Kelti Learns Breathwork

In my new story, Kelti is struggling with trying to understand all the different conflicts and troubles going on in the world. She doesn’t know what to do with her feelings and emotions. One minute she feels okay and the next she will burst into tears.
She decides to talk to her grandma about it ... and Grandma has the perfect solution for Kelti to try.

Thank you for your kind messages and for your continued support.

Transcript

Hello,

My name is Jacqueline and I'm a very proud grandma.

I write stories for my grandchildren and I'm very happy to share them with you too.

So make yourself comfortable because my next story is about to begin.

Kelty was struggling with trying to understand all the different conflicts and troubles going on in the world.

She didn't know what to do with her feelings and emotions.

One minute she felt okay and the next she would burst into tears.

One minute she felt happy and the next she felt really sad.

Each day she would experience a rollercoaster of emotions,

Both good and bad,

But she didn't know how to deal with them.

She didn't like feeling the negative emotions,

Sad,

Miserable,

Angry,

Upset,

Frustrated,

With no enthusiasm to do anything.

But she did like the positive emotions she felt,

Happy,

Joyful,

Loving,

Caring,

Adventurous,

With so much energy to play and have fun.

Today wasn't a good day for Kelty.

She was feeling very distressed because of things she had heard on the news.

No matter what she did,

She couldn't seem to stop thinking about them.

She decided to talk to her grandma about it.

Grandma always seemed to have a solution to make her feel better.

I've been around a long time and I've learned a thing or two,

She would tell Kelty.

At grandma's house,

Kelty explained how she was feeling while grandma made a pot of tea.

Let's take this tea into the lounge,

Said grandma,

Putting everything onto a tray,

Then we can talk.

Kelty made herself comfortable on the sofa,

Whilst grandma placed the tray on the coffee table before sitting in her armchair.

Grandma made perfect tea.

She always brewed it just enough to taste the tea,

But not too much so it was bitter.

After pouring the amber liquid into the two cups,

She added a splash of milk and a teaspoon of sugar.

Just how Kelty liked it.

Kelty took her cup of tea and a couple of biscuits,

And grandma did the same before settling back in her armchair.

They munched on their biscuits and drank the sweet tea in silence,

Each enjoying the tasty snack.

Placing her empty cup onto the tray,

Grandma asked gently,

How do you feel now,

Kelty?

Kelty reached forward and placed her empty cup onto the tray and then settled back comfortably onto the sofa.

Much better,

Grandma.

Tea and biscuits always makes me feel happy.

Kelty curled her legs under her and snuggled into the cushions in the corner of the sofa.

And that's exactly how we change our mood,

Explained grandma.

When we find we are experiencing a negative emotion which doesn't make us feel good,

We change our thoughts by doing something we know makes us happy.

But I get so worried and anxious about the things going on in the world that I find my thoughts keep going back to them,

Said Kelty unhappily.

It worries me to think about what is going on and what more could happen.

These are things we can't change or do anything about,

Explained grandma.

No matter how bad and frightening they are,

These are out of our control.

And the more we think about them,

The more our mind spirals into imagining even worse things happening in the future.

That's very true,

Grandma,

Said Kelty sitting up.

The more I think about these things,

The more unhappy and sometimes frightened I get.

Our minds are like that,

Agreed grandma.

Whatever we put our attention on,

We get more of it.

Just like you are saying,

The more we think of the dangers in the world,

The more our mind seems to create more dangers to think about.

But it does also work the other way around,

Too,

Grandma explained,

Trying to lighten the mood.

Do you remember when we went for a day out to the beach last month?

Oh,

Yes,

Exclaimed Kelty,

Smiling as the memories of that day came flooding into her mind.

Louis and I had a great time building sandcastles.

You and your brother must have built over 30 of them that day.

Grandma smiled as she also remembered.

Yes,

We did,

Said Kelty.

And then two dogs who were chasing each other ran right through the middle of them and knocked them all down.

