Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
You Can Heal Your Life summary
Louise Hay
A classic of self-realization with practical and spiritual advice for emotional and physical problems
23 mins
Brief summary
'You Can Heal Your Life' by Louise Hay is a self-help book that encourages readers to improve their mental and physical health by changing their thought patterns. It provides a practical guide to self-love, positive affirmations, and self-healing.
Table of Contents
You Can Heal Your Life
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
We manifest whatever we think.
The first step in Louise Hay’s transformational self-healing method is to understand that you’re responsible for everything in your life. While this doesn’t mean you’re responsible for, say, your car getting a flat tire, you are responsible for how you feel about it. If you tend to react with self-pity – this always happens to me – perhaps you feel as if you’re walking around in a world full of flat tires and bad luck. This is because each one of your thoughts – the things you’re thinking right now – form your reality.
Here’s the key message: We manifest whatever we think.
While this level of omnipotence might feel like a lot of responsibility, don’t worry, because the Universe has your back. The Universe – or the Higher Power or God or whatever you want to call it – supports you in whatever you want to do, helping you manifest whatever you want to achieve. And while it supports you, it never judges you. The Universe basically just gives you whatever you ask for.
The problem, however, is that while the Universe doesn’t judge you, you constantly judge yourself. And since your subconscious tends to believe whatever you think about yourself, you probably carry around a pretty negative self-image. Familiar thoughts like, I’m too stupid, too lazy, too short, too tall, are all just a million different ways of saying: I’m not good enough.
This isn’t your fault. You picked up these ideas when you were little – from careless adults who made offhand remarks, which got buried deep in your heart. Then, as you grew older, you continued to carry these beliefs around, which is why they continue to manifest themselves. Because you manifest what you think.
According to Hay’s method, healing begins by changing your attitude toward the past. And you can do this by practicing forgiveness – forgiveness of all those people that hurt you, all those adults that made offhanded comments. And let’s not forget your parents, because even if they were the worst parents ever, carrying around that anger only bogs you down. Forgiveness, in contrast, allows you to drop that burdensome anger, freeing yourself to take responsibility for your own happiness.
Want to see all full key ideas from You Can Heal Your Life?
Key ideas in You Can Heal Your Life
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is You Can Heal Your Life about?
You Can Heal Your Life (1984) is a classic of self-realization and healing. With over 39 million copies in print, this book combines practical and spiritual advice to help you overcome both emotional and physical problems, transforming your life forever.
You Can Heal Your Life Review
You Can Heal Your Life (1984) is a transformative book that empowers readers to take control of their physical and emotional well-being. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It presents a holistic approach to healing, offering practical techniques and affirmations to overcome physical and emotional challenges.
- With its inspiring personal stories and insightful exercises, the book encourages readers to explore their self-limiting beliefs and create positive change.
- The author's emphasis on self-love and self-acceptance fosters a sense of empowerment, making the journey to healing engaging and enlightening.
Best quote from You Can Heal Your Life
What you are now choosing to believe and think and say will create the next moment and the next day and the next month and the next year.
—Louise Hay
Who should read You Can Heal Your Life?
- Self-help fans
- Those struggling to process childhood trauma
- Anyone interested in alternative medicine
Categories with You Can Heal Your Life
Book summaries like You Can Heal Your Life
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
You Can Heal Your Life FAQs
What is the main message of You Can Heal Your Life?
The main message of You Can Heal Your Life is that our thoughts and beliefs create our reality and we have the power to heal ourselves.
How long does it take to read You Can Heal Your Life?
The reading time for You Can Heal Your Life varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is You Can Heal Your Life a good book? Is it worth reading?
You Can Heal Your Life is a valuable read for anyone looking to improve their mindset and overall well-being. It provides practical techniques and inspiring stories to help transform your life.
Who is the author of You Can Heal Your Life?
Louise Hay is the author of You Can Heal Your Life.
What to read after You Can Heal Your Life?
If you're wondering what to read next after You Can Heal Your Life, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein
- Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King
- You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
- The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
- Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstein
- It Begins with You by Jillian Turecki
- The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy (Ian McMahan revised)
- Welcome Home by Najwa Zebian
- How to Love Better by Yung Pueblo