The Real Secret of “The Secret.”   By now, “The Secret” is out and has enjoyed its 15 minutes of fame on the Oprah Show.  Lots of books and DVDs were sold after that appearance and a lot of buzz was generated about this “Secret” that was “secretly” handed down to us over the generations.

The REAL secret is that we’ve known about “The Secret” for many years by many different names.  Some refer to the Prayer of Jabez (1st Chronicles 4:10).  Norman Vincent Peale called it the “Power of Positive Thinking.”  Wayne Dyer calls it the “Power of Intention.”  Many others know “The Secret” as the “Law of Attraction.”

There is no shortage of opinion on the “Law of Attraction.”  In preparation for writing this article, I googled “Law of Attraction” and got 2,750,000 hits!

And some of the claims are astounding:

• Learn how to make the Law of Attraction work for you!
• Apply the Law of Attraction to your life…
• Learn the Attraction process NOW!

Hype.

There is even an official website for “The Secret” with a theme-park type online gift shop featuring:

• Secret gifts
• a Secret store
• Secret benefits

Hype.

Sifting through the hype has been an interesting process for me (I was planning to say “all the hype” but I simply couldn’t get through it all).  What I’ve discovered should come as no surprise:  the REAL secret is that there IS no secret!  The “Secret” is the “Law of Attraction” and it has been all around us and a part of us since the beginning of time.  For many of us, it has been hidden in plain sight – right there for all of us all the time.  We’ve just tended to ignore it.

Basically, the Law of Attraction states that you attract whatever you give attention, energy and focus to.  Whether positive or negative, the Law of Attraction will give you more of the same.  It’s about orienting your life around positive energy and attracting it to you.

Sounds easy – but it’s a bit more complicated than that.  Otherwise, all we would have to do is think about wealth and we’d be rich.  What we need to remember is that negative energy tends to overpower the positive. 

We’re all very good at saying what we DON’T want.  That’s the way many of us were taught:

• DON’T forget to take out the trash
• DON’T be late
• DON’T slam the door

It’s interesting to note that somehow our minds tend to filter out the DON’T.  So what’s left?

• Forget to take out the trash
• Be late
• Slam the door.

Say what you really DO want rather than what you DON’T want:

• Remember to take out the trash
• Be on time
• Close the door quietly

What did I learn from this?  I learned that I had been snared in the DON’T trap and didn’t realize it.   For years, I’ve concluded many business letters and emails with “Don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions or concerns.”  Hmmmm – wonder why I haven’t heard from anyone lately?

It’s so easy to fall into the DON’T trap.  The negative  in us can become so well entrenched that we forget how to find and focus on the positive.  I remember so well an encounter with a radical politician who spoke passionately about what he was AGAINST.  When he finally came up for air, I asked him what he was FOR.  He stuttered and stammered, and really couldn’t tell me.

How does this apply to your life, your work, your relationships with colleagues, friends, neighbors?  What are you AGAINST?  What DON’T you like about your neighbor?  What DON’T you want to happen?  My guess is that you could tell me without much difficulty.

Turn it around:  What are you FOR?  What DO you like about your neighbor?  What DO you want to happen?  A bit more difficult, isn’t it?  If you can say what you want, positively, clearly and without limitations, imagine what you will accomplish in your life!  Applying the Law of Attraction will help you attract more of what you want and less of what you don’t want.

But here’s the catch:  wishing won’t make it happen.  You must take ACTION and have TRACTION – both words that are part of “Attraction.”  Attraction without Traction is AT.  Status Quo.  Stay Put.  Don’t Move.  Feet glued to the floor.

Steve Pavlina says that the key to mastering the Law of Attraction is responsibility.  How do you learn to stop thinking about what you don’t want?  Accept responsibility for attracting it.  By assuming responsibility, you also assume the power to change it.

When you are faced with a negative life situation, Robert Greenshields cautions that your actions will depend on how you think about your circumstances.  As an example, if you think that losing your job means you are worthless, then your actions are going to be negative.  If you think about the opportunity you have to explore new career options, your resulting actions will be completely different.  In other words, it is not the incident, but your own thinking about the incident that will help determine the outcome.

How does this apply to you?  Here are a few examples from my own coaching experience with clients:

• I can’t complete that project because I don’t have … (insert whatever excuse you want here).
• I’m not as good at this task as others.
• I still haven’t found my ideal job.

