People often hold their breath when they are stressed or uncertain of their safety. When you have a habit of holding your breath, you are signaling danger to your nervous system. When you relax and take a few deep breaths, your nervous system realizes you feel safe enough to breathe. Coming home to our own heart and body is difficult when we are wound up. We develop hypervigilance because of trauma. Somatic mindfulness of body, breath and associated thoughts can help us recognize activation sooner, unwind those patterns to increase the accuracy of our neuroception, and to relax. Especially with the level of stress today and with the polarization and difficult people in our lives, we can use a guided practice of grounding and increasing our awareness of safety in the present moment.