She appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show nine times and is the reason Oprah writes in her gratitude journal today.  Sarah Ban Breathnach was a freelance writer living paycheck to paycheck before writing Simple Abundance, a book that helped millions of women find gratitude in every moment. The book went on to sell 7 million copies and also became one of Oprah's Favorite Things.

After more than two years on The New York Times bestseller list made Sarah a publishing superstar. Soon, she was trading six-figure royalty checks for trips on the Concorde jet, Marilyn Monroe's fur coats and designer shoes in every color. Sir Isaac Newton's chapel became her private writing studio.

But then, the money began to dwindle, Sarah says, because of excessive spending, bad investments and a costly divorce. Three years ago, Sarah found herself on her sister's doorstep with nothing but a suitcase and her cat, Mikey.

Now, 15 years later, she says she has lost it all—her love, her home and her way. Still, it took losing everything to help her find herself. Watch parts of Oprah and Sarah's conversation and find out what she has gained by losing it all.



After an intervention from her daughter, Sarah left her husband and found herself on her sister's doorstep. Watch as Oprah and Sarah discuss why money is more than just what's in your bank account—it's a metaphor for your own self worth.



Sarah says she experienced a fall, but never a fall from grace. Watch as she tells Oprah how she's doing today and find out what she says her greatest spiritual takeaway is from this experience.