I’m a big fan of Jimmy Buffett. His songs always put me in a chill mood. His song “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On” is the perfect reminder to remain calm when your inner peace or your outer world is disrupted. Written by Buffett and Matt Betton as a tribute to the Hurricane Katrina victims, the song reminds me to focus on NOW and when NOW is overwhelming, breathe in, breathe out, and move on.
There is a lot to be said about being aware of our breath. Yogis tell us to listen to and feel our breath as we practice yoga. And we’ve probably all been told at one time or another to just relax and take a deep breath before we react to something.
So when your inner peace is in need of recentering, try this 4-7-8 breathing exercise:
- Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds.
- Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
- Exhale for 8 seconds and make a whoosh sound as you breathe out.
- Repeat a few times until you feel your inner peace returning.
You might try these other breathing exercises, too.