The Secret changed my life
Stuck in a stressful job and an unhealthy relationship, Carly decided to take control of her future...
Self-help book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne has gained a cult following since it was first published a decade ago. New Idea speaks to one reader who has enjoyed the dizzying heights of success in every facet of her life, after applying its practices and principles...
Smothered by a toxic relationship, working in an extremely stressful environment and stuck in the London rat race, Carly Evans’ world was overwhelming.
But the 35-year-old says that all changed after watching a movie version of The Secret, which claims all your wildest dreams can come true by using the law of attraction.
‘I used visualisation and repeated positive affirmations over and over. I added emotions and feelings of already having the things I desired because that amplified the strategies,’ Carly tells New Idea.
Though cynics may think it sounds far-fetched, Carly – who has a degree and a master’s in psychology – reveals how it worked for her.
WEALTH
‘I’ve manifested lots of money over the years, including winning $10,000 through the Endeavour Lotteries,’ she reveals. ‘The very first time it happened was when I needed to have a certain amount of cash to be able to move to Australia.
‘In mid-february 2010, I started repeating an affirmation: “It’s now March 31, 2010, and I’m so happy and grateful that I have brought in at least three hundred pounds a week extra on top of my usual salary.”
‘I’d say it constantly, when I was getting ready for work, during my half-hour walk to work and on the way home, so that it became almost like an active meditation.
‘It worked! I ended up getting exactly that amount from reiki workshops and treatments that I did on the side, which were suddenly in high demand!
‘Another time, I manifested $20,000 in three weeks for my house deposit.
‘It may sound unlikely, but I used affirmations and an emotional freedom technique, which involves tapping to clear up any energy around, not believing it would happen.
‘Out of the blue, my parents gave me $10,000 and I got a bunch of extra reiki and
‘I cleared up the energetic stuff holding me back, which enabled me to triple my income’
coaching clients, which made up the difference.
‘When you set the intention for more money, more clients end up booking in out of nowhere!’
FROM TOXIC RELATIONSHIP TO SOULMATE
‘When I was living in London I was in a relationship with someone who was bipolar,’ Carly reveals.
‘He was manic, psychotic and delusional. I wanted out of the relationship, but I was scared because he was threatening suicide.
‘I finally left him in June 2010, when my own health began to suffer.
‘A few weeks after arriving in Sydney in October 2010, I wrote a cosmic wishlist for my dream man.
‘It was very detailed – two sides of A4 paper!
‘I didn’t want another relationship straight away, but I knew it would eventually happen, and this time I wanted to make sure I attracted the right kind of man.
‘A few days later I went to visit friends in Perth. I fell in love with the place and while I was there, I met Ben.
‘Out of all the qualities on that extensive list, there were only two boxes that he didn’t tick – he didn’t live in Sydney, and he had a three-and-a-halfyear-old son.
‘I always thought I didn’t want to be with someone who had kids, but actually, being a stepmum has brought a whole new dynamic to my life.
‘Lennox is the most divine little boy ever.
‘Within two months I was living in Perth, and Ben and I are now engaged!’
DREAM HOME
‘Back in London, I always lived in rented share houses,’ she says.
‘But after learning about the law of attraction, I’d visualise a home by the beach. I’d picture myself surrounded by my family in a beautiful backyard overlooking the ocean.
‘I made a vision board and included pictures of a beach, palm trees and a beautiful sunset. I took a picture of it and had it as my phone’s wallpaper so every time I looked at the time I’d see it.
‘Now I own my dream fourbedroom home, overlooking the ocean. We are even having a pool built!’
JOB OF MY DREAMS
‘I was working as a probation officer in London and although I enjoyed it, the environment was toxic,’ Carly says.
‘My real passion was in reiki and coaching. But I didn’t earn enough doing those things to leave my permanent job.
‘When I got to Australia – something I’d dreamt about since I was 19 – I got a job in probation. Once I got residency, I transitioned into working in my business full-time.
‘Through using law of attraction principles like affirmations, vision boards and visualisations, I cleared up the energetic stuff holding me back.
‘That enabled me to triple my business income, which ended up being more than my salary in my old probation job!’