Skill 11
⚡ Take a breath of life
As you feel the anger rise, stop and take an easy deep breath, then let it out easy and slow. As you do, imagine the anger departing into the outside world.
Think depth and speed. A deep breath brings critical oxygen to your brain. Take in as much as you can. A slow breath can be a calming breath. Slow breathing can bring about a sense of calm.
This skill is a response you make to emotional turbulence. You can practice the skill when you feel any strong emotion. One good time to practice is when you are participating in some exciting event. Let's say you are watching your football team in a close contest with time running out. Pause yourself for just a moment and practice your relaxing, slow deep breathing. This requires you to focus on the skill during an emotional distraction. Your mind has to penetrate the turbulence to take control of your response.