Just breathe…easier said than done
Relax. Just breathe.
Just breathe? Do you know how comforting those words are not? With my cerebral palsy, when my body hears those words,the opposite happens: the act of putting focus and effort into breathing causes muscles to tighten – the result least desired in that moment.
And yet, do you know how many times I’ve been told to “just breathe”? I might as well be told to “just walk it off”. Both are as equally likely.
Reading September’s issue of O Magazine the other night, I finally found an alternative that might actually work:
“If you are too upset to focus on your breath [it’s not that I’m too upset, but anyway…], try describing your surroundings in detail: Notice the shades, lines, colours and shadows in a painting, or the view out of the window — anything to pull your attention to external things.”
Yes! Shifting my focus from internally to externally might be enough to trick this body into doing what I need it to do in that moment.
Now…to remember, for me, “just breathe” means “stare out the window”…
If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a chai tea latte. Thanks kindly.
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