The secret of success

She chanced upon a secret, Something with the power to change lives. While it is a meeting of diverse philosophies, the creator and executive producer of the film The Secret, and author of The Secret, The Power, The Magic, and Hero, life coach Rhonda Byrne realised the questions to life. Today, she is a worldwide bestseller, with books available in 50 languages with over 20 million copies in print. In an age where hope sells unfettered, the Australian who tells you to envision the change you want to see, is out with her latest book, How the Secret Changed My Life — Real People, Real Stories, which is also garnering acclaim.

The new book sees the author, who lives in the United States, inculcating a change in thinking, to create positive ripples. An anecdotal reverie into the innumerable stories of people who have followed her writing and been successful, even if it sounds farfetched in the ordinary realm of things. “I am deeply moved by the amazing stories in How The Secret Changed My Life. At the same time, I also know that if any person follows The Secret principles they can be, do, or have anything they want. It is the best thing in the world to know that there is a law that will never fail any person and when used correctly makes ‘miracles’ become common place,” shares Rhonda Byrne.

Easier said than done, of course, but Byrne feels it’s important to truly believe. Rhonda is also reported to have said that many Bollywood actors have also followed her tenets and even speaks of a lesser-known film that uses them. “All Is Well is a special film that I love. The film demonstrates the Secret principles and I would recommend it. I also love the Bollywood actors who star in it, Abhishek Bachchan and Asin,” says Rhonda in this email interview.

What makes her books different from other self-help books? “The Secret books are very simple, practical and easy to follow, and when put into practice, they’re instantly life-changing. I think this is what has made them spread and reach tens of millions of people,” she adds.

Back in Melbourne, the little Rhonda grew up as one of five girls in a simple family, and did some writing as radio producer and realised that she didn’t think she was good. “These days, I use the book’s principles for my writing. I intend and visualise before I begin to write and this makes writing effortless,” says the author whose body of work has many skeptical of its authenticity since it has taken notes from diverse philosophers, Quantum physics, and spirituality.

How the Secret Changed My Life Real by Rhonda Byrne Rs 315, pp 272 Simon & Schuster.

“My childhood was very simple. I was blessed with parents who loved each other deeply. I am the oldest of five, and I felt safe, secure, happy and loved. We were reasonably poor, but I didn’t know that! I can see that my simple upbringing shaped my future, in my ability to write simply and practically,” says Rhonda, who as a child also had a precocious thought process, often wondering whether there was a God, something a child is far removed from. “I couldn’t understand why God didn’t intervene when innocent children and people were suffering. When I was 12 years old, I had a profound and divine experience that shaped the rest of my life. After that, I knew there was a God. It was many decades later that I came to understand the reason why God doesn’t intervene, and that will be one of the many revelations I will share in my next book,” she reveals.

For as many as her principles have worked, there are an equal number who criticise her writing, having tried it, falling short. To those, Rhonda is candid. “I changed the circumstances around my health, money and relationships by either visualising or focusing intently on what I wanted and believing I already possessed it. I don’t entertain negative thoughts. Some people might not believe my life is possible, but it is possible for everyone, not just for me, and millions of people around the world have demonstrated it (in my new book).”

The mother of two daughters lives on the coast of California and begins her day with spiritual time. She loves being with family. The world is a place of turmoil and strife, and we wonder how spirituality fits in. “For a better world, we must remove turmoil, strife and upheavals in our own life. The world is not separate from what we carry inside us — it’s a reflection of our inner life. Whether a person visualises their mind and emotions being peaceful, or uses gratitude, appreciation or positive thoughts and positive emotions to bring inner happiness and peace, changing their internal world is the only way to change,” she advises, adding, “The truth of who we really are is the one thing that energises me more than anything else. Who we are is simply too beautiful for words.”