I am 40 years old and a mom of 2. Recently, for the first time in my life, I felt crippling anxiety. I have not been able to work for 3 months. I have been seeing a psychologist and I am on medication but I was only getting so far and starting to feel hopeless.

A month ago a friend suggested that I read The Magic. I thought I’d give it a go. Now I can say, skeptic that I am, this book has literally dug me out of a hole! It has changed my focus from “I’m afraid, what is happening to me” to “look at all the wonderful things and people around me.”

There’s a practice in the book called “magnificent outcomes”, where you have to be thankful for future events going well. One of the events I wrote down happened yesterday! I challenged myself to go into the office for the first time since February of 2020 to meet my boss. After having my second child in 2019 and returning from maternity leave, I had only been back to the office a few weeks in February of 2020 before the coronavirus lockdown started. So it was a big deal for me. And it would probably be for anyone, given what we have all been going through!

Going in I had no nerves at all! I actually had an absolutely brilliant time and a great chat with my boss. I did not feel in the slightest bit anxious at the office. I felt comfy and confident. Not only that but when I was getting up to leave, my boss told me that the company is giving a small gift to all the staff as a thank you for being strong during the pandemic. She handed me a lovely gift bag with a painting and a box of chocolates.

Last night I came home and thought about the challenge I’d set for myself and I’m so grateful for this book!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!