Maybe one of these statements sounds familiar to you.  If that’s the case, what WILL you do to turn the above negative statements into positive ones?  Try it!  Choose your language carefully, and practice saying an affirming, positive statement to yourself – then out loud – then to others.  Do you notice a positive shift in your energy?  Yes?  Good – you’re on the right track.  No?  Well, keep trying!  Try these on for size:

• I am in the process of completing that project …
• I’m becoming better and better at that task.
• I’m in the process of finding…

Now, that’s only a beginning.  Thinking positively will lead to being more positive – if you work at it!  Remember that Attraction requires Action and Traction.  Jon Gordon refers to the equation P + E = O, that is Positive Energy + Executing Your Action Plan = Outcome.

We’ve barely scratched the surface of a fascinating and powerful Law that you can learn to use in your life, your work, your world.  It’s not enough to think positively in order to attract good things to you.  A lifetime of limiting beliefs have helped create the reality you are now trying to change.  Give yourself time – and permission.  It takes determination, action, consistent practice, and direction.  Have you got what it takes?  Of course you do!

Old habits are hard to break.  Resolve in this new year to attract what you want rather than what you don’t want.  And also resolve to do something about it.  Put “Action” and “Traction” in your “Attraction” and get off your “At.”

I’m sending positive energy your way!

Resources:

Barbare, Shannon.  “Where’s Compassion in ‘The Secret’?”  Denver Post, June 3, 2007.

Doyle, Bob.  “Do You Make These Law of Attraction Blunders?” www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Doyle14.html

Dyer, Wayne.  The Power of Intention.  Carlsbad, CA:  Hay House, Inc., 2004.

George, Kim.  Coaching Into Greatness.  Hoboken, NJ:  John Wiley & Sons, 2006.  

Gordon, Jon.  The Energy Bus.  Hoboken, NJ:  John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

Greenshields, Robert.  “How to Think Positively When the Unexpected Happens.”  Manifesting:  Life Magick  http://lifemagick.net

Hicks, Esther & Jerry.  The Law of Attraction:  the Basics of the Teachings of Abraham.  Carlsbad, CA:  Hay House, 2006.

Losier, Michael J.  Law of Attraction.  Victoria, BC:  Michael J. Losier, 2006.

Melander, Rochelle.  A Generous Presence:  Spiritual Leadership and the Art of Coaching.  Herndon, VA:  The Alban Institute, 2006.

Pavlina, Steve.  “Responsibility and the Law of Attraction.”  www.stevepavlina.com/blog

Pavlina, Steve.  “The Law of Attraction.”  www.stevepavlina.com/blog

Peale, Norman Vincent.  The Power of Positive Thinking.  Fireside Publishers, 2007.

Ruiz, Don Miguel.  The Four Agreements.   San Rafael, CA:  Amber-Allen Publishing, 1997.

Taylor, Bruce.  “Be Careful of ‘The Law of Attraction’.”  Manifesting:  Life Magick  http://lifemagick.net

Some Perspectives:

Change your thoughts and you change your world.  (Norman Vincent Peale)

My positive energy is greater than anyone’s doubt.  (Jon Gordon)

I think I can!  I think I can!  I think I can!  (The Little Engine That Could)

NEXT ISSUE: The Answer is YES!  Let’s continue to explore positive energy and what that can mean in your life, your work, your world.  I used to have a sign on my desk that read “Before you ask, the answer is NO!”  Of course, it was just a joke.  I’d rather find a way to say YES.  In fact, one of my favorite answers to an either-or question is YES (my wife calls this a “Charlie” answer!).  I’d rather say YES to making things happen than NO, it can’t be done.  How about you?

* * * * *

Help Me Coach 100

Me and my big mouth!  I took on a challenge through the Experienced Coach Program to Coach 100 people in the next six months.  Will you help me get my foot out of my mouth?

What’s involved?  A half hour of your time for a one-on-one phone call, and another 5 minutes to complete an on-line feedback form to assure the ECP that we have completed one 30-minute coaching session.

What does it cost?  Nothing – except your time.  You will receive a half hour individual, confidential coaching session as thanks for your helping me Coach 100.

What’s the catch?  There isn’t any – honest!  No cost and no obligation, except for your time.  You will help me reach my challenge goal and get my foot out of my mouth.  I don’t like the taste of shoe polish….

Call (303) 972-2581 or email charlie@infiniteperspectives.com to schedule your complimentary Coach 100 session

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