A side effect to running is that you learn to focus on your breathing. I find myself consciously inhaling and exhaling throughout my day. Because I have a mind that wanders easily and as such gets distracted--all these other ways of thinking and looking at the world--focusing on one breath at a time helps to clear my head. Breathing is one of those involuntary subroutines you never think about. But if the air you so desperately needed were cut off for some reason, you'd definitely notice. "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." (Romans 8:22)
Rough breathing
In other words, we're waiting for something that hasn't yet happened. Robbing Peter to pay Paul at times seems the only tangible means of getting anything done, accomplished, paid for, etc. If you continue to look up the ladder of supply, it makes you wonder. Where's the thing that is supposed to ease my struggle? God can provide it--He wants to--but sometimes He wants you to wait out the fruit from bad decisions made past. One day, one thought, one breath at a time.
"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:23)
If you choose to look at life as full--"And having food and raiment (clothes) let us be therewith content." (1 Timothy 6:8)--and work your way up from there, it makes for a simpler time and day and the gratitude owed God will sprout and flower of its own when the blessings He sends do arrive.
In Ancient Greek writing, the rough breathing mark--a diacritic (')--means you pronounce an 'h' sound before the vowel over which it's placed. Smooth breathing is the opposite (think facing apostrophes). Simply put, it's an easier means of pronunciation. And Ancient Greek sounds a world away from modern English. The parallel I'm looking to draw here may be a stretch but it is as follows.
Smooth breathing
"Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies." (Psalm 27:11)
God is using our struggles and our "enemies" to mold and shape us into that which He'd have us be. If you asked for the scales to be removed, would you really want to see the forces at work trying to derail your life? Plans and schemes that are constantly being reworked to cause your downfall? A very real enemy with more detailed information on what makes you tick than even you possess? The only way one would "breath easy" after being shown all of that is to follow Christ. This is why He says "narrow is the way" (Matthew 7:14). Because He is the way. Now, narrow as it may be (as in, options--none other), this doesn't speak to the times of beauty and refreshing and all-around bliss in which God wants to enrapture you. That's between you and He. Just make sure and exhale. The "runner's high" is a real thing. You should try it sometime.