mother and daughter

JUST BREATHE: How a simple act can raise your self-awareness and effectiveness

Last updated: January 27th, 2019

As a former school psychologist, I’ve been a part of hundreds of team meetings. But it wasn’t until I became the parent of a child in need of special education that I realized the value of three breaths. Initially, the breaths were an attempt to relax as the anticipation of communication with my child could be nerve racking. My background is a double-edged sword. It’s helpful to be familiar with the terms and procedures but somehow, when it’s my child, everything I know gets squandered by my emotions. Meeting with my child’s teacher triggers reactions within me. There are times I want to protect my child and advocate for her learning style, while other times I want to back away, withdraw or retreat in attempt to process it all.

Then I discovered the value of three breaths. I was in my car after a meeting when an overriding sadness overcame me. Was I feeling sorry for my child or myself? Initially both, but by the third breath cycle (one inhale and one exhale) the sadness converted to surrender. Sitting in my car, closing my eyes, I surrendered to my breath, allowing it to float inside of me. Although my breath was much smaller, I felt its support as if a warm blanket enwrapped me. By ignoring or fighting my breath I had immobilized my feelings, which triggers thinking. Now, by feeling my sensations completely, I could release my attachment to the thoughts I had of seeing my situation as stressful or difficult.

Taking three breaths before and after a meeting helps me to support my child and her teachers by moving any judgments, fears, or concerns about the future. By doing so, not only do I become more effective, I am no longer depriving myself of the power of my own emotions. In hindsight, if I were to return to a position of school psychologist, I would make it a point to begin and end every meeting with a deep breath.

[su_panel background=”#f2f2f2″ color=”#000000″ border=”0px none #ffffff” shadow=”0px 0px 0px #ffffff”]Sherianna Boyle writes about simple strategies that promote the value of self-awareness in her book Powered by Me® for Educators Pre-K – 12.  She is an adjunct psychology professor at Cape Cod Community College and has been supporting educators and families since 1995. Her background includes a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in school psychology. She has been teaching yoga for 10 years. For more information, visit: http://www.poweredbymenow.com.

image: duchesssa

  1. Sherianna – this article is beautiful. The concept of taking 3 really deep breaths before anything that might require no judgement and creative thinking is just a good idea. We work with stuff like this all the time at FTR Nation. We have seen the results – even where there are no kids involved.

    Great suggestion.

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