Start Where You Are.
Some notes on beginnings. Snake Conclusion Next Week.
OK, it’s the publication date for Vera and my new book Breathe Through It. Writing Breathe Through It was my way of offering a companion to anyone navigating the messiness of being alive. I wanted to create something that doesn’t try to fix you or promise a way out of pain, but instead sits with you in it—with honesty, compassion, and gentle encouragement. This book is filled with short meditations and reflections meant to meet you where you are, whether that’s in heartbreak, anxiety, grief, or uncertainty. I believe that when we give ourselves space to feel and breathe through what we’re experiencing, we grow our capacity for presence and connection. My hope is that this book becomes a soft place to land—something you can return to when you need a little permission to just be.
This book started from a place of desperation. Yesterday, when a dear friend asked if I was a meditation expert, I felt a flicker of shame. A voice in my head quietly questioned, Do you have to be an expert to write about something
It’s not a new question for me, but I think it’s worth unpacking—because it’s relational, and because it touches on something many of us feel. I believe in experts. But this book wasn’t written by meditation experts. It was written by Vera and me—two good friends trying to learn how to self-regulate in a world that often feels overwhelming.
I think to myself, several times a day, “Life is so hard—I just need something easy.”
Since childhood, I’ve been trying to build a mindfulness practice. Around the age of 10, well-meaning adults started offering suggestions: imagine you're in an elevator going down or relax each muscle in your body starting from your toes. Nothing stuck for more than a few days.
Looking back, I don’t think the advice was wrong—it just didn’t quite work for me. I was missing something important.
I needed practices that could fit into the rhythm of my life, not ask me to pause everything. I needed something that met me exactly where I was, no matter how little time I had. Most of what I found didn’t leave space to reflect—space to let the practice land, to truly notice what shifted inside me. And I believe that reflection is key. It’s what helps us understand our bodies and motivates us to return to those moments of calm.
When Margaret was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, I hit a breaking point. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t in one now. Maybe I’m just dispositionally anxious, always holding a thread of malaise. But I wanted to channel that pain into something creative—something meaningful and supportive for people like me, who need relief but haven’t found the right doorway in.
"You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." – Sharon Salzberg
Breathe Through It is a gentle offering. It makes the case that movement can be simple and restorative. It doesn’t need to be a big production. This book—at least I hope—meets you where you are, with whatever time and energy you have.
Sending love, Carissa
If the book speaks to you, here are a few ways you can help spread the word:
Order the book! Pre-orders make a huge difference in helping a book succeed—yes, even become a bestseller. You can order a copy (or a few!) for yourself, loved ones, friends, or anyone who might need a gentle invitation to slow down and breathe.
Share it with your people. Talk about the book in your group chats, parent circles, community spaces, or on social media—anywhere people are exploring a different way to approach motherhood, healing, or self-care. Need a jumping-off point? Here’s some sample language you can reshape: "Just pre-ordered Breathe Through It by Carissa Potter and Vera Kachouh—it's full of meditations and somatic tools that actually meet you where you're at. Can’t wait to slow down and dig in. Highly recommend for anyone navigating big emotions or just the daily overwhelm of modern life."
Leave a review. If you’re on Goodreads or StoryGraph, leaving a quick 5-star review there helps others discover the book. Then, on June 3rd, copy that same review over to Amazon—those first-day reviews are gold.
Forward this email. Know someone who might love Breathe Through It? Feel free to forward this note to 10 (or more!) people you think would connect with the message.
Thank you, as always, for your support. I’m so proud of this book and so grateful to share it with you.
cant wait for my copy to arrive!!!!