50 Breathe Quotes To Unwind And Calm Down
Breathing is routine. Daily. Normal. So normal, in fact, we may forget its importance. Yet it's more than drawing in vital oxygen; it helps our minds cope with life. Pausing to breathe can give us quiet moments of clarity and calm. Packed in our collection of breathe quotes and sayings, you will find messages on the importance of this simple act.
Quick links to our selection of breathe quotes:
Best Breathe Quotes To Remind You To Take A Pause
When we are overwhelmed with life, the beauty of a few deep breaths can offer solace. It's a tranquil moment, a small space in our day that we should dedicate to ourselves. Here, stress dissipates, problems mute, and peace of mind flourishes.
With each intake of air and each quote below, remember how the simple act of breathing allows you to regain perspective, leading the mind from worry and anxiety.
"Do something nice for yourself today. Find some quiet, sit in stillness, breathe. Put your problems on pause. You deserve a break."
- Akiroq Brost
"Sometimes you just have to stop, take a deep breath, and put things into perspective."
- Katrina Mayer
"Take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again."
- Frank Sinatra
"The wisest one-word sentence? Breathe."
- Terri Guillemets
"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths."
- Etty Hillesum
"You will get there when you are meant to get there and not one moment sooner... so relax, breathe, and be patient."
- Mandy Hale
"Think for yourself. Ignore the noises around you that polarize and try to promote fear and division. You know better. Be better. Breathe."
- Gregory S. Williams
Breathe Quotes Reminding You Are In Control
Living in a world with zero certainty, we all long for semblances of control. Deep breaths stand as silent reminders that we control more than we realize. With each inhale, we shape our emotions, form better responses, and craft our mindset.
So, when everything feels messy, deep breaths can pull you back into the driver's seat, reminding you of the control you hold within.
"When you own your breath, nobody can steal your peace."
- Unknown
"I will breathe. I will think of solutions. I will not let my worry control me. I will not let my stress level break me. I will simply breathe. And it will be okay. Because I won't quit."
- Shayne McClendon
"I learned that when life pulls you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface, and breathe again."
- Sheryl Sandberg
"Some things are out of your control, but not your breath."
- R.S. Grey
"Breathe, it's just a bad day, not a bad life."
- Unknown
Breathe Quotes About Showing Compassion
Breathing carries a unique power, instilling a calmness that radiates outward. This tranquility, born of rhythmic inhalations and exhalations, helps us see the world through a clearer lens.
With calm clarity, we find it easier to express compassion, not just to ourselves, but to everyone around us. Breathe in positivity and breathe out kindness as you browse the following quotes.
"As you breathe in, cherish yourself. As you breathe out, cherish all Beings."
- Dalai Lama
"There are so many distractions in your daily life that taking the time to pause and consciously breathe is a gift you can give yourself — and in so doing you give it to others who feel your sense of calm and inner strength."
- Ntathu Allen
"If you just remember to breathe and smile before you act, you’ll always make the right decision."
- Russell Simmons
"A healthy mind has an easy breath."
- Unknown
Sentiments On Living And Breathing
Our life depends on something we don't often think about - breathing. With every breath of air, life gets a fresh start. The fact that this crucial process keeps going without us even thinking about it is truly impressive.
Adding a sense of thankfulness to every breath we take and recognizing how our bodies work helps us see the wonder of life. Read the following quotes with your hearts filled with gratitude for living.
"You're alive and breathing. That's a fine reason to celebrate."
- Johnny Lung
"Breathing is the greatest pleasure in life."
- Giovanni Papini
"If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance."
- Andrea Boydston
"For breath is life, so if you breathe well you will live long on earth."
- Sanskrit Proverb
"What has to be taught first, is the breath."
- Confucius
"The quality of your life is measured by the number of deep breaths you take. Make each breath count."
- Richie Norton
"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."
- Oprah Winfrey
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."
- Marcus Aurelius
Quotes On Controlling Breathes
As mentioned earlier, we breathe automatically, but when it is done mindfully, it can offer many more benefits. Techniques such as diaphragmatic, resonant, and deep breathing have been developed throughout the years. They differ in position and duration, among other factors, but all aim for the same goal: improving overall well-being.
Controlling your breath isn't a mystical ritual but an everyday healthy habitat. After reading the quotes below, check out our mindfulness recommendations on books and podcasts to learn more about breathing techniques.
"Conscious breathing is the best antidote to stress , anxiety, and depression."
- Amit Ray
"When the breath is unsteady, all is unsteady; when the breath is still; all is still. Control the breath carefully. Inhalation gives strength and a controlled body; retention gives steadiness of mind and longevity; exhalation purifies body and spirit."
- Goraksasathakam
"Conscious breathing heightens awareness and deepens relaxation."
- Dan Brule
"Breathing control gives man strength, vitality, inspiration, and magic powers."
- Zhuangzi
"Breathe consciously and with full intent to relax. In your breath is your freedom from the past and future and your ability to be here now."
