Life Falls Apart, But You Don't Have to: Mindful Methods for Staying Calm in the Midst of Chaos

Julie Potiker turns some enormous lemons in her life into the sweetest lemonade in this wonderful book. She brings together practical brain science, powerful methods from psychotherapy, and her own friendly, funny, encouraging, and heartfelt voice to offer a wonderful roadmap and toolbox for when life throws some lemons at you.—Rick Hanson, PhD, author of Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom; and Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence.

At one point in her life, Julie Potiker was so stressed that she began manifesting symptoms of a stroke. It was at this point she realized she needed to change her life and find better ways of managing the challenges she would inevitably face.

Now she’s sharing the methods she developed with you. In this compassionate and courageous new guide, Potiker shows you how to

• find happiness apart from your children’s lives,
• practice important self-care rituals,
• rewire your own brain to receive happiness,
• feel safe and comforted in the midst of the chaos, and
• listen to your inner critic without letting it tear you down.

Potiker also introduces Jewish tradition into her mindfulness lessons and explains the importance of following your own spiritual and emotional values as you embark on this new journey.

Julie Potiker was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She received her bachelor’s degree in general science (with a concentration in psychology and theater) from the University of Michigan and her JD from George Washington University.

Potiker’s life experiences inspired her to study mindfulness. She now teaches mindful self-compassion and is the founder and chair of the Balanced Mind Meditation Center. Potiker has also created Mindful Methods for Life, a proprietary system that rewires the brain for greater happiness and resilience. She has helped bring the science behind mindfulness to people in all walks of life.

Potiker lives with her family in La Jolla, California. She has enjoyed watching her three children—Michael, Cara, and Danielle—grow into happy young adults.