporate into your daily routine this February:
1. “I inhale calm, and I exhale tension.”
This mantra doubles as a visualization exercise. Start each day by repeating it silently to yourself. Then, close your eyes and breathe. With each inhale, envision calm—maybe fluffy sheep, a crackling fireplace, or your family doing a puzzle together. Breathe that calm into your body.
As you exhale, imagine the tension you’re holding in your shoulders, back, legs, chest, or stomach being pushed out. Picture it leaving your body, making space for your next breath of calm.
2. “With every breath, I become more grounded.”
Ah, grounding moments! February may not be known for warm weather, but we can still ground ourselves indoors. Close your eyes and breathe. With each breath, imagine connecting with the earth, your family, your values, or your goals.
Picture yourself rooting into your community, bonding with your loved ones, and aligning with your dreams. Carry that sense of grounding with you throughout the day.
3. “With each breath, I feel grounded and fully present in the now.”
In my house, the 4–7 PM window is “witching hour.” The kids are hungry and burnt out from school. The vent is blasting because the noodles are steaming. The dogs need feeding. The kids are fighting. Dinner must be on the table before we head to practice...
Oops. I’ve done it again—pre-stressed myself!
But here’s the plan: I’ll close my eyes, take a breath, and feel grounded (and grateful). When I open them, I’ll be fully present in the now. (See what I did there? Sorry if that stressed you out too. Let’s breathe!)
4. “I embrace the calm that comes with each breath.”
When you take a deep, focused breath, it’s nearly impossible not to feel the rush of calm that momentarily floods your body. This week, let’s embrace that calm.
This February, let’s treasure the gift of our breath. Let’s prioritize it, learn about it, and use it to shift stressful moments into tolerable ones.
Don't forget to check out this month's Spotify Playlist!
Peace,
Carrianne