I speak for myself but maybe for others that those difficult times are an opportunity for us to be closer to God. One of my friends was talking to me about this today, who’s also a counselor, and she said, “You know, so many people deal with high-functioning anxiety. I think for many years, I kept myself so busy that I didn’t have time to pay attention to what was happening.

So to her, it made it natural to add scripture and shorten phrases from key verses, to help support the rhythm of her intentional calming breath.They’re great as a way of grounding ourselves or re-centering ourselves when we become anxious or overwhelmed. Breath prayers have personally been so very helpful to me as a way to manage my anxiety while also strengthening my faith. A breath prayer is perhaps the simplest way to briefly interact with God and has the incredible ability to give us the balanced perspective we need in any given moment.

The words of the prayer aren’t really as important as the posture of your heart while you say them and breathe. I’m so grateful that you have taken this century’s old spiritual practice and made it afresh because, in our culture, we need this more than ever. Carrie: At the end of every episode, I like to ask people a question, and when it’s a personal story, I like to go into, like, if you could go back in time, what encouragement or hope would you provide to your younger self?For you to struggle with some of these things, it’s okay to reach out for help, whether that’s medical help or professional counseling help.