It was so funny,

Especially as all the sand got flung into the air and then fell all over me and Louis.

She laughed at the memory.

Oh,

I had forgotten that,

Said grandma,

Smiling as she remembered.

You and Louis had sand everywhere,

But it didn't stop you both from building more sandcastles.

You brushed the sand from your faces and got straight back into it.

We both love building sandcastles,

Grandma,

Said Kelty.

But not as much as you like eating ice cream,

Grandma reminded her.

I think I bought you and your brother at least two ice creams that day,

If not more.

Yes,

You did,

Agreed Kelty dreamily as her mouth watered with the memory.

I think we had three each that day,

One for breakfast,

One for dinner and one for tea.

That made the day even more special for us.

Kelty sat in silence for a moment as she remembered more happy memories from that day.

Grandma watched her and smiled.

She loved making memories with her grandchildren,

But she loved it even more when she could help them with a problem.

How are you feeling now,

Kelty?

Grandma asked.

So happy,

Replied Kelty.

Do you know,

Thinking about that fun day made me forget about the troubles in the world for a moment.

That's how our mind works,

Said grandma.

We need to remember that what we focus on,

We get more of.

So when we are thinking about something we don't like,

Such as what is going on in the world,

And we get that uneasy feeling like anxiety,

We should try and move our thoughts on to something else.

Such as a fun time we've had,

Kelty said smiling.

Yes,

Simply put your focus on to something that makes you smile and makes you feel happy,

Agreed grandma.

But what do I do if my mind decides to stay on something which is not making me happy,

Such as when I have to do difficult maths at school,

Asked Kelty,

Remembering how anxious she had felt only yesterday when they had to do an unexpected test in class.

That's a good question,

Said grandma.

Although moving our focus is a great way to change how we are feeling,

It is not always possible,

Such as when we are in a stressful situation that we can't escape for a while,

Or when our mind is too distracted to change to positive thinking.

When this type of thing happens to me,

I use breath work.

What's breath work,

Grandma,

Asked Kelty,

A little curious.

It's simple breathing techniques where we focus for a few minutes on our breath.

We learnt a little about breathing when I taught you meditation,

Do you remember?

Yes,

I do,

Kelty replied.

We breathe deeply before we begin our meditation in order to help relax our body and mind.

Yes,

That's right,

Agreed grandma.

So why should we do breath work on its own and not just do a meditation,

Asked Kelty.

Another good question,

Said grandma,

Pleased to explain.

Although when we do meditation,

It eventually helps to calm us down and focus us,

It takes a good five minutes or longer to happen.

Whereas breath work brings calmness almost immediately and is especially useful in the moment when we feel anxious or worried about something.

And because breath work happens much quicker than meditation,

It can be used anywhere and will make a difference in just a couple of minutes.

With breath work,

We regulate the flow of our breath to balance our body and mind.

We call it controlled breathing,

Where we intentionally regulate the flow of our breathing patterns to change our mental,

Emotional and physical state by doing different breathing techniques.

But I breathe all the time,

So why would I need to change it or do it differently?

Kelty asked,

Even more curious now.

We tend to take our breathing for granted,

Explained grandma.

Our bodies automatically do it to keep us alive,

So we don't give it a second thought normally.

But it's normally shallow breaths we take,

Just enough to keep us alive.

But when we breathe with purpose,

It has a direct impact on our health,

Stress levels and even emotions.

It helps us to feel better,

Especially when we feel uneasy about something which is out of our control.

Like how I was feeling when I came here today.

Kelty interrupted.

Yes,

That's right,

Grandma said gently,

Not wanting to take Kelty back to those feelings again.

Breath work is so powerful because it can be used as a tool to completely shift our energy.

It can help to calm us down,

To energise us,

To lift our mood and even to help us feel more grounded.

Our emotions and feelings can actually be controlled by our breathing.

