I was sitting next to my wonderful husband in the car thinking that in a few weeks I would have been celebrating forty years of marriage if I had still been with my first husband. Am I sad? No, not at all. I have been married to my prince for the past twenty-one years.

Everything we experience in life is a lesson - how we view the experiences and what we learn from them are what is important.

We can make mountains out of molehills, or we can use these experiences as stepping stones, not stumbling blocks.

It took me many years to learn some universal principles that have helped me cope with difficult challenges. More importantly, I've led a charmed life despite early childhood sexual and emotional abuse that left me reeling with self-doubt and self-esteem issues.

What I've learned, first and foremost, is that we are all divine. We come from a place that is so loving, kind and compassionate, that if we could see how it really is, we would love ourselves unconditionally, as we are loved.

We all suffer from self-esteem issues, whether now or in the past. Although it is difficult and challenging to get past these negative emotions, we can. I learned through studying the work of the famous psychic, Edgar Cayce, the sleeping prophet, that thoughts are things. Our negative attitudes have power over us and influence our lives more than we can imagine, especially where health is concerned. The good news is that if we change those negative thoughts to positive ones, we can change our lives for the better in dramatic ways.

Cayce was a prophet who lived in the early 1900s. While in a trance state, he was able to tell people he didn't know about their medical conditions. He diagnosed illnesses and suggested remedies that worked. Later on,he also gave advice on spiritual growth. Cayce needed only the name and address of the person requesting help. These documents are called "readings." In 1931, Cayce and others formed study groups to help people grow spiritually as individuals within a group context. There are 14,000 "readings" documented at the Association for Research and Enlightenment in Virginia Beach, Virginia, also known as the Edgar Cayce Foundation.

Through Cayce study groups I joined during the years, I learned to do weekly disciplines. One is:

"Let us replace our negative thoughts with positive ones, thinking not unkindly of anyone,but rather speaking and thinking kindly of everyone."

I made a conscious effort to remove negative thoughts from my thinking. When practiced often, this has a very positive effect on our daily lives. The first step is the awareness that thoughts are things and that they affect us, either positively, or negatively.

As I learned in the Cayce groups over the course of many years,we need to work on ourselves, but at the same time, have patience, compassion, and love during the process.

I learned to listen to my dreams, to study symbolism connected with dream work, and to interpret dreams to help myself change and eliminate negative emotions and attitudes. Dream work is lots of fun. I kept a pad and pen near the night table and recorded my dreams. The most important thing to do when you first wake up in the morning is to grab that pen and journal without moving around too much. Write down whatever words, images, or feelings you remember. Once you are fully awake, write down more details. You will be surprised to see that you remember more than you thought you would.

A great way to get rid of stress is to try daily meditation, even if it's five minutes a day. It is an important tool in helping us connect with our inner wisdom. Learn to listen to that still, small voice within - your intuition. Taking even a few minutes a day to meditate will help you focus with clarity on the issues in your life.

You don't need to go to India or join an ashram! Here are some very simple steps to follow:

1) Get physically comfortable; keep your spine straight but not rigid;
2) Take three deep breaths. When you breathe in think positive thoughts. When you exhale, release tension and negativity;
3) Surround yourself in your mind with a protective force (a white light, for example). Imagine yourself as part of this bright and loving light;
4) Try to focus your mind. Pick a short phrase, such as "I am love." If your mind begins to wander, repeat the phrase. Don't get discouraged;
5) With your eyes closed and your breathing steady and deep, be silent. It doesn't matter how long you stay that way. You can start with a few minutes and then build up to a half hour or more;
6) After the silent period, pray for peace, people who need healing, your family, or anyone else who needs prayers, including world leaders. Send light to difficult situations. Ask for clarity for yourself.

Cayce said that some of the benefits of meditation include: relief from insomnia, lowered blood pressure, slowing of the heart rate and respiration, muscle relaxation, and relief from overall stress. We surely need relief from overall stress today!

Lastly, be aware of synchronistic events in your life. They are like road signs, there to help guide you toward inner wisdom. A simple example of a synchronistic event is thinking of someone whom you haven't seen for a very long time and suddenly that person calls!

To summarize, here are a few of the many ways we can enjoy the journey more during these chaotic times in the world:

1) Know in your heart that you are part of something divine and good. Feel it! Close your eyes and know.

2) Be aware of your thought processes. if you are thinking something negative, just say, "No!" Replace the thought with something positive.

3) Start listening to your dreams. Write them down and look up the symbols. Remember that the symbols are subjective. That is, if you like dogs and dream about dogs, it would mean something positive in your life, such as a loving relationship; on the other hand, if you are afraid of dogs and dream about a big brown dog threatening you, it could mean something harmful, or something you are afraid of. With experience you will be able to work out the interpretation for yourself.

4) Try to quiet your mind for a few minutes each day.

5) Be aware of events in your life that are trying to show you something. When you are planning something such as a trip, and you meet constant obstacles in the way, perhaps it's not the right time for the trip, or not the right trip! When things are right, they flow harmoniously. Don't force issues.

6) The most important - have love, patience, compassion, and kindness for yourself during the process.

Life is a journey - learn to enjoy the trip! Happy Landing!

Author's Bio: 

Rosalie B. Kahn, author of My Healing Heart, is a writer and healer whose passion is helping others create a life filled with love. Her skills in healing the heart come from first-hand experience and extensive studies - honed over decades as she lived all over the world.

During her twenty-six-year career in the US Foreign Service, Rosalie worked in a variety of interesting assignments. She taught English to Polish immigrants in Austria. She acted in theatrical productions in Turkey. In Colombia, she worked for the Narcotics Section of the US Embassy in the late 1970s, a time when there was much political unrest in that country. In Austria she took dictation at the Hofburg Palace, which was the home of very powerful families during the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867-1918). Then, in Nicaragua, she managed to scare off an iguana that was sunbathing on the side of the swimming pool!

My Healing Heart is the story of Rosalie's life. It takes us on an incredible journey from a difficult childhood, to adventures in distant lands, romantic escapades, and the heart-wrenching loss of a small child. Rosalis also shares valuable spiritual lessons she learned through studying and applying the principles of the famous psychic, Edgar Cayce. She tells how she turned to these teachings for strength when she was faced with her life's most difficult challenge in recent years. The end result - Rosalie's healing and empowerment - is a source of inspiration for anyone who has faced insurmountable challenges. The story appeals to people everywhere who want to feel whole and loved. The tools she incorporates into the book - working with dreams, meditation, and forgiveness - give people a process to create their own healed heart.

Born in New York, Rosalie is married to Guillermo Lopez, a Chilean. They live in Chile.