This Week's Practice: Breathe on Purpose

 Hi there,

Last week, we explored trauma triggers — how they’re activated, and how grounding can help us come back to our bodies.

This week, I’m noticing that one of the most powerful tools for regulating our nervous systems is something we’re already doing all day long. It’s our breath.

But here’s the thing: while we don’t have to think about breathing, we can. And when we do, the benefits are profound.

I found myself halfway through a busy day — shoulders tight, jaw clenched, mind darting between emails and tasks — and I realized I hadn’t taken a full, conscious breath in hours.

Sound familiar?

Reclaiming your breath isn’t about mastering yoga or forcing calm. It’s about returning to something you always carry: your breath as a source of choice, presence, and healing.

🌬 Why Breath Awareness Matters

Breath is the bridge between body and mind. It’s one of the few bodily functions that’s both automatic and voluntary. That’s the magic — we can change our breath pattern at will, and with it, change how we feel.

When we’re anxious or stressed, our breath becomes shallow and fast. The body prepares to fight, flee, or freeze. But slowing and deepening the breath sends a message back: It’s okay to settle. You’re safe now.

This simple act helps calm the amygdala (the brain’s fear center) and reactivates the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for clear thinking, empathy, and decision-making.

🌱 A Practice for the Week

This week, I’m giving myself permission to pause — not just in moments of overwhelm, but as a rhythm of care woven into my day.

Here’s how:
✨ I’ve placed a sticky note on my desk: “Breathe on purpose.”
✨ I begin and end each day with one minute of hand-to-heart breathing, focusing on longer exhales.
✨ Before every transition — from one meeting to the next — I pause for a single breath and silently say, “I can return.”

No perfection. Just presence.

💛 What I’m Loving This Week
• Sound: The sound of my own exhale — longer, slower, softer.
• Practice: Pausing between tasks to place my hand on my heart and belly. One intentional breath before moving on.
• Tool: A sticky note on my laptop: “Breathe on purpose.” A gentle nudge back to presence.
• Quote: “You don’t have to breathe perfectly. You just have to remember you can.”
• Song: “Just Breathe” – Pearl Jam. A soulful reminder to slow down and honor this moment.

This week, I invite you to try this:
🌿 Where in your day can you pause and breathe — on purpose?

With care,
Lisa