Dear Louise

Dear Louise

Louise L. Hay is a metaphysical teacher and the bestselling author of 27 books, including You Can Heal Your Life, Empowering Women, and Inner Wisdom. Since beginning her career as a Science of Mind minister in 1981, she has assisted thousands of people in discovering and using the full potential of their own creative powers for personal growth and self-healing. Louise’s works have been translated into 25 different languages in 33 countries throughout the world.

Dear Louise,
I was downsized out of a 17-year-job and have struggled for the last 8 years just to make a living. Using your tapes, I’ve hit a wall. I’ve gained weight, and I know I used food for stress management. I feel like I’m so close, like not seeing the forest for the trees, yet the answers are just outside my grasp. Can you help me? — W.J., Evansville, IN

Dear W.J.,
Losing a job can be a challenge. However, it has nothing to do with your self-worth. Failing a test, having a divorce, losing a job— is not your fault. Life is signaling us that it’s time for us to go in a different direction. Beating ourselves up and choosing to feel like a failure is the worst thing we can do. It send out the wrong signals and keeps the good we want from us. Life can’t give us good experiences when we feel rotten.

You want to change your inner mental atmosphere from victim/loser to worthy/receptive. The best stress management you can do is to think thoughts of self-worth and self-love. Begin talking to yourself like this: I let the past go. I forgive everyone who I feel may ever have harmed me. I release all thoughts that make me feel bad. I am now free to create a new life. I believe in Life. I am open and receptive to All Good. The abundance of All Good is available to me now. I deserve and accept an abundance of friends, of joy, of love, of good health, and of prosperity such as I’ve never known before. I trust life. I love myself now!

Dear Louise,
I’m a 63-year-old woman who is way too thin. I eat well, I exercise daily, and I’m healthy, so your suggestions on how I can gain weight would be very much appreciated. — W.P., Vancouver, BC

Dear W.P.,
I feel that you’ve been thin all your life. If you eat well, exercise, and you’re healthy I don’t see what the problem is. Is your doctor complaining? Just love your body exactly as it is. Every morning and evening, look in the mirror and say: “Body, I love you. You are a good body and have served me well. I love the way you look, and I thank you for my good health.” All bodies love a little appreciation.

Dear Louise,
I read your advice every month, but it continues to occur to me that we are, in fact, humans and how do you account for our faults? How does God allow us our human failings? What can I do to focus on your teachings and the positive tools and still take responsibility for my mistakes? — M.P., Minneapolis, MN

Dear M.P.,
What you call faults, I’d call lessons not yet learned. Humanity is just beginning to learn the laws of Life—what we give out comes back to us. The thoughts we think create our experiences, and the beliefs we hold (which are just habitual thoughts) bring good to us or keep it from us. Everything is available here for us. We just need to learn how to make ourselves open and receptive to the good in life. Faults, as you call them, occur when we don’t know this and behave in ways that create frustration for us. Love your mistakes. See them as learning lessons. Be less hard on yourself and others. Affirm: I rejoice in all of Life. I love and appreciate every bit of myself. All is well!

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If you would like Louise to answer your letter in this publication, please send it to: Dear Louise Column, c/o Hay House, Inc., P.O. Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100, or e-mail your letter to: [email protected] (letters used in this column may be edited for length and clarity). Please visit the Hay House Website at: www.hayhouse.com.

February-March 2003