It is the 90th birthday of Louise L. Hay today. She is a pioneer of the self-help movement. A large part of my work is based on her philosophy.
What can I say about Louise Hay? I know her but she doesn’t know me. My training and certification are through an organisation which is authorised by her. I have yet to meet her in person. Hence I am not one to gush, go gaga and guru worship her. I would esteem her as how I would a teacher whom I respect in school.
She is well known for her work on positive affirmations, mirror work and visualisation. She emphasises on the need to release negative emotions with a core message on loving the self.
She is not the first and won’t be the last with these messages. She just delivers them in the simplest of ways that make it plausible for a stuck stubborn mind to switch.
She explains universal concepts with a simple punch.
“You reap what you sow” or “what you give out is what you get back” is simply “your thoughts create your reality”. Severe enough to make you sit up.
She is a straight-talking teacher who is clear and direct.
“If we choose to believe we are helpless victims and that it’s all hopeless, then the Universe will support us in that belief, and we will just go down the drain. It is vital that we release these foolish, outmoded, negative ideas and beliefs that do not support us and nourish us. Even our concept of God needs to be one that is for us, not against us.”
She is unabashed about using the word “love” openly. Some find it mushy or fluffy.
“Begin by blessing your current (job) position with love”
The techniques she teaches is practical – it can actually be applied. By anyone.
For those who have attended my talks or workshops, I shared on how to create positive affirmations. I remember someone remarked during the exercise, “it’s so easy!”
I felt exactly the same way when I first learnt it. In fact, I felt so stupid for not knowing it earlier. I would have spared my parents a lot of drama and money.
Yet, why didn’t we know it? Why didn’t they teach us this in school – one that is so fundamental to functioning in life. We end up being trapped in our own negative thoughts and feelings, not knowing how to get out of it on our own. Now it’s finally being taught.
The best teacher is one whom can effect a change. If you were to gauge me by my financial and measurable achievements now, I will probably fail by your yardstick (and so you may stop reading now)
I came out of anti-depressants 7 years ago. Yes, it does not look like a long time. There is also good reason why I had been called Miss Negative. For me to set this up from zero base on my own and to be confronted by regular challenges and self-conflict, does not come from passion alone.
This work has helped me greatly to manage me. For that, I am grateful to Louise for being an effective teacher, and me, lucky enough to be in her class.