Believe in Yourself
Photo Credit: Fun J
“What we believe about ourselves and about life becomes true for us.” ~ Louise Hay
This year my guiding mantra in all aspects of my life is anything is possible. Last week I wrote an encouraging blog about possibilities for writers and dreamers. I shared my author journey from my heart, and it resonated with many of my readers. This week my focus is on possibilities for healing when our thoughts are aligned with positive outcomes. I’m writing about how our beliefs influence how we live with challenges, whether they be physical, mental, emotional, relational, or spiritual. I encourage you, dear reader, to stay open and believe in yourself.
My Beliefs…
I believe that human beings are powerful manifesters. We have the ability to change our lives and the lives of others through our thoughts and feelings, which inform our actions. Every action makes an impact, some big, some small, some with a domino effect that carries on for generations. It’s important to make conscious choices about what we meditate on and give space for in our minds and hearts—because it is a choice. An excellent resource I refer to often, and that I’ve recommended before, is Louise Hay’s book, You Can Heal Your Life. Her knowledge about how mental patterns can affect wellness had a huge impact on my beliefs about healing.
Physical Healing…
My readers all know how, in the fall of 2021, Mister was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. How we were both taken by surprise, because he was in otherwise excellent health and there was no history of this disease in his family. Louise Hay would have pointed to a thought pattern of insecurity and an inability to let go that which is over as a probable cause. I don’t know if that is true or not, but from the beginning, I witnessed Mister’s positive mindset. He was determined and had complete faith that he would be healed. It was a long haul, but he received excellent healthcare from a team of dedicated professionals. The important message for you, dear reader, is that he never gave up believing—even when he had to change his beliefs and actions about how to heal at every turn. Through it all, he visualized his body healthy, whole and complete. And somehow, even without his large colon, he is.
My readers also know about my diagnosis with breast cancer last February, and how it came as a huge surprise too. There was no history in my family to prepare me either. Louise Hay would have suggested the cause was my refusal to nourish myself and feelings of deep hurt, that the grief was literally consuming me. It’s true, I was suffering from a deep, consuming grief. My battle wasn’t nearly as long as Mister’s. I also received excellent care from a team of dedicated cancer care providers. But as soon as I received the diagnosis, I began to picture the lump, which was small and in early stages, diminishing. I did everything my cancer specialists advised me to do to, from surgery to medication and radiation. The important message for you, dear reader, is that I never stopped believing that I was going to win the fight. I imagined myself holding my grandson and granddaughter in my arms, who were due to arrive soon. I pictured my body healthy, whole and complete. And somehow, even with part of my breast missing, I am.
Mental Healing…
My quest for healing from depression and anxiety has been a significant battle in my life. My first life-threatening struggle was in 2007. I felt so paralyzed by fear and years of manipulation in an abusive relationship, that hopelessness consumed me and I considered taking my own life. Louise Hay identifies hopelessness as a root cause for depression. She writes that not trusting the flow and process of life causes anxiety. The message I have for you, dear reader, is to understand it is a battle that takes place in the mind, heart, and spirit. Most of us need support in some form or another to reframe our thoughts, to challenge our perceptions, and to change our self-talk about our worth and our ability to be happy, healthy, whole, and complete. Because we are.
Emotional Healing…
I believe fear is the root cause of many negative and unhealthy emotions. In her extensive list of health problems, Louise Hay identifies the probable cause as thoughts rooted in fear. Addictions, hyperventilation, panic attacks, insomnia, nervousness, eating disorders, and even ulcers. Fear, and the tension it produces, leads us away from trusting life. Fears can be passed down from one generation to the next and those can be the most difficult to overcome. I was raised in a culture where stranger danger was taught as the way to avoid being hurt. The focus on strangers had me afraid of kind strangers, while trusting family members who were predators. I wasn’t taught to listen to my intuition. As a society, it seems the idea of intuition can still induce images of witches, lunatics, and heretics. Fear is used to manipulate and control. Some fears are narratives based on false assumptions. Some are real and should be listened to. The biggest take-away I have to offer you, dear reader, is to listen to and trust your intuition. Because you can.
Relational Healing…
Healing from the loss of important relationships has also been a significant challenge for me. At a young age, I chose to marry a man who was consumed by demons, who suffered from mental and emotional health challenges. I held a naive and non-intuitive belief that my love could transform him. Perhaps it could have, if he’d been able to receive it. But he wasn’t. Instead, his darkness almost engulfed me completely. The repercussions of that fateful decision continue to reverberate in my life, even though I found the courage to leave him in 2011. I couldn’t find Louise Hay’s opinions on relational health challenges, but I have learned a lot over many years of therapy and by reading illuminating books. Groundbreaking nonfiction like When the Body Says No by Gabor Mate and poignant fiction like Clarrisa Pinkola Estés Women Who Run with the Wolves. My biggest take-away for you, dear reader, is to get support to heal yourself. Learn healthy boundaries and learn to trust your intuition. Because you can.
Spiritual Healing…
I had been on a quest to create a meaningful relationship with God for all my adult life that never seemed able to stay rooted, until recently. I gave up on God when hard things happened, then re-embraced God when blessings were showered upon me. Louise Hay writes, “I am one with the very Power that created me, and this Power has given me the power to create my own circumstances.” I call the Power she refers to God, but you, dear reader, might have a different name. Perhaps you don’t believe a higher power exists? Whatever you believe, if you’ll stay open to receiving wisdom, support and love in whatever form it takes, it will be easier for you to overcome challenges of every kind. When you allow light to take hold in your heart, it can fill you with a strength you never imagined possible. So I encourage you, dear reader, to believe in yourself and your ability to heal—that anything is possible.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· In December 2025 I signed a contract with Austin Macauley Publishers for my manuscript, The Trials of Alex Anderson, a character-driven novel that explores the relationship between mental illness and trauma. I am now on the road to publication, with an expected release date near the end of 2026. I’ll be posting regular updates here on my blog and on social media, so stay tuned for exciting new developments.
· The Rogue Scorpion is available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find it at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
Reviews & Interviews:
· You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.
Events:
· There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.
YouTube Channel:
· Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer