How I Discovered the Power of Affirmation

Back in the early ’90s, I was in the aftermath of a painful, second divorce. My self-esteem was at rock bottom; I was genuinely lost and searching for the reasons I had failed again. I was determined to rebuild myself but the depression was deep.

I no longer saw being a master ceramist and successful lab owner as my path. I let the business slide; my partner kept it going while I spent hours each day reading self-help books and jogging on the beach. In my fog I began to try new things, for example, network marketing with Amway. Maybe I could build a “double diamond” business with my own private jet! It gave me an excuse to visit everyone I knew and show them the business plan, which was fun but did little more than teach me some good salesmanship.

I eventually tried another network marketing business, another get-rich path, I hoped. I was...