Are you breathing?

Just notice, right now, as you read this, what’s happening with your breath.

You might be tempted to do something about it – maybe take a deep breath, or sigh out – but see if you can just observe without changing anything.

Do you hold your breath as you look at your phone or computer screen? Many of us do.

How are your jaw and your mouth – teeth, tongue, lips, chin? Often, just asking the question will show up the tension and then let it release, no more effort required.

Remember that as well as the screen, you can see the room or space you’re in, and what’s in the distance – your peripheral and distance vision, as well as the focussed vision on the text you’re reading. You don’t have to try for this ‘global’, panoramic, depth vision – we just have it, when we remember not to block it. You might want to stop reading for a minute, consciously let yourself look softly at the horizon, remember that you have soft, fuzzy, peripheral vision to your left and right and up and down as well as the focussed vision in front. Notice what your breath does now – is it a little easier, softer, fuller? How does that feel? Like a relief? Calmer, better?

Remember your whole body – feet on the ground, buttocks and back on the chair, the whole shape of your breathing body in space.

Go back to your day, and in the course of the day, when you notice your breath is held, just let yourself softly and quietly breathe out – no fuss, just let the air out.

Come back to these thoughts whenever you have a pause in your day. See if you feel better for letting yourself breathe.