Oh,

Teach me some techniques,

Grandma,

Said Kelty,

Sitting on the edge of the sofa.

I'm excited to learn.

OK,

Said grandma,

Just as excited to teach her granddaughter.

The first one is so,

So simple.

You can do it anywhere and anytime.

All you do is breathe.

Breathe?

Queried Kelty.

But that doesn't sound any different to what I already do.

How is that going to help me?

I mean,

Breathe with intention,

Using deeper and longer breaths than you normally would,

Explained grandma.

The same way as we do before we start a meditation.

Let's give it a try.

Breathe in,

In,

In and breathe out,

Out,

Out.

And again,

Breathe in,

In,

In and breathe out,

Out,

Out.

Kelty closed her eyes and followed her grandma's instructions.

The exercise done,

Kelty opened her eyes.

That always makes me feel so good,

She said.

It really fills me with energy and gives me a real buzzing feeling like I could climb a mountain.

Grandma smiled.

Yes,

That's how good breathing can make us feel when we do it with purpose and focus.

What's next?

Asked Kelty,

Always eager to learn.

Let's try this next breathing technique,

Which I use quite often,

Said grandma.

Make yourself a little more comfortable as this one takes a little longer and needs a bit more attention.

Let me know when you are ready.

Kelty made herself comfortable as she sat back onto the sofa and she closed her eyes,

Which helped her to concentrate.

I'm ready,

Grandma,

She said.

Right.

This is called the 4-7-8 breathing technique,

Explained grandma.

But really,

You can use any numbers you like.

So don't worry about forgetting them or not doing it right because you can't remember the numbers.

You are going to inhale for a count of four,

Hold for a count of seven,

Then exhale for a count of eight.

And then repeat at least four more times.

As grandma said the numbers,

Kelty followed with the technique.

At the end,

Kelty opened her eyes and said,

Oh,

I struggled a bit with the last number.

I couldn't quite breathe out for that long.

That's OK,

Said grandma kindly.

The technique will still work with smaller numbers.

When we first start using breathing techniques,

We sometimes have to begin with smaller numbers and build up to the bigger numbers when our lungs and body have become used to breathing so deeply.

Just remember to breathe slow,

Especially when breathing out.

Allow your breath to flow slowly out.

Remember,

This is intentional breathing.

So be focused and intentional with each step.

Do you have any more breathing exercises?

Asked Kelty,

Always excited to learn more.

Grandma thought for a moment and then said,

I have one more.

This one is called box breathing.

Oh,

Do I need a cardboard box to put over my head to do this one?

Asked Kelty,

Slightly surprised by the name.

No,

Laughed grandma.

That would make breathing even more difficult.

Not easy.

It's called box breathing because of the way it is done.

Imagine in your mind a box shape,

A basic square shape,

Really.

Kelty sat back and closed her eyes.

Yes,

I can see it in my mind,

Grandma,

She said.

Good.

Now,

In your mind's eye,

Starting at the top left hand corner,

Follow along the top line of the box as you breathe in for a count of four.

Grandma paused as she counted to four in her mind.

Now,

Follow down the right side of the box as you hold your breath for a count of four.

And again,

She paused as she silently counted to four.

Now run your eye along the bottom of the box as you exhale for a count of four.

Again,

She paused.

And lastly,

Follow the line up the left side of the box as you hold your breath for a count of four.

In her mind,

Grandma counted to four and then repeated the box shape breathing routine two more times.

And now breathe normally,

Grandma said softly.

And when you are ready,

Open your eyes.

Kelty took a few breaths in and out and then opened her eyes and slowly sat up straight.

How did that feel?

Asked grandma.

Pretty good,

Replied Kelty.

I feel so much better,

Very relaxed and calm.

That's good.

All these techniques can be done anywhere and at any time.

They only take a minute or two,

But work almost immediately to calm our mind and relax us.

When we focus on doing breath work,

The things which have been bothering us are pushed out of our mind.

Kelty smiled.

