“Believing in yourself is a choice.”  ~ Jack Canfield

I take no credit for coming up with this technique. I read about it somewhere, tried it, and it works. So I’m passing it on. In high anxiety situations, it’s difficult to focus with good critical thinking skills and weigh options. High anxiety makes it easy to overreact, shove both feet in your mouth, and in general, show the red eye. 

A method to quickly get control of your emotions is to simply inhale through your nose for a count of 4 and hold for a count of 7, then exhale for a count of 8. It only takes two or three breaths to calm down. No one knows you are doing it, then you get a better grasp of the situation. No, you won’t be a zen master, but you’re less likely to make an ass of yourself. Do this breathing technique, get the confidence back, and believe in yourself. That in itself is another step toward “getting a life”.

“Wherever we look upon this earth, the opportunities take shape within the problem.” ~ Nelson A. Rockefeller