When your mind is preoccupied, it believes that there isn’t even time to breathe. Your body breathes anyway, though, whether you’re mindful of it or not. Specific academic estimates vary, though it’s clear that the range is somewhere between 10,000 to 20,000 times per day.

Breathing is the most natural thing in the world, even in a maelstrom of tasks. No breath, no tasks. 

It’s a reminder that even in the most turbulent situations, there is room to be calm. You can pause. You can breathe. 

Calmness is a great gift to give someone you love. The best way to create conditions for someone else to calm down is to approach them with calmness. It’s the opposite of shouting, “Calm down!” at somebody else.