My life as a child was very unhappy. I have no memories of childhood when I wasn’t depressed. As a young adult I met and married an alcoholic. This choice of spouse would guarantee my continued unhappiness and depression. When my marriage ended 15 years later I would be forced to go back to my parents, as my children and I were living with extreme poverty.

I always thought that I was depressed because of my circumstances. Little did I know it worked the other way around. I was in bad circumstances BECAUSE I was depressed, and continually thinking negatively.

About 7 years ago I started learning about the way the universe worked. I heard things like, “To find happiness, you must be happy in the now.” Or “Giving up total control is having complete control”. I somehow knew that these things were true, and if I could just figure out how to be “happy now” and what “giving up total control” meant, I would know the secrets to a joyous life.

I was introduced to the law of attraction shortly after that, but it was a process to go from hearing about it to knowing without a doubt that this is the way the universe works. I now understand how to be happy in my reality, no matter what it is. And that giving up control means knowing what you want but giving the control of how to make it happen to the universe. I think that letting go of the “how” is the most difficult part. Growing up and living with manipulators all my life, I always thought that manipulating a situation was the only way to achieve ones goals. If you want a specific job, you hound the employer until you get it; if you are attracted to a guy, find out his favourite coffee shop and “bump into him” on a regular basis until he notices you. I couldn’t have been so wrong. Now, if I want a particular job, I intend it and let the universe do all the work. If I meet someone I am attracted to, the universe rearranges itself so that I can’t avoid him.

The biggest lesson that I have learned is that joy and happiness aren’t hard work. You don’t have to struggle to reach happiness as if it were on the top of an icy mountain you have to climb. If you just let go, you will experience life the way you were meant to when you were brought to this earth. The universe WANTS everyone to be happy. So relax, let go, and align your thoughts with your desires. That’s all you need to do.

Footnote: I am now living almost completely free of depression. My parents no longer speak to me abusively. I am on the verge of being successful, and am grateful every day for the love I share with everyone around me.