Less than 20% of our thoughts are conscious while 80+% are unconscious. One way to quickly bring unconscious thoughts up is by controlled breathing. As you breathe, thoughts come up to be dealt with and you stay with them until they are dissolved and evaporated. Our ability to self-regulate mental and emotional states and flexibly respond to everything around us is controlled by our breathing. We inhibit our breathing as a defense against being fully aware of adverse experiences. We hold our breath as a way of coping with feelings. This leads to a lack of integration of these experiences. Conscious breathing brings these experiences to the surface to allow them to be integrated. You relive the thought, this time breathing through it. Breathing through it allow emotions to change about it. Sustained, focused exploration of body sensations and breathing rhythm leads to a state of expanded consciousness.