At the Glazer-Kennedy SuperConference in Dallas last week, I chose, for me, a different kind of break-out session to attend Friday morning. Since the conference focus is marketing, I’m usually focused on absorbing as many ideas as possible on that topic.

But this day I decided to get out of my comfort zone and attend “How to Achieve Maximum Performance by Connecting the MIND & BODY,” led by Krista Hearty of www.BodyBrillianceCoach.com. It was exactly the right program at the right time for me.

Here’s why.

Are you like me…getting into your office and jumping immediately into your work? Not taking breaks throughout the day? Ignoring your posture as you sit at your desk?

If that sounds familiar, what I learned from Krista may help you, too.

A word of caution first. Beware of saying, “I know that” if what I tell you sounds familiar. The question is, are you actually using these techniques in your everyday life?

The magic word for me that morning was BREATHING.

Yes, I do it every day throughout the day. We ALL do. It’s part of our autonomic nervous system, thank goodness. If I had to pay attention to my breath all the time, I’d never get anything done.

Yet I KNOW I’m supposed to pay attention to my breath as a way to meditate and relax, but I confess, I don’t do it often enough.

During Krista’s session, I learned how important it is for balance and health to use my breath to focus on the present moment and reduce stress. It’s amazing what taking five minutes to focus on inhaling and exhaling does for my energy and concentration.

If you tend to get busy and rush through your day, I encourage you to start dedicating just a few minutes each day to sitting quietly and letting your mind focus exclusively on your breathing.

And I recommend that you participate in a free teleclass Krista is offering this Wednesday, May 12th, at 3:00 pm Eastern, called "The #1 Business Resource You’ve Been Ignoring: How To Harness YOUR Most Unique and Powerful Asset." You can register HERE.

I promise you’ll get some practical techniques and exercises that you can start using today to bring more calmness and balance into your day.

The dentist had just finished replacing an old filling for me. After finishing, he remarked, “Gosh, you were so calm and relaxed during the procedure. Most people tense up and get very agitated when I’m working on them.”

I explained that I used a relaxation technique I first learned in a childbirth preparation class more than 26 years ago, before the birth of my daughter. Focus on your breathing, and you’ll be distracted from the pain and discomfort that may be going on in other parts of your body.

What surprised me was that my dentist, who’s been in practice for more than 30 years, wasn’t aware of this simple strategy. I encouraged him to describe it to patients when they first sit in the chair, to help them experience less stress during their procedure.

As I left the dentist’s office and reflected on this brief exchange, I realized something important: the need to give myself more credit for the knowledge and experience I have – and to share it with others.

I started thinking about people who specialize in teaching meditation and other relaxation techniques. Usually, they’ve studied and practiced them for years, so they’re true experts. I have a thimble’s knowledge to their bucketful. Even so, my dentist’s response showed that I have learned more than I was giving myself credit for.

Too many times, we observe and admire expertise in others and minimize our own. In an earlier post, "Stop Comparing Yourself to Others,” I cautioned against this destructive tendency. The other side of the coin is to give yourself full credit for what you do know so you can use it to benefit yourself and others.

How often do you assume that what you have to offer is something everyone knows? The truth is, you have unique knowledge and experience that you’ve acquired during your life. And others desperately need this wisdom. Look for opportunities to reach out to someone who could benefit from your words. You won’t have to look far, I promise you. And you’ll enrich two lives in the process.

"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" - Benjamin Franklin