This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Giovanna Fletcher's debut novel Billy and Me came out earlier this year. In the latest in our series she tells Novelicious why The Secret by Rhonda Byrne made her think differently about how she approaches life.
This is likely to sound completely naff to the non-believers out there, because the book that changed my life has to be The Secret – a thought-provoking read that looks into getting what you want through the law of attraction and the power of the universe. Now, I’d love to say I picked it up and have since led my life in the way that it dictates. Sadly, I haven’t.
BUT it really made me look at the way I approach life! I’ve always been a fairly positive person, happy to give anyone a friendly smile and a hug, but being an actress I was prone to having many days of self-doubt. Days where the negativity would creep in and linger over me like a black cloud. I’d worry I wasn’t good enough, fret over when I was going to be back on stage and stress as I watched my bank balance dwindle away. The Secret made me realise just how easy it was to let those thoughts take over and how they can manifest and turn into something ginormous. This isn’t to say that I read the book and banished all negative thoughts over night, but it made me more aware of them. It also allowed me to realise that I had so much to be thankful for and that, perhaps, I put too much emphasis on what I didn’t want in my life, rather than what I did.
It was shortly after discovering The Secret, which was handed to me by a dear friend Tess, that I started my blog. A place where I could post a variety of things that had made me smile that day – anything from photos to quotes to book reviews. I wanted to spread some joy and be a positive force for others.
I don’t know if reading the book has led me where I am today, however, I can say with full belief that it has helped me feel grounded and peaceful in a world full of uncertainty. It’s also made me look at the universe with a sense of wonder, putting into perspective the little things I allow to niggle away at me.