We were in conversation with Meghna Ghai Puri of Whistling Woods film institute when she revealed to us the book that’s changed the way she started looking at life. Said Meghna: “Around the time I started practising Buddhism in 2012, I was introduced by a friend to the book ‘The Magic’ by Rhonda Byrne. I personally felt a real shift in my life and in how I perceived things after reading this book. ‘The Magic’ espouses how having a sense of gratitude acts as a magical spell and, with gratitude, nothing is impossible in one’s life.” According to Meghna, the book advocates that if one is struggling in a relationship with someone, then it is important to list out all that one is grateful for about that person. “We should also write down the names of all the people in our lives whom we’re appreciative of – our parents, spouse, children, colleagues etc,” says the institute president. She says that when one gets a credit card bill, instead of complaining about it, one should be grateful that one is able to spend that amount of money. As she adds: “This applies equally to our health… we must thank each and every one of our organs for working well and making our body work perfectly. We take all these things for granted generally, but we shouldn’t!” At the end of each chapter in ‘The Magic’, there are to-do exercises that one can do in order to actually experience the sense of gratitude in one’s life. Incidentally, one of Meghna’s favourite quotes is by Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda: “Sometimes we complain without thinking much of it, but the frightening thing about complaining is that every time we do, a cloud descends over our heart, and our hope, appreciation and joy gradually wane.” Meghna signs off saying that her wallpaper currently is, ‘A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles’.