Emotional Wellness Through Mindfulness / Calming Anxiety One Breath at a Time

 One Breath at a Time

Riya sat at her desk, feeling completely overwhelmed. Emails were piling up, deadlines were looming, and her mind wouldn’t stop racing. Her chest felt tight, and anxiety wrapped around her like a heavy blanket.

Earlier, a friend had told her about mindfulness — “Just focus on your breath for a minute,” they had said. Riya had rolled her eyes at first, but now… she was willing to try anything.

She closed her eyes, put a hand on her chest, and took a slow, deliberate breath. In… and out. One breath.

At first, her thoughts didn’t want to cooperate. They bounced around, dragging her along. But each time she noticed that, she gently came back to her breathing. One breath at a time.

After a few minutes, the chaos in her mind softened. Not gone, but softer. She realized she didn’t have to solve everything at once. She only needed to return to the present, to her breath, again and again.

Riya smiled quietly. For the first time that day, she felt a little peace. One breath at a time, she was finding her calm.

Lesson: Anxiety can feel overwhelming, but mindfulness reminds us that even a single breath can bring us back to peace.

- Joyfulscribbles / Shallu