04/01/2024
𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐀 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡!
A few years ago, I was watching a video of Simon Sinek where he explained the concept of ‘taking a deep breath’.
In the video, he explained that taking a deep breath sends a message to our brains that the environment we are currently in is safe.
As the inquisitive man I am, I decided to do more research on that, and I discovered mind-blowing facts about it. There is a science behind it.
Science tells us that when you take a slow, full breath, it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax. It activates what is known as your parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers your heart rate and blood pressure.
Conversely, quick, shallow breathing triggers your sympathetic "fight or flight" response, making you feel anxious and stressed.
So, when you take “deep breaths," you are simply telling your brain to “relax, road clear,” but when you take “quick breaths,” amidst increased heart rates, you are simply telling your brain to “watch out, road no clear."
At the beginning of the year, it is common for people to be ‘overwhelmed’, ‘unclear’, and ‘anxious’. This is not even helped by the economic conditions we face or the fact that, for most Christians, several prophecies of hard times keep going out during this period.
If this is your current state, I hope you realize that you are indirectly putting yourself in panic and fright mode. You are telling your brain that the year isn’t safe for you.
So, I invite you instead to take a deep, cleansing breath.
In fact, let’s practice this—stop reading this email now. Put away your phone or PC and do the following for 2 minutes:
Sit down and sit up straight. Put your legs together and bring your hands to your laps gently.
Close your eyes and take a long, deep breath. Do this for up to 3 times, and then say this to yourself: “Relax, { your name} , you’ve got this!”
Then, smile and continue with the rest of the email.
Here is what I want you to know. With a new year come new possibilities, but also uncertainty. It's easy to drift into panic mode, worrying about the future.
That's why consciously taking a deep breath is so powerful. It tells your mind there is no emergency, you are safe, and you have got this.
Fright has never won any war, nor has panic. What you need to win a war is the right strategy and grit. This year, make sure you have what I call an “Execution Plan.”
Remember, the “Accountability Advantage” webinar will be held this Saturday. Accountability is one of the strategies you need for success and growth in the year. Don’t miss out on that webinar. It’s holding on Telegram by 8pm (WAT). If you don’t have the app, download it.
The Webinar is FREE but you must register to be part of it. To register, click on the link in the comments:
Remember to breathe deeply and embrace the possibilities in 2024 with optimism rather than panic. You've got this!