The Book That Changed My Life
“One book can change everything. For me, it was The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy. I picked it up during one of the hardest chapters of my life — and it became the beginning of my spiritual awakening.”
It was over a decade ago, in the middle of one of the hardest seasons of my life. I was studying for my MA in Social Work at NUIG, navigating a painful separation, and raising three children all under the age of seven. My college fees were unpaid, I was living under the weight of seven million euro in debt to the banks from the Celtic Tiger crash, and I was estranged from my siblings. Life felt like it was closing in on all sides.
One afternoon, I wandered into Dubray Bookshop — I found myself standing in the self-help section, scanning the titles, when one book seemed to call to me: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Dr. Joseph Murphy. I picked it up and began to read. Page after page, I felt disbelief mixed with curiosity. Could the mind really hold that much power? Could thoughts truly shape life?
As I stood there turning the pages, my phone rang. It was a man I had just started dating at the time. He asked where I was, and fifteen minutes later he appeared beside me in the bookshop. “Come on, let’s go for coffee,” he said with a smile. “I’m just looking at this book,” I told him, a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t have the money to buy it — though something inside me really wanted to. Without a word, Paddy took the book from my hands, went to the counter, and bought it for me.
That small, kind gesture marked the beginning of my spiritual journey. From that day on, I devoured every book I could find by Dr. Joseph Murphy, Neville Goddard, Wayne Dyer and Louise Hay. What began as curiosity became a deep hunger to understand the mind, spirit, and consciousness.
After completing my MA and living through the quiet reflection of the Covid years, I followed a strong inner pull to study Science of Mind with the Centres for Spiritual Living in the USA — the same spiritual teaching that inspired so many of the authors I had come to love. Today, I am a qualified Spiritual Coach, guiding others to awaken to the same truth I discovered in that Dubray bookshop: that the power to transform your life has been within you all along.
Who Was Dr. Joseph Murphy?
Dr. Joseph Murphy was born in 1898 in Ballydehob, County Cork. In his early years, he joined the Jesuits and began training for the priesthood, but his restless, questioning spirit led him on a very different path. In 1922, he left Ireland for New York City, where he worked as a pharmacist — a practical profession that, interestingly, would later mirror his lifelong fascination with the healing power of the mind.
While in New York, Murphy began attending the Church of Divine Science, where he studied metaphysics and the emerging “New Thought” teachings. During this time, he met a remarkable Ethiopian rabbi named Abdullah — a mystic and teacher who also mentored Neville Goddard. Under Abdullah’s guidance, Murphy began to understand the creative connection between thought, faith, and manifestation.
His search for truth then took him to India, where he immersed himself in Hindu philosophy and Eastern spirituality. Returning to America with a broader vision of the divine, Murphy connected with Ernest Holmes, the founder of the Religious Science movement, and was ordained by him in 1946. He became a minister at the Los Angeles Divine Science Church, where his uplifting talks regularly filled the Wilshire Theatre.
Over the years, Dr. Murphy wrote more than thirty books, including The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, The Miracle of Mind Dynamics, and The Magic of Faith. His message was simple but revolutionary: the same divine power that created the universe flows through you — and when you align your subconscious mind with faith, gratitude, and expectancy, life begins to transform in extraordinary ways.
How His Teachings Changed My Life
After reading The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, I began to experiment with the prayers — or, as some might call them, affirmations — that Murphy described. At first, I was skeptical. Saying affirmations felt awkward and a bit silly. I would never have told anyone I was doing it! But I began to notice what I could only describe as small miracles.
One that stands out clearly: at the time, I was flat broke. My college fees hadn’t been paid, my student card had been cut off, and I could no longer access the library. I felt miserable, defeated, and afraid. But instead of collapsing into worry, I decided to try one of Dr. Murphy’s affirmations on wealth. I wrote it out and repeated it over and over until I knew it by heart:
I am now writing in my subconscious mind the idea of God’s wealth. God is the source of my supply. All my needs are met at every moment of time and point of space. I give thanks for God’s riches ever circulating in my experience.
Within days, something shifted. I went to the university administration and explained my situation — that I was going through a separation and couldn’t afford the fees just yet. They gave me grace, reinstated my student card, and allowed me back into the library. Not long after, my ex-husband unexpectedly paid my college fees, hoping I’d qualify soon and be able to support myself.
That moment felt like confirmation that something real was happening. What I once dismissed as “coincidence” began to look like divine order — the power of the subconscious mind at work, just as Dr. Murphy had written.
Living the Teachings
From that day to this, my excitement for Dr. Joseph Murphy’s teachings has never faded. His words awakened something in me that completely changed how I see life. That curiosity led me to study Science of Mind with the Centres for Spiritual Living in the USA — the very philosophy that underpins Murphy’s work — and today, I’m honoured to call myself a Spiritual Teacher and Coach.
I now live each day with a sense of calm trust and joyful expectancy. I no longer worry the way I once did. Instead, I pray — simply, sincerely — and I’ve learned to live by the wisdom of the Serenity Prayer: to accept the things I cannot change, to have courage to change the things I can, and to trust God with the rest.
I love using this affirmation: “God is my partner, my senior partner; everything I do will turn out in a wonderful way.” Over time, it has become more than just words — it’s a living truth I feel and see every day. I experience God as my true partner in all that I do, because God and I are one. In truth, we are all one — one mind, one God, one love — and from that awareness, life flows with grace, ease, and divine order. As Dr. Murphy said, “The quiet
mind gets things done.” I’ve learned to quiet my mind, listen within, and trust that I am always being lovingly guided and supported. Every day now feels harmonious and peaceful. I look back with immense gratitude for that moment in Dubray Bookshop — when Paddy bought The Power of Your Subconscious Mind and, without realising it, opened the door to my spiritual life. It truly has been a magical journey, one that continues to unfold in the
most beautiful ways.
About the Author
Nicola O’Neill is a Spiritual Coach and teacher of higher consciousness. After completing her MA in Social Work at NUIG and training for three years with the Centres for Spiritual Living in the USA, Nicola now guides others to heal emotional blocks, reprogram the subconscious mind, and live from peace, faith, and spiritual power. She offers workshops, courses, and one-to-one coaching to help people experience the freedom and harmony that come from living in alignment with divine truth.
© 2025 Nicola O'Neill
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyse website traffic and optimise your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.