By Bethany Theulen

I recently had the chance to spend a few days with my sister, who now lives in a different state. Before my family moved, we actually lived with her for over five years. It was during that time that I pursued my college education—all while continuing to juggle the roles of wife and mom. Her house was small, and with all of us under one roof, things were very cramped. So, in an effort to carve out a little more space, we built a small room inside her garage. It even had its own door to the outside. That little room became home for me, my husband, and our two cats.

So during this recent visit, I stayed in that same garage room. When it came time to unload my luggage from the car, it just made sense to use that outside door. I reached to prop it open—and immediately, the thought popped into my head: “Shut the door so you don’t let the cats out!”

I paused, then laughed to myself. My cats were safe at home, 1,500 miles away. Still, that instinct kicked in as if they were right there, waiting to bolt. It struck me how deeply ingrained our subconscious programs can be. After years of constantly making sure the door stayed closed to keep the cats safe, that mental loop was hardwired—so much so that it ran on autopilot. Even though I knew there were no cats around, my body reacted like there were. It took a conscious thought to override the old program and remind myself: there’s no harm in leaving the door open.

That moment made me reflect on how many other subconscious programs had been running my life—especially the ones built on self-deprecating thoughts. For decades, I let beliefs like “I’m stupid,” “I’m unworthy,” “I’m ugly,” “I’m lazy,” “I’m not enough,” and “I’m unloved” guide my decisions, shape my behaviors, and form the lens through which I saw the world.

According to the Law of Cause and Effect, nothing happens by chance. Every effect has a cause. James Allen said it beautifully:

“Our outer circumstances will always be found to be in harmonious vibration with our inner circumstances.”

By that law, the thoughts I held—those low, limiting beliefs—created a reality that matched: chaos, pain, lack, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. I believed I was worthless, so I built a world that mirrored that belief.

The solution, though difficult, was beautifully simple: change my thoughts. Change the cause, and the effect must follow.

It’s been almost two years since I began rewiring my mind and intentionally choosing thoughts that align with peace, love, and possibility. Anxiety and depression, once my constant companions, no longer run the show. Sure, some days I still have to dig deep to quiet those old mental loops—but the peaceful days far outnumber the hard ones now.

Chaos and pain have been replaced by clarity and perspective.
Lack has given way to a life rich in love, gratitude, and joy.
And loneliness? That’s no longer my reality. When it tries to creep back in—and sometimes it does—I’m surrounded by an army of people who love and support me, both here on earth and on the other side. They won’t let me fail.

And the best part? None of it just happened.

I caused the shift. I took control.
And the effect has been nothing short of miraculous.

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