I thought I was after a Sunday Times bestseller

Turns out that's not what I need after all. Also: a free 45-minute magical breathwork session for all of you to enjoy. It will make you feel amazing.

Rather excitingly, my book - Raise your SQ - was released on Thursday.

To mark the day, we held a virtual launch, which included a five-minute reading from the book and a 45-minute breathwork session from the wonderful Claire Frances.

My dad (who’d never done breathwork before) described it as: “[the] most relaxed hour whilst awake that I can remember.”

Others described it as “powerful”, “profound” and “illuminating and life giving”.

For me, ‘raising your SQ’ is about building mini rituals into your day that will lift your spirits, give you energy and make you feel like you - and your life - are magical.

Many of these rituals require nothing but your body and mind.

And yet they are so powerful.

But I also recommend certain SQ experiences that can act as a route into spirituality, or help you to forge a deeper spiritual connection.

Like breathwork, which has roots in Eastern spiritual traditions.

During the launch, I wanted everyone who came along to feel like their SQ has been raised.

And from the comments people left, I feel like that definitely happened.

But something interesting happened for me, too.

It’s a bit embarrassing to write this but I’m going to be honest.

I went into the book launch thinking: I hope people like the sound of my book and decide they want to buy it.

My original intention had been around people buying the book so that it would rise on Amazon, hit the ‘bestseller’ sections and then reach even more people.

I hoped it would become a Sunday Times bestseller.

These are all pretty ego-driven goals, and I’m now aware of that.

But these ‘goals’ are also linked to the general success of the book which, if achieved, would mean I’d get my next book deal and be able to continue writing for a living.

This, I’m increasingly realising, is what I want to be doing: writing non-fiction, with back-to-back book deals.

So I decided that at the start of the breathwork, I’d create this intention and use the meditative state - and some SQ magic - to convert people into wanting to buy.

However, as I lay on my kitchen floor, breathing deeply to beautiful music, under Claire’s guidance, I realised something.

I wasn’t there to sell books, I was there to connect with the people who’d kindly taken time to join the launch.

It felt so powerful to be breathing together, via Zoom. All with our own thoughts and wishes and dreams and experiences, but still connected.

When I came back into the room, I felt my intention had completely changed.

I came to see that I don’t need to be on bestseller lists. It would be lovely, if it happened, but it’s not the main aim.

Rather, I just need the book to reach anyone who needs it so that in that way, I can connect with people around the world.

It’s about connection.

Spirituality is about connection - to yourself, your community, the online world, the planet and any higher beings you speak to.

And so now, from heart rather than ego, I’m sending my book out into the world and hoping it lands in the hands of those most in need of connection.

On that note, I’d love to share the Zoom recording of yesterday’s book launch with you, so that you can enjoy Claire’s magical breathwork session as well.

Here is the link to Raise your SQ book launch, including a 45-minute breathwork session that would usually cost £75. The passcode is: N&H0yh+m

You can watch and enjoy as many times as you like (I’ve just done Claire’s breathwork session again, on my own, to help inspire this email).

I find breathwork both calming and energising; grounding and elevating. It really is a wonderful SQ practice.

If, after watching/listening to this and doing the breathwork, you’d like to have a session with Claire, you can contact her via Instagram - @wovencircle.

And if you’d like more ideas about spiritual experiences, practices, rituals and exercises to weave into your everyday, you can buy my book from Amazon, Waterstones, Bookshop.org or order it in person from your local bookshop.

Let me know how you get on with the breathwork, if you give it a go.

Lots of love,

Annie x