It’s so easy – we do it without thinking – and yet, while it’s basic to life, we each do it differently.

Just when I thought I fully understood breathing — and had written extensively about nose breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, and stress-relieving breath patterns — I’ve discovered yet another powerful detail: the vital connection between exhaling and its physical and mental benefits.

A chance purchase of my ‘Inhale Exhale’ wall sign is helping me stay grounded in such an amazing way.

Throughout the day, whenever I glance at its gentle message, I immediately relax while following its suggestion.

It’s yet another example of my saying, ‘Your mind believes what you tell it,’ being put into action.

This ever-present reminder to pause and inhale/exhale is helping me to slow down, take a breath, and return my thoughts to a place of peace.

Who doesn’t need that with today’s headlines?

But let’s dive into the physical and mental merits of a good exhale.

While reading and reviewing a book by a fellow caregiving author, A Hospice Chaplain’s Field Guide to Caregiving, by EM Hager, I learned an additional fact about the healing properties of a good cleansing breath.

Hager’s memorable quote sums it up: “Oxygen is food. Ineffective breathing is like starving at your own banquet.”

Are you breathing off the top of your lungs? Just treading water?

So much of our body’s regulatory processes depend on the effectiveness of our breaths. Not only are we taking in that vital oxygen, but we are getting rid of metabolic waste.

Did you know that our respiratory system is responsible for eliminating up to 70% of our metabolic waste? The other systems – skin, digestive, urinary – eliminate the rest.

The benefits of our cleansing breaths and diaphragmatic breathing are twofold: getting additional oxygen to our cells after we have made space for that oxygen by exhaling all our carbon dioxide.

Did you catch that?

To receive, we must first release the old and spent, to make room for the fresh and new.

This is a key mindset I am writing about in, Toolkit for Caregiver Emotions, (due out in a couple months), but is universally applicable to all.

We are constantly adjusting to changes requiring a release before we can embrace and move forward in a new way.

So, while I am reminded to exhale better so I can inhale more completely, I also realize that releasing projects, ways of doing things, or outdated mindsets, is critical to my success at doing things in a new way.

Are you breathing deeper now?

Let me know what else you are releasing other than CO2 in the comments.

In health as we exhale deeply –

Deidre

If this post was valuable to you, please share it using the options under the MORE button below. Thanks!