I have managed to unlock four truths that I now live by. They are the keys to life, keys that open us up to the reality of why we are here: love, peace, forgiveness, and balance.

With them, we have the power to achieve our greatest dreams and to master what I call “the game of life.”

As we embark on my own complicated journey, reliving the good and the bad that led to my life as a mother, a medium, a teacher, an author, and a reality TV personality, you’ll see how I lost my authentic self and how hard I struggled with all four of these truths. It’s not pretty.

I spent 30 years thinking I was completely crazy, and to make up for that craziness I would do anything and everything to try to fit in. This included telling lies to myself and others, and living in a very small world, one where my authentic self was locked tightly in a closet, hidden away from everyone.

But there is no need for us to be ashamed of who we are. We are on this Earth to discover our authentic self and display it proudly to the world, letting our light shine.

Know that this is your birthright, and it is still within you.

— Carmel