By Jezra Kaye

Feeling anxious?  If so, you’re probably holding your breath. Like other mammals, we’re programmed to stop breathing when we feel threatened. Once upon a time, when the threat came from a predator in the too-near vicinity, this worked well. Breath-holding helped us stay absolutely still for those few, tense seconds ’till the danger (literally) passed.

Today, however, the sense of threat doesn’t pass quickly. Thanks to CNN, the economy, the environment, job insecurity, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, etc., we’re pulled to feel anxious almost all the time. And that’s big trouble. Because, in addition to lowering our level of noise and movement, breath-holding lowers our ability to think–and in today’s complicated world, thinking is our #1 survival skill.

So how do you start breathing again? Try this simple exercise:

1. Notice if You’re Holding Your Breath. Ask yourself: Am I breathing right now?  Since nobody wants to suffocate, a “no” answer will usually make you exhale. Now you’re ready for Step #2.

2. Relax Your Belly. My generation was routinely taught to go through life with our stomachs sucked in. Unfortunately, you can’t breathe deeply when your belly is tight. To see a truly relaxed belly, have a look at the nearest baby.  No wonder they can scream long and hard without hurting themselves; they’re getting plenty of air!

3. Breathe Through Your Nose.

Now you’re ready to “take a breath.” Here’s how:

Relax your shoulders and rest your hand on the center of your chest. Place your tongue lightly on the roof of your mouth. Close your mouth and breathe in gently through your nose, bypassing your chest so that it doesn’t rise.

Feel how your belly expands as you breath in? This is deep breathing–the opposite of holding your breath.

What’s It Good For?

Whenever you speak to other people, your words are literally carried on your breath. As you learn to breathe, you’ll find it much easier to:

Calm your anxieties about public speaking.

Speak longer and louder, without tiring.

Maintain a positive focus on your audience and the value you’re bringing them.

It may not happen right away. It may not happen every time. But give yourself the gift of breathing easy, and notice what begins to change!

Jezra Kaye is a veteran speechwriter and speaker coach to Fortune 100 executives at companies such as Pfizer, IBM and Johnson & Johnson.   A noted speaker in her own right, she is also a former jazz singer and bandleader who draws on her diverse skills and experiences to help people communicate with power, authenticity and ease. Visit her at www.JerzaKaye.com