This Book Came From My Heart (And My Anxiety): The Story Behind 101 Mindfulness Practices to Ease Anxiety

I didn’t plan to write this book.
I lived it first.

Anxiety has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. For years, I coped the way so many of us do: powering through, numbing out, pretending everything was fine. But it wasn’t fine.

For years, I felt incredibly alone on my own island of debilitating anxiety. Sadly, I know how many people – maybe even you – can relate.

On the outside, I was confident and happy and “the strong friend” who was always checking on everyone else. Inside, I was dying for someone to check on me. I was living my days just trying to get by, plastering a smile on my face and a seal over my heart that said: if I don’t feel it, I won’t have to deal with it.

Spoiler alert: that was completely false, self-diminishing, and set me way back. Oh, and toxic positivity is absolute bullshit. You probably already know that. My younger self did not. It was just another straw I was desperately grasping at in pursuit of something – anything – that would bring relief.

The turning point came when I started exploring mindfulness – not as a trendy buzzword, but as a lifeline. Breathwork, guided meditation, mindful movement, grounding techniques, mindset tools – they met me in my hardest moments.

Interestingly enough, I first started to connect with mindfulness through my platform, YouAligned. For many years, I was the editor, meaning that I had the pleasure (and tall order) of reviewing every single article that was submitted. So I learned a lot! And since many of our articles were on the topic of mindfulness, I started to get really into it.

As someone who is very cerebral and prone to getting swept away in the negative “what if” spirals and sensory overload that is daily life in the 21st century, mindfulness helped me feel again. It helped me reach a deeper level of self-awareness and a higher sense of self-worth. It helped me heal.

And maybe you’re like me, or like so many of us, who feel overwhelmed by the noise of daily life, disconnected from ourselves, or unsure where to begin when it comes to caring for our mental and emotional health. If that’s you, I want you to know this: there is a way through, and mindfulness can help.

Mindfulness has quite literally pulled me out of the depths of mental health rock bottom. It didn’t happen overnight. It hasn’t been a magic pill or a quick fix. What it has been is a truly transformative guiding light – one that helped shift me out of surviving and into thriving. And it can be that for you too.

The Book That Came From My Mental Health Journey

My new book, 101 Mindfulness Practices to Ease Anxiety, was born from this journey. It’s a collection of the most accessible, powerful tools I’ve discovered (and use! and teach!) to support myself. But it’s not about me.

It’s about you. And for you. Every page has you in mind.

It’s for anyone who’s ever laid in bed, heart racing, mind spinning, unsure how to get through the night. It’s for those quietly carrying overwhelm while showing up for everyone else. It’s for those seeking peace without perfection.

Mindfulness is a mental practice of being fully aware in the present moment and whatever it contains. Typically, anxiety stems from two points that are not in the present moment: the past or the future. By tuning into the here and now, mindfulness becomes a reassuring anchor and comforting companion.

Thich Nhat Hanh’s book The Miracle of Mindfulness  was my first introduction to the practice. In it he shares how mindfulness is, “…the miracle which can call back in a flash our dispersed mind and restore it to wholeness so that we can live each minute of life.”

Mindfulness helps us tune in when life gets loud. It reconnects us to our breath, our body, and our inner compass. With each practice, we build the muscle of presence and self-compassion. We learn how to respond to life instead of react. We discover that peace isn’t something we have to chase – it’s something we can access, right here and now.

And that’s what I want for you.

Every word in this book has you in mind. The practices will meet you where you are and help you get to where you want to be. I offer this book up as a prayer for your wellbeing, as a light amidst the darkness, and as a warm hug from a supportive friend.

If you have even the faintest interest in improving the quality of your life and are open to exploring mindfulness, then I am literally writing this book to and for you.

Every practice is simple. Every word is infused with compassion. This book isn’t about fixing yourself – it’s about supporting yourself. And remembering you’re not alone.

This book stands as a testament that you are not alone. That you are supported. That you have resources available to you for a brighter day and better tomorrow. That you are worthy of help, support, and growth. That you are worthy of not just surviving in life, but fully THRIVING.

Thank You For Being Here

Thank you for being here – if you’re reading this, that means you’re a real one. That means you’re on my personal website and taking the time to read my humble blog posts.

Thank you for allowing my story to be a part of yours. May this book empower and inspire you on your journey. You are supported. You are not alone. And I am rooting for you.

Order 101 Mindfulness Practices to Ease Anxiety or learn more about how this book can support you. from your favorite online retailer:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Books Inc., or Tertulia.