Tribute to Louise Hay

I had planned a totally different post this week, but I have delayed it to pay tribute to a woman who greatly influenced my life, despite me never having ever met her. Just shows that your writing may have an effect on someone without you ever knowing. This is a tribute to Louise Hay who died last week at the age of 90.

Rewind to the early 1990’s. I found myself divorced and bringing up my son alone whilst juggling a very hectic full-time job. I was truly frazzled trying to keep up with everything and to be honest, rather lost. I lived on adrenalin. Add to this, the terrible eating habits I’d adopted. My son had wonderful home-cooked meals with the childminder, but when I got home, I usually grabbed something quick and easy. Despite promotions at work, which at least meant that money wasn’t an issue, my self-esteem was rock bottom.

My sister introduced me to a newly-qualified homeopath who recommended the books You Can Heal Your Life and The Power is within You by Louise Hay. The books resonated with me. Basically, your thoughts influence the life you have, so you can change your life by thinking differently and by repeating positive affirmations.

Louise L. Hay is a metaphysical lecturer and teacher, and the bestselling author of 27 books, including You Can Heal Your Life and Empowering Women. Her works have been translated into 25 different languages in 33 countries throughout the world. 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 is the owner and founder of Hay House, Inc.

The homeopath and I became friends and we went to a local course that was half aerobics and half Louise Hay work. It was fun. I still have the file of handouts. By this time, I was working in staff development and was keen to incorporate some of the ideas into my work, so I went on an eight-day course in Stroud to learn to be a Heal Your Life training practitioner.

This course was amazing and proved to be a turning point for me. There were thirty-two people from all over the world. We laughed, we sang, we hugged and we cried (a lot). I felt layers of crap falling away. To this day, I have never been able to breathe as easily as at the end of that week.

The group had many talents, so I learned as much out of hours as on the course. I met Reiki practitioners and was fascinated to feel energy flowing from their hands and coursing through me. There were two hypnotherapists and I experienced two past life regressions – one on Halloween during a power cut!

I well remember driving home and vowing that I would train in hypnotherapy and Reiki. Just over a year later, I left the corporate world to become a therapist and to run courses. Thank you, Louise Hay, for the difference you made to both my outlook and my life –  RIP.