Narrator: An entrepreneur is navigating the overwhelming fabric district in downtown Los Angeles, searching for materials for her growing business. Suddenly, the stress becomes too much. The world starts to spin, her heart races, and a wave of panic washes over her. She stumbles into a nearby store, sits down, and desperately tries to regain control. In that moment of crisis, she remembers a simple practice from her yoga training. She closes her eyes and takes one slow, deep breath. Then another. And a third. Within moments, the panic subsides, and clarity returns. This wasn't just a moment of relief; it was a revelation that became the catalyst for a new business direction and a deeper understanding of a powerful, overlooked tool.

This experience is at the heart of the book Breathe to Succeed by Sandy Abrams. It argues that the most profound tool for managing stress, enhancing focus, and achieving peak performance isn't found in a new app or a complex productivity system, but in something we do over 20,000 times a day: breathing. The book provides a practical guide to transforming this unconscious act into a conscious strategy for success.

Narrator: The book begins with a fundamental premise: breath is the most powerful and underutilized tool for success. While essential for life, most people breathe on autopilot, unaware of how consciously controlling their breath can regulate their mind and body. Abrams illustrates this through her own journey. For years, she would leave her yoga class before the final resting pose, Savasana, seeing it as a waste of time. She felt anxious in the stillness. One day, after her teachers gently questioned her habit, she decided to stay. Lying on the mat, she reluctantly closed her eyes and took a single, long, deep breath. In that moment, she experienced a profound sense of peace and connection, realizing that Savasana wasn't an afterthought but the culmination of the practice, a moment to integrate mind and body.

This "Savasana Revelation" became an indelible lesson. Abrams argues that just a few conscious breaths can act as a quick reset button, a form of micro-meditation for busy people. This simple act can shift a person from a state of stress and reactivity to one of composure and focus. Scientific research supports this, showing that nasal breathing directly affects the brain's emotional and memory centers. As neuroscientist Crystal Goh explains, our in-breath acts like a remote control for our brains, allowing us to optimize function, improve emotional recognition, and enhance memory. By failing to use our breath intentionally, we leave this incredible superpower untapped.

Narrator: Breathe to Succeed emphasizes that our mindset, not just our ability, often limits our success. The book explores the mind-body connection, positioning breath as the bridge that allows us to consciously shape our thoughts and emotions. To amplify this process, Abrams introduces four "breath multipliers": acting as if, closing your eyes, visualization, and mantras. These are not just abstract concepts; they are practical tools to train the mind.

The author shares a powerful story from her time as a new real estate agent in 1992. Lacking confidence, she attended a workshop on the "Act As If" principle. She began a daily practice of using her breath to anchor vivid visualizations. She would breathe deeply while imagining herself as a top agent: driving her dream car to a listing, confidently answering every client question, and smoothly closing deals. She didn't just think about it; she used her breath to feel the success in her body. Over time, this practice rewired her self-perception. The confidence she cultivated in her mind began to manifest in reality, and her visualized scenarios eventually came to life, leading to a successful career. This demonstrates that combining breath with focused intention can turn abstract goals into tangible realities, effectively training the mind for success.

Narrator: How one starts the day sets the tone for everything that follows. The book argues against the common habit of beginning the day reactively—grabbing the phone to check emails and social media. This immediately puts us in a defensive posture, responding to others' priorities instead of setting our own. Instead, Abrams advocates for transforming the morning routine into a powerful, non-negotiable ritual. This protected time is for centering the mind and body before the world's demands rush in.

Research by professor Steffanie Wilk supports this, showing that employees who start the day in a bad mood often enter a negative spiral, while those who begin with a positive outlook are more likely to maintain it. The book suggests simple yet powerful upgrades to the morning routine. This includes a few minutes of intentional breathing, gentle yoga-inspired stretches to awaken the body, and using aromatherapy with uplifting scents like citrus to boost mood. It even extends to what we drink, suggesting brain-fueling beverages over sugary drinks. By consciously designing the first hour of the day, we move from being reactive to proactive, setting a foundation of focus and positivity that carries us through the challenges ahead.

Narrator: In our hyper-connected world, the brain is under constant assault. The book dedicates significant attention to digital wellness, arguing that our brains are not designed for the relentless multitasking and information overload of modern life. Neurologist Richard E. Cytowic explains that the brain's processing speed is finite, and constantly switching attention incurs a high cognitive cost, leading to fatigue, stress, and decreased productivity. We develop a false sense of accomplishment from clearing an inbox, while our capacity for deep, creative work diminishes.

To combat this, Abrams proposes strategic disconnection as an essential practice. She shares a personal challenge she undertook: for one week, she decided to call clients and colleagues instead of emailing them. She started with her printer, a man she hadn't spoken to on the phone in over a year. After the call, she was surprised by how happy and connected she felt. The experience revealed how transactional and impersonal email had become, often leading to misinterpretations that a simple human conversation could prevent. This story serves as a powerful reminder that the antidote to digital overload is often analog. By consciously unplugging—even for a few minutes to take a walk, practice breathing, or make a phone call—we allow our brains to recover, solidify memories, and foster the genuine human connections that are vital for both well-being and business success.

Narrator: The principles of mindful breathing are not just for individual self-improvement; they are transforming the landscape of corporate leadership. The book highlights a new breed of leader it calls "C.E.'Oms," visionaries who integrate mindfulness into the very fabric of their organizations. One of the most compelling examples is Mark Bertolini, the former CEO of Aetna. After a near-fatal ski accident left him in chronic pain, Bertolini turned to yoga and meditation for relief. The practices were so transformative that they not only helped him manage his pain but also reshaped his entire approach to leadership.

He decided to bring these benefits to his 49,000 employees. Aetna launched mindfulness-based wellness programs, raised the company's minimum wage, and even incentivized employees to get more sleep. The results were staggering. A study found that employees who participated experienced a significant reduction in stress, a 62-minute-per-week increase in productivity, and improved overall health. The company's stock price soared under his leadership. Bertolini's story, along with those of leaders from Patagonia, Salesforce, and Google, proves that investing in employee well-being is not a soft perk but a hard-nosed business strategy. It demonstrates that a culture of mindfulness creates a more resilient, focused, and compassionate workforce, benefiting both the people and the bottom line.

Narrator: The single most important takeaway from Breathe to Succeed is that we have direct and immediate agency over our inner state. In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, the book reminds us that the power to shift our perspective, calm our minds, and focus our energy resides within our own lungs. By transforming breathing from an unconscious bodily function into a conscious, intentional practice, we move from being a passive reactor to an active creator of our own success and well-being.

Ultimately, the book challenges a common assumption: that growth requires complex, external solutions. The most profound changes often come from mastering the simplest tools. As the author learned when she faced a terrifying opportunity to appear on live television, breath is the anchor that provides comfort in the unknown and courage in the face of fear. The real challenge, then, is not to learn a new skill, but to remember an old one. The next time you feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, what would happen if you simply paused, and took one conscious breath?