How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts

How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts

So there's this huge trend about breathwork for performance. But the research also shows a huge benefit in dealing with anxiety and negative thinking. Let's see how it works.

In this exercise, you're translating the ability to pause between breaths and yet take full mechanical breaths. It adjusts your normal pattern of breathing at rest, which has been shown to improve your ability to stay calm and not get hyperexcitability of the brain. - AH

You have two brain regions responsible for breathing. Region A is activated during rhythmic patterns. So, inhale-exhale-inhale-exhale. Region B gets activated when you hold your breath.

These two need to work in sync to get optimal, deep breathing. But this system gets messed up when you get stressed. You start doing many short, shallow breaths. To fix this, you just need to learn how to activate the phrenic nerve. It's the thing responsible for controlling and slowing down your diaphragm.

And there's a cool breathing exercise that helps with that. So, when you learn it, it auto-activates during stress. And you stay calm. That's why breathwork works. It's not some spirits talking inside you. Well, maybe; idk, I wasn't consulted in the design phase :)

Anyway, box breathing is an inhale, hold, exhale, hold. Typically, 5 seconds each. You can watch this clip to find what works best for you.

Each time you do the exercise, your day-to-day breathing improves. This makes you less prone to anxiety and deal with it better when it comes.

Action for the day

1) Straighten your back/chest and pull your shoulders back.

2) Follow the ball in the gif and breathe.

This will quickly make you feel calm and set you up for a peaceful, productive day. Do a box breathing exercise now. Takes 40-60 seconds.

Great job Reader!