It’s True – The book “The Secret” Changed My Life

At a time when I most needed it, about 6 years ago, mildly intrigued by my local bookstore reserving hundreds of copies of “The Secret” by Rhonda Bryne, I ended up picking the book out of curiosity. I was totally clueless about what the book was about and I never even heard of the Law of Attraction. What happened after I read the book really changed my life in a significant way. No, I’m not a millionaire (yet), nor did Johnny Depp show up at my door asking for a date, but big changes were about to happen and it all started after I read this book.

Giddy positive vibes in a book were new to me, so I wasn't sure what to make of this tingly excitement I was feeling. I really did not buy the premise about material manifestation of things by just thinking about them, but there was something in this KoolAid that I was sipping on, and it tasted pretty good.

I started applying some of the ideas in “The Secret” even though my core conditioning was the polar opposite of this Pollyannaish approach to worries, problems, fears, etc. Despite my good angel/bad angel conflict, the more I applied some of the simple techniques from the book, I just started feeling lighter and generally in a better mood. Plus, was it my imagination or did it seem that others around me seemed in a better mood too? So I spent a good deal of time focusing on expanding my thoughts to include positive affirmations and it appeared to be working because I just felt better overall, both mentally and physically.

So than what happened? Like Rhonda Byrne claims in “The Secret” I also became driven to find out more. I went on a 5 year crusade to learn more about these ideas and where they came from. What I found in both modern and ancient studies related to the core principle of “you are what you think about” is that these concepts can be found and taught from the annals of antiquity clear up to today. I studied concepts in religion, both Eastern and Western, philosophy, psychology, history and science. Amazingly, I found that there simply is not a time in recorded history when these ideas were not considered and discussed. From Plato, to Buddha and Jesus, to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Napoleon Hill clear up to "The Secret", the idea of individual reality based on a directed consciousness has been presented in a multitude of ways.

What happened over those next years after I read “The Secret” was primarily a drastically changed perspective on my thinking and living. And, I was challenged several times to try out my new mindset. For instance, during this time frame I was unexpectedly laid off from a very successful career in Information Technology. My 20 career in IT had provided for my family while raising my two daughters as a single parent quite handsomely. But I can honestly say that I never really LOVED my job, in fact, I barely liked it but I tried my best to make the best of the situation and be grateful. (What a sad way to live – right?) The layoff was challenging financially and I was able to put my new ideas to the test because after exhausting all my savings and retirement money, I came to the point where it looked like I was going to lose everything I just spent the last 20+ years accumulating. This was a real test to whether I just spent the last couple years blowing smoke up my booty with these “touchy feely” ideals or whether they had any merit to them. I stuck with my planned intentions and continued to see the end result as a positive outcome. I worked very hard during that time on letting go of the fear and the idea that what I accumulated defined me. The end result is: Every day I feel more empowered to live a life that I intend instead of living a life based on what is thrown at me.

One day several months back, I was sitting on my back deck (somehow during the course of severe financial turmoil I managed to get built a beautiful screened in two story deck that I had always wanted and dreamed about) – and while I was sitting there enjoying my scenery, which is quite beautiful and peaceful, I realized that I AM doing exactly what I had dreamed about for many years. You see, during all those years of working in the office, my thoughts were about WISHING I was not in the office, but sitting somewhere doing what I wanted to do, (which is writing), in some beautiful peaceful setting, like my new deck.

So, this is how my life has changed since reading “The Secret”. I am changed, maybe not the conditions around me but certainly the way I look at them. The way I approach issues, challenges, problems, fears, and relationships with others is different. These changes have added moments back into my life, as opposed to stealing moments from my life consuming by precious time with worry and doubt. “The Secret” was a catalyst for opening doors of thought for me that five years ago would never have been “sticky”. These ideas must be something you are open to or else all they do is irritate you. You will know when you are ready because you will feel the desire to learn more and books like “The Secret” will all of the sudden become very intriguing to you.

Since that time, I have written my own book. My intention was to share my inspirations and research, as well as include a strong spiritual element to many of the ideas shared in "The Secret". You might say that after reading "The Secret" my purpose began to get very clear and it was time to be an advocate for personal and spiritual empowerment, which I am beginning to fulfill with my book and my blog. My mission is clear now and I will continue to share these amazing inspirations and I owe it all reading a little book that caught my curiosity - "The Secret".

Joleen (Bridges) Halloran is the author of Finding Home - Breaking Free from Limits. This book represents over 10 years of research and inspiration in the topics of personal and spiritual empowerment and provides readers with a pathway to overcome limits and discover authentic divine qualities in their lives and to live a life of unlimited freedom. .

Beyond Joleen's professional life, she is an avid reader and researcher of books related to her special passion, which is metaphysical and spirituality topics. You can find out more about Joleen's book at her books website,www.breakingfreefromlimits.com. Additional articles of a spiritual and inspirational nature can be found at the book's website as well.