calming down

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The funny thing about the concept of "calming down," is that when we are told to calm down by anyone else, we tend to actually become more ramped up. The better approach, is to ask yourself the following questions:

• "What am I focusing on? What I want or what I don't?"
• "What story am I telling myself?" and
• "What is my purpose of doing this?"
  

Having the conversation with yourself after clarifying the "what's" at hand, will allow for you to move into the "how." When we refocus our thinking towards what we actually want, and what the purpose of this is, we can begin to experience the emotions of purpose vs fear. Of course, new things and high stakes events cause anxiety in any human being and there is nothing "bad" about it - just make it functional. Doing alternate nostril breathing ( while doing this sort of thought work, is a major support as it calms the nervous system and can allow for clearer thinking and greater focus.

How to do Alternate Nostril Breathing

Place left hand on left knee.

Lift right hand up toward nose.

Exhale completely and then use right thumb to close right nostril.

Inhale through left nostril and then close left nostril with your fingers - fill up your lungs to max capacity (maybe a second sip of air).

Open right nostril and exhale through this side.

Inhale through right nostril and then close this nostril.

Open left nostril and exhale through left side.

This is one cycle.

Continue for up to 5 minutes.

Always complete the practice by finishing with an exhale on the left side.

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