Rhythm of Breath, Laughing Freely, and a Ladder from Earth to Heaven
Published July 20, 2026
Reading Time: 2 min 3 sec
I hope the next 24-ish breaths are the most nourishing of your day.
4 THOUGHTS
1. The Rhythm of Our Breathing and Energy We Need
“The magic of walking lies in the unproductive repetition of putting one foot in front of the other: of rediscovering a reasonless reason for carrying on. Our step sets the rhythm for our breathing, and in return our breath delivers the energy we need. This gently wears away at the body as if it were being polished, resulting in a radiant weariness.”
— Frédéric Gros, A Philosophy of Walking
I loved the paradox of a “radiant weariness.” We all know that feeling of being happily exhausted. No better way to get there than through the simple rhythm of our breath and feet.
2. The Work of the Lungs
“As an organ, the lungs must do an incredible amount of work all day, every day. With an average respiratory rate of fourteen breaths per minute, and an average volume of 500 milliliters of air per breath, a typical adult inhales and exhales 420 liters of air every hour. In one day, the total is roughly 10,080 liters, a tremendous amount of gas for every human on this planet to utilize.”
— Michael J Stephen, MD, Breath Taking
Just a great reminder of how much work our lungs do, mostly without us ever thinking about it. There is always a reason to cultivate gratitude for something as constant and essential as our breath.
3. The Breath Should Enter Very Subtly
“The breath should enter very subtly.
‘Very subtly’ means that when the nose draws in the outside air, it should draw it very subtly so that the ear should not hear it. Being subtle and fine is the gate to life.”
Of all the things I’ve learned about breathing, this is probably the most practical: at rest, the breath should be gentle and basically silent. Quiet breathing is usually a good sign that we are breathing correctly.
4. Laughing at Your Own Absurdities
“It is only very sensible or very honest people, who laugh as freely at their own absurdities as at those of their neighbours.”
— William Hazlitt
Just our weekly reminder to laugh, especially at ourselves, for this is always the best breathing exercise.
1 QUOTE
“Reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. These make a ladder for monks by which they are lifted up from earth to heaven.”
— Guigo II
1 GOOD BOOK
The Primordial Breath, Volume 1
This one is a translation of a collection of Daoist writings on breath and qi. The authors of these writings did not view breathing as just breathing: They saw breath, health, and longevity as one interconnected process. The language can sometimes feel a bit strange or mystical, but it’s well worth the read.
Get the Book HereIn good breath,
Nick
P.S. part of the process
The Anxious Person’s Breath Manual
Want a complete research-based breathing system for anxiety? The Anxious Person’s Breath Manual synthesizes 454 studies into one practical guide.
Get the Manual for $27As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.