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When people think about tools for leaders, they might think about goal-setting tools, metrics, etc.
But rarely do we think of the breath as a leadership tool.
And yet, I think it’s a powerful tool for any leadership, including leading ourselves.
Self-leadership is when we help ourselves go from where we are — which might be in a place of stuckness, discouragement, procrastination, etc. — to where we want to go.
It’s what Zen Habits is all about.
A huge part of self-leadership is how we deal with our emotions in the moment. And the breath is a big tool for dealing with that.
Let’s imagine you’re caught up in distraction, procrastination and overwhelm, and not able to focus. Let’s say you notice this, and you ask yourself, “How do I get out of this mode?”
Pause for a moment. Breathe. Breath slowly and deeply. Let yourself slow down, and be with the emotions that are driving you to distraction and procrastination. It’s probably the overwhelm.
As you slow down with your breath, things get simplified down to this present moment, and overwhelm calms down.
The breath is a tool for slowing down, soothing your nervous system, and allowing you to be with whatever is present for you. That’s the heart of self-leadership, and all leadership.
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This post was previously published on Zen Habits. Uncopyright courtesy Leo Babauta.
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The post The Breath as a Tool to Lead Ourselves appeared first on The Good Men Project.
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