Dear Louise

Louise L. Hay is a metaphysical teacher and the best-selling author of numerous books, including You Can Heal Your Life, Empowering Women, and I Can Do It®. For the past 25 years, she has assisted millions of people in discovering and using the full potential of their own creative powers for personal growth and self-healing. Louise's works have been translated into 29 different languages in 35 countries throughout the world.

Dear Louise,

I'm a breast cancer survivor, and I try to stay as stress-free as possible. But, of late, I've been under a lot of stress and have been having hiatal hernia and acid reflux problems. The probable cause and new thought pattern for these two conditions are not in your book Heal Your Body. Thus, I really would appreciate it if you would be kind enough to tell me a probable cause and new thought pattern for these two ailments. Thank you.

– R.A., New York

Dear R.A.,

Fear. It's all fear. Dear one, you're scaring yourself with your own thoughts. Eckhart Tolle's brilliant book The Power of Now says it all when he talks about stress: “Stress is caused by being here but wanting to be there, or being in the present but wanting to be in the future. It's a split that tears you apart inside.”

Hiatal hernia is creating and carrying mental burdens that make it impossible for you to relax. The same with acid reflux—just fearful thoughts that tie your stomach up in knots. I probably sound like a broken record saying the same thing over and over, but most of our problems come from not allowing ourselves to breathe deeply and fully and refusing to stay in the now.

Many, many times during the day, and before you go to sleep, take slow, deep breaths. Bring your attention to the present moment. Don't think about the past or future. Say to yourself: In this moment, all is well. I am safe. There is nowhere I have to go and nothing I have to do. I relax my body and my mind. I am grateful for this moment.

This will break the pattern of incessant worry.

You're far more than your worrisome, fearful thoughts. As you said, you're a survivor. And I say that you're a powerful, dynamite woman, and you can heal yourself! Be at peace, my dear.

Dear Louise,

I've had chronic fatigue/hypothyroidism for six years now, but I'm not healing. Since last year I've been having a recurring thought pop into my head: “I'm tired of my life.” Basically, I feel that my life is making me ill. I'm bored, and I want to change my life completely, but having low energy makes a change difficult. My subconscious is talking to me, so I know I need a change, but how can I combat this thought with something positive?

– F.V., Sydney, Australia

Dear F.V.,

Of course you're tired of life. You've been disconnected from your emotions for a long time. This pattern usually begins in childhood. At home and in society, many of us receive the message that it's not okay to express certain feelings such as sadness and anger. We suppress or 'depress' the so-called unacceptable feelings inside of us. We become cut off from our emotional energy and are left with a general feeling of fatigue and disconnection from life. We slow our bodies down and feel we're running on empty.

At least 80 percent of all autoimmune disease (when the immune system attacks the body) occurs in women. Somewhere very deep within so many of our bodies there’s some kind of destructive message that needs to be revealed and transformed. To break free of this pattern, it's helpful to establish a safe environment to reconnect with our feeling processes and begin to safely release stored anger, sadness, and other suppressed emotions. It's highly recommended and important to have qualified professional help in this process. An affirmation to use here is: It is safe to express all that is within me. I love, honor, and accept all aspects of who and what I am. As a result, I'm energized, expressed, and filled with joy!

Dear Louise

I'm recognizing a pattern that's been present in my life since the '70s. It has to do with finances. It seems that there's always a theme of loss of employment and housing. The situation clears up and then comes around again. I'm willing to release this pattern and obtain, maintain, and sustain that which is mine by Divine right. Will you assist me in unveiling the cause of this pattern? Thank you, and God bless.

B.H., Tempe, Arizona

Dear B.H.,

At the top of a large sheet of paper, write: What I Believe about Money, Women, and Deserving. Then list everything you were taught or learned as a child about these subjects: what your parents believed, what your teachers said, what the church told you about keeping your place, and so on. Don't censor anything. It if comes up in your mind, it's part of your belief system. Take several days to get all of this out where you can look at it.

When you read it, you'll see that some of the things you learned were positive and helpful. However, as you look at the list, you'll discover many negative beliefs about the worthiness of women, and why you don't deserve to be prosperous. Turn every negative comment into a positive affirmation. For instance, “I will never amount to anything” could be turned into “I have every right to be fulfilled and to be a success.” Or, turn “Nobody wants me” into “I am loved and respected wherever I go.” Our thoughts create our reality, and your new thoughts can create a new reality for you! All is well!

This Louise Hay column was provided courtesy of Hay House. You may email your letters for possible inclusion in Louise's column to admin@hayhouse.com