- Ari Zandieh
"Deep breathing brings deep thinking and shallow breathing brings shallow thinking."
- Elsie Lincoln Benedict
Breathe Quotes To Guide You During Meditating
Focusing on breathing during meditation isn't just a practice but a science-backed technique for wellness. Slowing down and aligning with your breath rhythm influences your body and mind more than we realize.
Research in the Journal of Neurophysiology suggests that attention to breath stimulates areas in our brain responsible for emotion2, attention, and body awareness. It shows that intentional breathing goes beyond merely calming the nerves.
Increase your body awareness and emotional control as you follow the following tips.
"Think about every good thing in your life right now. Free yourself of worrying. Let go of the anxiety, breathe. Stay positive, all is well."
- Germany Kent
"Just breathe. Ten tiny breaths … Seize them. Feel them. Love them."
- K.A. Tucker
"Now breathe, and step out again, a step further from the past. Step into the streets as narrow as bones, the white streets of the labyrinth, and breathe deeply. Breathe, and step out once more."
- Kevin Barry
"Breathe deeply, until sweet air extinguishes the burn of fear in your lungs and every breath is a beautiful refusal to become anything less than infinite."
- D. Antoinette Foy
"Let go of the battle. Breathe quietly and let it be. Let your body relax and your heart soften. Open to whatever you experience without fighting."
- Jack Kornfield
"Bliss begins with the breath. We breathe in and accept all that is new. We breathe out, and release all that has passed."
- Sara Wiseman
Insights On Breathing In Nature
The dynamic exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen between humans and plants is a fundamental process in the ecosystem. As we breathe out, trees breathe in, highlighting the perfect balance mother nature offers.
The higher quality of air in forest areas is no coincidence but a result of this innate symbiosis. Urban forestry, thus, presents an untapped ventilation system for our concrete jungles. Studies even vouched that cities nurturing urban greenery may witness elevated air quality levels1.
After reading the quotes below, dig deeper into this topic through our articles on sustainable forestry and planting trees to mitigate climate change.
"I love being in the woods when I can just walk barefoot in the grass and just sit down and breathe. I love that so much."
- Jessie Reyez
"In a meadow full of flowers, you cannot walk through and breathe those smells and see all those colors and remain angry. We have to support the beauty, the poetry, of life."
- Jonas Mekas
"We breathe so that the trees thrive and the trees breathe so that we are able to live."
- Sanchita Pandey
"Sometimes, the most productive thing that you can do is to step outside and do nothing… relax and enjoy nature."
- Melanie Charlene
"Breath is the finest gift of nature. Be grateful for this wonderful gift."
- Amit Ray
More Breathe Quotes From Thich Nhat Hanh
Hailing from Vietnam, a tireless peace activist and respected author illuminated the path between Eastern and Western philosophies. Referred to as the "father of mindfulness," the Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh taught us the significance of each breath we take.
Breathing, as he showed us, is a vital bridge to mindfulness, connecting us to life's peaceful rhythm in profound ways. Here are a few excerpts from his books, like The Miracle of Mindfulness.
"Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts."
- Thich Nhat Hanh
"To meditate with mindful breathing is to bring body and mind back to the present moment so that you do not miss your appointment with life."
- Thich Nhat Hanh
"Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is the only moment."
- Thich Nhat Hanh
"Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky, conscious breathing is my anchor."
- Thich Nhat Hanh
Other Breathe Metaphors To Think About
Beyond its role in sustaining life, breathing permeates our language, nurturing metaphors rich in meaning. For example, "breath of fresh air" suggests novelty and positivity, while "breathe life" into something means invigoration and rejuvenation.
These expressions embody the life-sustaining essence of breathing, extending beyond its physical act. Check out other breathe quotes below, which are full of figures of speech.
"Do not be afraid that joy will make the pain worse; it is needed like the air we breathe."
- Goran Persson
"There is one way of breathing that is shameful and constricted. Then, there’s another way: a breath of love that takes you all the way to infinity."
- Rumi
"Unexpected change is like a breath of fresh air, a little brisk at first, but magic for the body and soul."
- Susan Wiggs
"Mindset is everything. Like the eye of a storm -find the sunshine and calm within you, even if there is chaos outside of you."
- Brittany Burgunder
"Being from a small town, no one else was going to breathe life into my ideas other than me, so I had to go out there and do it."
- Matt Bellamy
| 1 |
Irga, P. J., Burchett, M., & Torpy, F. R. (2015). Does urban forestry have a quantitative effect on ambient air quality in an urban environment? Atmospheric Environment, 120, 173–181. |
| 2 |
Herrero, J. L., Khuvis, S., Yeagle, E., Cerf, M., & Mehta, A. D. (2018). Breathing above the brain stem: volitional control and attentional modulation in humans. Journal of Neurophysiology, 119(1), 145–159. |
Isabela is a determined millennial passionate about continuously seeking out ways to make an impact. With a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering with honors, Isabela’s research expertise and interest in artistic works, coupled with a creative mindset, offers readers a fresh take on different environmental, social, and personal development topics.
