Our breathing makes us more tense or more relaxed; it depends on the flow and rhythm. If we are tightened up from stress, tension or anxiety avoid telling yourself to "don't be tense". To our brain, that's like saying, "Don't think of a red fox"! Our brain reflexively does what it hears. So, speak well-intentioned words to your brain: It will respond accordingly. For example, try saying, "Breathe easy...." then follow up with, "Relax...." Allow yourself to get tuned into your own inner rhythm - it's there deep inside. Sometimes we need to get very quiet to "hear it" by "feeling its flow". Once you tune into your inner rhythm, you'll always know how and where to find it. Once you do, the stress and tension will dissipate as it's impossible for our Nervous System to experience two opposing feelings simultaneously, i.e., we cannot be anxious and relaxed at the same moment. Enjoy the calm...breathe easy, then think clearly.
