“I’ve got to be honest with you, I go from zero to ten on the stress scale the moment I see traffic ahead,” says best-selling author and motivational speaker Gabby Bernstein.
Sitting in traffic inflicts a certain form of mental agony: You are literally stuck, and as your car slows to a crawl, your mind can start heating up. At this point you have a choice, Gabby says. You can totally lose your cool, or you can find your calm and use the experience to bust through blocks in your life. All you need are a couple of simple tools:
Begin with a breathing technique known as Breath of Fire*, which involves a series of rapid inhales and exhales through your nose. Sit up tall and allow your navel to pump in and out. Try it for a few breaths. “I know it looks a little crazy,” Gabby says. “But it really works. It reorganizes your energy and calms your nervous system.”
After Breath of Fire, say to yourself the mantra, “I choose to find a way through every block.” Because no matter what the block is in your life, if you choose to have a positive perspective, you’ll always get where you going—even if it takes a little longer than you expected.
*If you have hypertension, high blood pressure or other cardiac issues, hernia or severe respiratory issues, or are pregnant, replace Breath of Fire with slow, conscious breaths.
When You Are Stuck in Traffic…
The Practice: Breath of Fire
The Mantra: “I choose to find a way through every block.”
How it Works: Start by taking a few seconds (or more!) to do Breath of Fire—a rapid inhale and exhale through the nose–to reorganize your energy. Then repeat the mantra to change your perspective and find your calm.
To see Gabby’s tips in action, see all episodes of the Mindful Commute with Gabby Bernstein.
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How do you find your calm in traffic? Let us know in the comments below.
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Featured on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday as one of the next generation thought leaders, Gabrielle Bernstein is making her mark. She is the New York Times Bestselling author of the books Miracles Now and May Cause Miracles. Her earlier titles include Add More~ing to Your Life: A Hip Guide to Happiness and Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles (published by Random House.) Gabrielle is also the founder of the social networking site HerFuture.com for women to inspire, empower and connect. Learn more at gabbyb.tv.
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