The Power of Breathing: Your Secret Weapon for Confidence and Connection

When I work with people on speaking, I’ll often ask, How are you breathing right now?

Most of the time, the answer is shallow and rushed. That’s normal. Life is full on. Stress takes over. But here’s the truth: if you want to speak with confidence, project your voice so people actually hear you, and calm your nerves before you open your mouth, it all starts with breath.

Breath and Voice

Your voice is literally powered by air. No breath, no sound. When you breathe in properly, your diaphragm lowers, your lungs fill, and you’ve got the fuel you need to vibrate your vocal cords. That vibration becomes sound, and then your mouth and tongue shape it into words. If your breathing is shallow, your sound is weak. If your breathing is deep and steady, your voice has strength and control.

Breath and Projection

Projection isn’t about being louder. It’s about breath support. When you’re breathing properly, your voice carries without strain. People don’t just hear you, they feel your presence. That’s how you command a room.

Breath and Nerves

We’ve all been there. Heart pounding. Voice shaking. Hands sweaty. The quickest way to calm your body before you speak is through breath. Slow, steady breathing tells your nervous system that you’re safe. It steadies your voice and gets you grounded so you can walk on stage, into a meeting, or into any conversation with confidence.

The Best Way to Breathe

The method I teach is intercostal-diaphragmatic breathing. It’s a fancy term for using your diaphragm and the muscles between your ribs so you can take a deep, supported breath. Not the shallow chest breathing most of us default to. This kind of breathing gives you stamina, projection, and control. And it keeps the nerves from running the show.

Breathing isn’t just biology. It’s confidence. When you own your breath, you own your voice. And when you own your voice, you can own the room.

In your corner,

Monique