I first heard of the book You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay in 2016, after a recommendation from my therapist. At first, I was a little skeptical: how could simple affirmations have such a powerful effect on someone’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health? After finally deciding to give the book a chance, I read it one afternoon. Looking back now, I even remember crying while I would read it. It truly felt as if the words contained in the book were feeding my soul: the more I read, the better I felt about myself. It was like I finally understood what I was doing wrong and what I had to do to fix it.
One thing that I intuitively believe is that when we read a book, we not only get a sense of the author’s work and all the research invested in the writing but also that we acquire the energetic wisdom behind the information shared. No wonder millions of people were drawn to the book – You Can Heal Your Life has sold over 50 million copies since 1984, and I could feel the magic of the atmosphere created by it when I read it.
In the book, Hay reinforces that thought patterns are responsible for creating an individual’s reality. Everything that happens in someone’s life is a validation of an internal belief. For example, if, deep down, you believe that you’re unworthy of love, you will experience situations, in which this sense of unworthiness will be validated. In the book, Hay tells a story about never having eaten a piece of cake as a child, and, when she had the opportunity to do so at that time, there was no cake left for her.
According to the author, everything that happens in our lives is our responsibility. And a shift in our thought patterns means a transformation in our external reality. Our beliefs are the ones that can either move us forward or paralyze us. So, if any part of your life seems to be stuck right now, observe the stories you’ve been telling yourself. Start analyzing your life through the lenses of an outsider and notice your internal narratives.
When I was reading the book, I recalled the times in my childhood when I would think that I was ugly, stupid, and unworthy of attention. I would then hide myself so others wouldn’t notice me or be overly nice to anyone so that I would feel worthy of love. Now when I read what I just wrote I laugh. Sometimes the stories we tell ourselves are so far from the truth, that they don’t even make sense if we take a closer look at them.
Also in the book, the author affirms that even diseases can be healed, if we change our thought patterns, behaviors, and actions. And shares the story about how she got rid of cancer with a change of diet, behavior, and affirmations. Louise Hay became her own case study and affirmed that “sometimes what seems to be a big tragedy turns out to be the greatest good in our lives.” (Hay, 1984).
I know that affirming that diseases can be healed with a change of mindset can be a huge claim, but I also believe they are alarms that some changes in behavior are required. Our bodies carry a lot of wisdom and if we take time to pay attention, major problems can be avoided.
Just as side note, I believe that the future of the medical system is holistic. We cannot continue silencing the symptoms of our diseases, we need to start looking for the root cause of our problems.
But back to Louise Hay, there’s one thing in the book that she wrote that remains in my heart: her goal was to create a world where it’s safe to love each other. And we can start this path by learning to love ourselves.
If you have also read the book, share below in the comments your key takeaways. I’d love to hear from you. And if you want to be up to date with Creative Living Path’s latest news, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter!
See you soon,
Sofia. 😊