thebreathstate

Canonical Glossary

Breath State™

A first-principles framework describing the cyclical structure governing human capacity, neutrality, and expression.

The framework consists of exactly three states: Inhale, Pause, and Exhale.

Inhale

The state of inward accumulation of capacity.

Inhale increases internal readiness, tolerance, or capability.
Its effects are internal and preparatory.
Inhale does not directly alter the external environment.

Pause

The state of neutral suspension between accumulation and expression.

Pause neither builds nor expends capacity.
Pause conserves existing capacity without modification.
Pause has no directionality and no loops.

Exhale

The state of outward expression of capacity.

Exhale converts internal capacity into external effect.
Exhale produces change that persists beyond the moment of action.
All Exhale draws from accumulated capacity.

Capacity

The internal resources that enable sustainable action.

Capacity may include physiological, cognitive, emotional, or attentional components.
Capacity is finite, accumulative, and expendable.

Loop

The condition of completion or non-completion within a state.

Loops describe whether a state resolves without residual demand.
Loops do not constitute states themselves.

Loop integrity applies only to Inhale and Exhale.

Closed Loop

A state that completes without creating residual demand.

A closed loop allows natural transition to another state without urgency or leakage.

Open Loop

A state that remains unresolved and creates residual demand.

An open loop produces pressure toward continuation or completion.

Open loops are structural, not psychological.

Closed-Loop Inhale

Inward accumulation of capacity that concludes without creating obligation or pressure toward expression.

Open-Loop Inhale

Inward accumulation of capacity that remains unresolved and creates pressure toward Exhale.

Closed-Loop Exhale

Outward expression of capacity that completes without residual obligation or demand.

Open-Loop Exhale

Outward expression of capacity that fails to complete and leaves unresolved demand.

Sequence

The invariant order governing the Breath State™ framework.

Inhale precedes Exhale.
Pause separates states.

Violation of sequence produces friction and instability.

State Mismatch

The condition in which activity is attempted from an incompatible Breath State.

State mismatch produces inefficiency, depletion, or congestion independent of intent or effort.

Closure

The resolution of a state without residual demand.

Closure determines loop integrity.

Friction

The experiential signal produced by state mismatch or unresolved loops.

Friction is diagnostic, not moral.

Framework Boundary

The explicit limitation of the Breath State™ framework to three states.

No additional states, sub-states, or hybrid states are permitted.