A ​Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4)

by Sarah J. Maas

Nesta inhaled through her nose for a count of six, held her breath for a few seconds, then exhaled through her mouth for another six beats. In the quiet of her bedroom that night, settled in the chair, she focused on her breath, nothing more. Any thoughts that came in, she acknowledged and let pass. Even if some kept returning. She didn’t care where they hid the Harp. If they needed her blood to ward it as they had for the Mask, they’d let her know. But the thought of what came next— Breathe. Count. Nesta inhaled again, attention fixing on her expanding ribs, the feeling of the breath in her body. Even weeks into it, some days’ Mind-Stilling exercises were harder than others. But she kept at it, ten minutes in the morning and ten minutes at night. Nesta exhaled, counting. Kept going. That was all she supposed she could do: just keep going. One day, one breath at a time. She let that thought go, too. Breathed and breathed, and then stopped the counting altogether. Let her mind wander. But her mind did not shoot in every direction. It remained calm. Resting. Content right where it was.

I wish to get to this place in my own mind.