--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Breathing’s difficult if you overthink…" description: "\"“Breathing’s difficult if you overthink the action, like staring at the word the for too long. Grows unnatural, bizarrely wrong.”\" — Lia Riley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/lia-riley-26981_breathing_breathing-s-difficult-if-you-overthink-t_2963395.jpg" --- # Breathing’s difficult if you overthink the action, like… ![“Breathing’s difficult if you overthink the action, like staring at the word the for too long. Grows unnatural, bizarrely wrong.” quote by Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/lia-riley-26981_breathing_breathing-s-difficult-if-you-overthink-t_2963395.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/lia-riley-26981_breathing_breathing-s-difficult-if-you-overthink-t_2963395.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/lia-riley-26981_breathing_breathing-s-difficult-if-you-overthink-t_2963395.jpg) > ““Breathing’s difficult if you overthink the action, like staring at the word the for too long. Grows unnatural, bizarrely wrong.”” [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overthinking disrupts natural flow, making simple actions feel forced and awkward. **In simple terms:** Overthinking blocks natural flow. Key Takeaway Trust instinctive action. Themes creativity mindset flow Mood cautionary motivational Type psychological practical When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - sports Key Concepts overanalysis naturalness performance Questions to Reflect On - What simple action feels forced? - How can you quiet your mind? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Breathing Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing-difficult-463827/) [Difficult Overthink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-overthink-4524380/) [Overthink Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overthink-action-4524381/) [Staring Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staring-word-4524382/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) ## Related quotes > [“Breathing is...difficult at the moment. Breathing is a necessity for you humans, and if kissing you causes you to have difficulties, I might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-naeole/breathing-is-difficult-at-the-moment-breathing-is-a-necessity-for-you/) [S.L. Naeole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-l-naeole/) > [“They’re smiling as they talk to each other and they make it look so easy, so natural, like it’s as simple as breathing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/they-re-smiling-as-they-talk-to-each-other-and-they-make-it-look-so/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [“Without love breathing is difficult but without freinds breathing is impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussain-rasheed/without-love-breathing-is-difficult-but-without-freinds-breathing-is/) [Hussain Rasheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussain-rasheed/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) [Marcel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-williams/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) ## More by Lia Riley > [“He’s a few sandwiches short of a picnic,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/he-s-a-few-sandwiches-short-of-a-picnic/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“Don’t break your heart trying to batter against the world, okay?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/don-t-break-your-heart-trying-to-batter-against-the-world-okay/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“My characters blather away to each other. I simply turn up and listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/my-characters-blather-away-to-each-other-i-simply-turn-up-and-listen/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“Fifteen extra pounds padded her hips and butt, a result of an ongoing ménage a trois with Ben and Jerry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/fifteen-extra-pounds-padded-her-hips-and-butt-a-result-of-an-ongoing/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“I glance at the red-stenciled words crossing my chest—HOLDEN CAULFIELD IS MY HOMEBOY.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/i-glance-at-the-red-stenciled-words-crossing-my-chest-holden/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“I’m a high-functioning basket case.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/i-m-a-high-functioning-basket-case/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“here are beautiful places inside him, where laughter comes easy, where sweet words appear like surprises. But I also know his bitter valleys. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/here-are-beautiful-places-inside-him-where-laughter-comes-easy-where/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“I adore chocolate. I require books. They are like oxygen or water, vital to my existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/i-adore-chocolate-i-require-books-they-are-like-oxygen-or-water-vital/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“People want to be with the sunflowers, those who rise and face the sky. Who prefers fungus, moss, things that grow in the world’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/people-want-to-be-with-the-sunflowers-those-who-rise-and-face-the-sky/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“On her tombstone it would read: She came. She saw. She made it awkward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/on-her-tombstone-it-would-read-she-came-she-saw-she-made-it-awkward/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“Let me get this straight. That necklace you're wearing is magical and it's the reason I'm standing here?" "Maybe. Maybe not. Oh, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/let-me-get-this-straight-that-necklace-you-re-wearing-is-magical-and/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“I remember something Bran said when we were hiking in Tasmania, about how people believe they see the same river but the water is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/i-remember-something-bran-said-when-we-were-hiking-in-tasmania-about/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“If I never get lost, I’ll never be found.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/if-i-never-get-lost-i-ll-never-be-found/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“Looks like I’m enduring a two-hour car trip with the human equivalent of a splinter—a sexy splinter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/looks-like-i-m-enduring-a-two-hour-car-trip-with-the-human-equivalent/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [“want to get well and truly lost. I’d like to outrun my own name if the option is at all possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/want-to-get-well-and-truly-lost-i-d-like-to-outrun-my-own-name-if-the/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) [Explore all 21 Lia Riley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) [Marcel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-williams/) > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Breathing’s difficult if you overthink the action, like staring at the word the for too long. 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