Taking Control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.             Galatians 5:22-23

I was speaking the other day with a client and we discussed anger control. The truth is, anger control starts long before the precipitating event of the anger, but that is another story. I will get into that in another blog entry.

As we discussed his anger triggers with his wife, we discussed the fact that he needs a brief “pause button”- he suggested 60 seconds, and I think that was good. He knows himself, and if he says 60 seconds, we can go with that. In those 60 seconds, I asked him to do the controlled breathing that I have discussed in this blog before. That controlled breathing consists of four seconds of air intake through the nose; a pause of holding that breath for about five or six seconds; and exhaling slowly through the mouth for about eight seconds.  

In doing this, one takes voluntary control of an involuntary body function (breathing). In other words, he regains control of his body. In so doing, he feels to be in more control of himself. In addition, during that five or so seconds of holding his breath, he is to say a brief prayer for spiritual connection.

Therefore, in those 60 seconds he talked about, he can do this breathing exercise several times. In that span, he has changed his physical state (more oxygen and less carbon dioxide), his emotional state (more peace), and his spiritual state (a quick God connection). He is back in control of his entire self.

So, taking control of breathing can give rise to a sense of more total control of self.

Prayer: Lord, you have made us in marvelous ways. Help us to take care of all parts of ourself, Amen