Years ago, I was in an abusive marriage and working two jobs to save up enough money to leave. I had two small children and was making about $200 a week. I probably could have left and supported them on such a small amount with assistance, and I did research on programs that would be available, but I just couldn’t see living like that. I wanted to be able to provide a comfortable life for my children free from poverty. I decided I would do the right things, work hard, go above and beyond, and see myself move in the direction of financial success.

One day, my ex-husband, children, and I were driving 1,200 miles to his parents’ home for the 4th of July. As we passed through South Carolina, I had a sudden feeling that it would be a beautiful place to live. I began to imagine living in South Carolina for the entire week-long trip, and these thoughts brought me a peaceful and energizing feeling. I realized that leaving my abusive marriage and exploring new places was bringing back positive thoughts that I had missed for so long. The happiness I felt during that week was noticeable to others, and it was a refreshing change from the toll that my previous home life had taken on me.

When we arrived back home from our vacation trip, I didn’t want to walk into my house and feel the way I had been feeling. I kept the image of the Carolinas and the peaceful feeling in my mind because I longed for it.

Two days after arriving home, my boss called me and said, “Joy, we just had a resignation, and we would like to offer you a new position as a Marketing Manager.” I was shocked because I don’t have a college degree and no experience in marketing, other than the merchandising work I was doing for my boss as his assistant. He was one of the marketing managers, and knowing that my boss was the Florida representative for the company, my next question was, “Where is the position located?” He replied, “Well, you will have to relocate to South Carolina.”

My jaw dropped and an overwhelming chill filled every inch of my body. He said I didn’t have to answer that day, but the salary would be almost six figures, and the company would need a decision as quickly as possible. It took me a second to say, “I’ll take it!” Looking back, I realized that when I shifted my focus a bit from how to make enough money to get out of the abuse to the other areas of my life that the abuse was affecting, I realized that one of my needs was primary and one secondary.

This was over twenty years ago, and today, I still don’t have a college degree. I have changed careers and industries and am still working at a high level, continuing to receive promotions. My daughter, who I helped put through college, although she paid most of it herself, knows how hard it is to get into an organization at a high level now and can’t believe what I’ve achieved with my lack of education. She is so happy and proud of her mom.

When she graduated from college, which took her about seven years, she was interning at a major hospital. She called me and said, “Mom, they are offering me a clerk job, and I will make $10.00 an hour. It will be a great foot in the door.” I told her that although it’s a good foot in the door, I asked if she could see herself as a clerk, and her answer was not really. But she needed a full-time paying job. I told her that they obviously liked her and that other opportunities would follow, but she had to believe this and not take this clerk position. Her goal was to stop being a waitress at night. I shared with her some of my ideas about getting to the top, and I told her that she needs to dress for the job she wants, see herself in the job she wants, and act like she is in that job by doing the right things and staying engaged and focused.

She called me a few times afterward because of the many job offers she was getting. My first question was, “Is that what you really want?” As soon as she hedged and said not really, I told her, “Don’t take it. Be patient, and keep a clear image in your head of what you want.” Then, not too long ago, she called after about a month of calls and said excitedly, “Mom, they want me to interview for a marketing coordinator position. I will be the face of the hospital, handling many projects and activities, as well as being a spokesman when the news stations want to interview the hospital. But when I read the job description in the application, it requires three years of experience.” As I always do, I asked her if this was the job she wants, and she said yes. I asked her who she would report to, and she said the CEO of the hospital. I told her to apply even though she did not have the experience and that they wouldn’t have asked her to apply if they didn’t see something in her. She told me there were a couple of very experienced candidates, though. I said, “So what, apply anyway,” and she did.

Well, I guess you know where I am going from here. My little girl called me a week later and told me she got an interview. The minute she said anything negative, I had to remind her to expect to get the job and visualize. A week after her interview, I got a call and she said, “Mom, I got the job!” I feel blessed that I have been able to pass the law of attraction to my child. All of this happened in 2012 when most college grads were having to work fast food and clerk positions because jobs just haven’t been available in this economy. Thinking back through my life (I am 49 now), I have so many other stories as to where this has worked.

I believe you can achieve anything, do anything, and be anything that you set your mind to. Thoughts are powerful and it’s important to have a good heart and put out positivity in order to receive positivity in return. Simply visualizing and imagining without action will not bring results. Mastering the law of attraction requires being a well-rounded, positive person with inner beauty. When you believe in yourself, others will also believe in you. This positivity is contagious!