My friend told me about this contest in which you can go to Italy for 2 weeks and everything is paid for, the flights, hotels, and excursions.

In 2013, I applied for the contest and my mother stated, “There are so many applicants I doubt you are going to win”. After reading The Secret I tried to remain positive and be in a positive mood when I opened up the letter to see if I was accepted into the program.

However on the day of the contest, to my discouragement I discovered that I did not win the contest. I questioned what I did wrong. I put the pictures of me winning in the contest on my vision board. Also I was in a positive mood when I opened up the letter. However, none of this worked in my favor.

Then the next year I applied for the same contest. This time before applying I watched The Secret and created a countdown on my phone on the day I would get accepted into the program. I played Italian music and I researched and discovered the location that the group would be going to this year. Then I set it as my background on my phone. Also, I wrote a fake letter to myself from the company and I hung it up on my board.

Then when the time came close to finding the results, my mother again gave discouraging advice saying, “I don’t see why you applied for this contest, a lot of people entered it and I doubt you are going to win”.

I realized that last time, even though I was in a positive mood, my mother’s mood effected me and subconsciously I must have agreed with her.

So this time I refused to take what she said to heart and I told her, “Watch me, I am going to win!” Then when it came time for the drawing, I looked at my fake letter, and felt the emotions of what it would feel like if I won.

Then to my surprise, I opened up the email and it said I had won!!!

20 people were selected from the United States, and I won, can you believe that?

Reflecting on this experience, I would say that one has to change their attitude and mindset to achieve what they want in life.

Also, I firmly believe in the quote, “Everything happens for a reason” because that year when I went to Italy, the tour guide said she went on a lot of trips to Italy and this was the best trip she has been on. The group I was with was amazing and I still keep in touch with them.

Also, after I won the contest a friend of mine wished me congratulations and she said that she applied and she had a person who was on the board of the contest write her a recommendation. Meanwhile I got picked over her which means that The Secret does perform miracles if you believe!!!