I first learnt about The Secret in 2007 when a former colleague at my previous company lent me her DVD. I watched it, thought, “That’s very nice, but I’m sure that kind of thing can only happen to other people, in other places, in other times, and probably only in movies,” and I did absolutely nothing about it. To top it all, I had just started at a new church, and one Sunday evening shortly after I had watched the DVD, we had a lecture and debate on The Secret, which pretty much tore it to shreds, saying that it goes against the teachings of Christianity, etc. Since negativity was already my default behaviour, I thought, “Well, that settles it.” And I put the whole idea out of my mind.

I continued to hope that one fine day God (or someone) would decide to give me a break, and give me the happy life I deserved. As far as I was concerned I was helpless to do anything about anything… it was all up to God to favour or punish me as he saw fit. When bad things kept happening, I just accepted it as the norm. When I really wanted something good to happen and it did, I didn’t make the connection and just wrote it down to coincidence. I was negative, depressed, overweight, deeply in debt, and stuck in a job I hated. I wasn’t living; I was merely existing, trapped in a life I was convinced belonged to someone else.

Within the last two months something started nagging me to go out and buy my own copy of The Secret and The Power. I eventually stopped procrastinating and did, and for the first time I have started consciously focusing and applying its teachings. However, being new to this and being a creature of negative habit, I sometimes find a doubtful thought creeping in here and there.

Last Friday I was on The Secret website, reading some of the stories. I found myself wondering why none of the stories that I had seen were from anyone in South Africa (you see that idea that The Secret only happens to people in other places, etc. was resurfacing!). I don’t know why, but for some reason I believed that if only I could find someone in my own country who had experienced The Secret, it would somehow make it more real and more credible for me. Nevertheless, I quickly tried to put the idea out of my mind and started saying positive affirmations instead.

I didn’t visit the website this weekend, and a short while ago I decided to check my e-mail. I noticed my Secret Scroll e-mail that arrived yesterday (08/05). The link took me to The Secret Stories page. Normally I would read stories by categories, but today something told me to click on the Most Recent Stories link. I did, and what do you think was waiting for me right at the top of the list? “The Power of Gratitude” by Thando N… FROM SOUTH AFRICA!!!! I grinned from ear to ear and then looked around to see where The Secret’s ‘candid camera’ was hidden! That is the absolute last time I allow doubt to enter my mind. Something amazing is unfolding every minute of every day. I can’t wait to see what comes next!