How to Think Clearly and Make Better Decisions Under Pressure — Edward Howard | Ep 138

What if you practiced calm for decades, but still discovered that pressure could take over when you needed clarity most?

In this episode, Edward Howard, author of One Breath Leadership, shares what he learned from combining more than 30 years of Zen practice with over 20 years in high-pressure international banking environments. He explains why stress can push us into automatic reactions and introduces the One Breath method—a short reset built around mind, breath, and attention.

We explore the physiology behind breathing under stress, the difference between dualistic, non-dual, and transcendent states of mind, why Edward sometimes talks about “mindlessness” instead of mindfulness, and how leaders can create enough space to respond rather than simply react.

If you’re making decisions under pressure, carrying persistent mental overload, or trying to perform at a high level without sacrificing everything around you, this conversation offers a practical way to find more clarity in the moment.

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Connect with Guest

Website: https://www.onebreathleadership.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-howard-a86aa823/

Book: https://www.onebreathleadership.com/book

Chapters

00:00 When Decades of Zen Meet High-Pressure Leadership

00:43 Why Meditation Didn’t Always Translate Under Pressure

02:57 Why the Method Uses Just One Breath

05:26 Making Meditation Practical for Busy Leaders

07:29 What Stress Does to the Way We Breathe

09:16 Fight-or-Flight Breathing and the Nervous System

11:49 Practicing the One Breath Method

14:06 Creating Space Between Pressure and Reaction

15:06 Mind, Breath, and Attention

15:28 The Three States of Mind

19:27 Why Edward Talks About “Mindlessness”

21:27 Making Better Decisions During Lingering Stress

25:41 When High Performance Is Actually Disguised Dysfunction

28:24 The Beliefs That Keep Leaders Stuck in Unsustainable Performance

30:38 One Breath Leadership: The Book

31:18 Where to Find Edward Howard and One Breath Leadership

32:20 Closing Thoughts and Wisdom Journey Newsletter