Grandma,

You know all the right things to help me in the moment.

Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me.

I'm going to tell my friends about breath work.

I think it will help them too,

As they also worry about the world today.

That's a very kind thing to do,

Kelty,

Said grandma,

Proud of the way her granddaughter thought about others.

Helping each other is very important and sharing things which work for you could quite possibly help others too.

Kelty went over to her grandma and gave her a big hug.

I love you,

Grandma,

She said warmly.

I love you more,

Sweetheart,

Whispered grandma tenderly.

They hugged each other for a moment and then Kelty said,

Shall I put the kettle on again,

Grandma?

This breath work has made me feel quite thirsty.

That's a great idea,

Agreed grandma.

I think I have a packet of chocolate digestives up in the cupboard.

And they made their way into the kitchen,

Both feeling relaxed and happy.

Thanks for listening to my story.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Before you go,

I'd like to ask you a question.

What is your favourite thing to do to take your mind away from things which may be causing you anxiety or worry?

Thanks again for listening and come back soon to hear another story from grandma.

Bye for now.

Reviews

I’d take a nice long relaxing morning lie in until 11 am if I could! 😊

I always enjoy your stories.📚📚thank you for always brightening my day!!🤩🤩☀️☀️ THANK YOU!!!!!!!🙏

Amazing!
Story Time!
The Little Snowflake.
Part 2.
Ocean lay there, wondering who was going to appear next. It began to get dark and Ocean fell asleep. She woke in the middle of the night and herd a loud howling sound. She looked around to see what it was, but since she could not turn her head she could not see what the noise was. She herd it again! This time it was much louder. Then she herd whimpering. She saw a wolf crying next to her. She said " Whats wrong?" The wolf looked down at her and said " Oh! Hi little snowflake. I'm Willow, and I've got a splinter in my paw. But I know you can't help me. As you're only a tiny snowflake." Ocean frowned and said " Well the smallest snowflake can make a huge difference. My names Ocean by the way. Oh, you never know." Wiloow said " Uh. OK." And handed Ocean her paw. Ocean heaved and tugged and pulled as hard as she could until, Pop! The splinter flew out of Willows paw and flew across the the forest. Willow ran to get it as she said " Thanks for you're help Ocean! Bye! I'll never forget this!" She disappeared in the forest and was soon gone.

What I do when I am feeling 😞 stressed😖 or anxious😬 I do arts and crafts🎨or talk to someone like a friend parent or family member
⭐️✨⭐️✨🌟💫✨⭐️🌟💫🌟💫✨✨⭐️⭐️💫💫🌟🌟💫💫⭐️⭐️🌟🌟✨✨✨⭐️🌟💫

Heeellllloooo,
What an incredible story I loved it! I mean who couldn’t love your story’s! THEY ARE SOOOOO AMZING! My sister gets anxiety so I’ll tell her all of these breathing strategies! Again I would absolutely LOVE Kelti or Louie plays basketball 🏀 I mean that would mean so much to me❤️! To answer your question I would probably talk to some friends or go outside and shoot some basketball hoops! As you may tell I’m a basketball lover🏀! I am getting better on my patience too! And back on that 🏀 note I may swell be a basketball 🏀 right haha like my profile is literally a basketball 😂! I would also loveeee a reply thanks you da best! Also do you draw the thumbnail picture or did you just find it? I also have a question for you, what is your most favourite why to fall asleep or your favourite breathing technique or if you want I would love if you answer both but it’s totally fine if you only answer 1😊

- Your number one fan Brooklyn the basketball 🏀 🤣

Great lovely story I have a question when is kelti's (sorry if I spelt that wrong) b-day bye and good night can't wait to hear more.

Great!! It was very relaxing 😌! I have a question 🙋‍♀️ about the story, Kelti goes to London Part 1, why does grandma secretly cross her fingers when she says that she wants to see the queen 👸??

Thank you 😊
Wolf and Willa 🐺