The Power of Deep Breathing

A note to young leaders.

We are what we repeatedly do.

And if that is true, then no habit shapes us more than the one we perform some 20,000 times a day: breathing.

In my early twenties, I invited an Indian yogi master, Ashok Chatarjee, to spend two weeks with me and my brother in Sydney.

I longed for esoteric teachings and mystical insights. Instead, Ashok spoke mostly about breath.

Shallow breathing leads to a shallow life. We’re drawn to shallow people, trapped in shallow thoughts, pulled into shallow disputes.

When we breathe deeply – the mind quiets, time slows, our awareness sinks beneath the surface of things. Instead of reacting to the world, we begin to observe it. We start to see into ourselves rather than past ourselves.

The smallest things, oft repeated, have the biggest impact. (That’s why EG’s charitable foundation carries the name: Little Big.)

Take a deep breath. Notice the impact it has on your body and mind.

Then make a habit of it – especially before the moments that matter: the difficult meeting, the critical decision, the charged conversation.

Deep breathing is a super power. It will transform you, your relationships and your business.