Taking A Coping Breathing Space
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Working More Wisely with Difficult Thoughts
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3 Minute Coping Breathing Space
Review the situation below and write your reflection on the question below.
Before You Begin
Find a chair and a quiet place to sit.
If you are willing, bring to mind a stressful or difficult situation.
It needn’t be a very big problem, perhaps something that grabs your attention from time to time.
This exercise will take about 5 minutes.
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Coping Breathing Space Reflection
Because much of the work in learning how to be mindful involves paying attention, it is often helpful to become curious about the practices we do together.
- What was the difficult situation you brought to mind?
- This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.
- What was the emotion that was present?
- This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.
- Let’s walk through what you noticed in each of the 3 steps. What did you notice in the first step?
- This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.
- What did you notice in the 2nd step?
- This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.
- What did you notice in the 3rd step?
- This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.
- How can the 3-Minute Coping Breathing Space be helpful?
- This response will be reviewed and graded after submission.
Benefits of the 3-Minute Breathing Space
Practicing the 3-Minute Breathing Space in the course of your day increases the chances that you will use it as a first step in taking action when difficulties appear. There is an important link between the breathing space and the longer meditations you have been practicing. The longer practices make it easier to use the breathing space as something that is available to you as a support or resource when things are tough.
Choices You Can Make After Taking a Coping Breathing Space
Sometimes the 3-Minute Breathing Space practice will alert you to uncomfortable sensations or negative thoughts that continue to trouble you even after you take a breathing space. These thoughts may be so difficult that a next step is required after bringing your attention to them. Here are some options for you to try when this happens.
Door Activity
There are four doors available to you for working with any difficult thoughts, feelings, or sensations that still remain present after bringing awareness to them through the 3-Minute Breathing Space.
Click each door to learn more.