fear

Control your breath, control your emotions.  Control your breath, control your fear.  When you fear, your body tenses, hormones pour into your blood stream and each breath comes quick and hard.

Stop!  Inhale deeply through your nose, feel the air go into you. Expand your lungs and abdomen, release it slowly, feel your lungs empty and repeat.  Experience each breath, and your heart will slow, your muscles relax, and your mind clear.   Control your breath, control your fear.

When your mind is clear  decide “Yikes, this is trouble”, or “I can get through this”. Only then take the necessary action.

In another life, with Master Mohr as Sifu, I learned many things. I am no longer a fighter, but I use this technique again and again.

When the doctor says “It is cancer”, or you are furious with a coworker, your daughter dents your car, or you know the test is going to hurt — control your breath.