A Scary Admission

I believe that where pop culture and pseudoscience meet, credulity thrives.

I don’t think that’s silly at all. In fact, I’ve seen beliefs like this outlined in many places over my lifetime. Look at Life is Beautiful. Well, the first part, not the second half where you end up crying your eyes out. He wants to date the woman who ends up becoming his wife. He tells his friend that he’s going to get this woman whom he doesn’t know to look down at him from an upper gallery and smile at him. She does.

There’s a list of baseball players and golfers who talk about this too…if they go up to the plate really worried that they’re going to strike out, they do. If they go up envisioning hitting a homerun, they only then strike out if they’re on the Cleveland Indians.

I’ve always liked the idea that the world is just a bunch of energy that we withdraw from and make deposits to. Like the Beatles said, “In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Seems to work out.

Sorry weirdo, you’re not weird. At least in this regard. Might have to check out that book tho.

This is based on a Biblical principle too. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. You have to believe it. The problem with the pop-culture-fanaticism of The Secret is that folks just want to believe and then flip on their TV or surf the web til amazing things start to happen.

Chris – your ideas and beliefs materialize because 1) you focus on them 2) you believe they can happen 3) you work your tail off

That is the secret

Carrie Wilkerson

Let’s say this is all nonsense and it does not work. What have you lost? Oh no, you spent time visualizing your own dreams and successes. How awful for you!

And, if it -does- work, how cool is that?

I believe you get back what you put out. And I believe that opportunities come along when you are focused on your goal or your dream or your wish.

Liz – love how you’ve turned it around and asked what’s the worse that could happen…. Funny how the WORSE that could happen is still pretty damn good!

I too greatly appreciate the premise but was turned off a bit by the hokey, almost “snake oil” ‘esque marketing and presentation. Seems to muddle the message with some folks that just visualizing desires is all it takes, with no action necessary.

And sadly I’ve seen it work in the opposite way with some of my friends who’ve gone the negative path. They seem to be putting out crap, and in turn attracting all sorts extra crap to them. Which is kind of disheartening and disappointing, as they appear to be beyond influence and will only be able to turn the ship around when they finally decide to.

I’m so, so, so tired of the first world “FML”s.

Hey Chris!

I’m with you on this belief. I’ve listened to The Secret several times on audio and the documentary. And I’ve heard too many stories from other people that I know who have tested it out and had some pretty neat things happen.

This is something I want to implement for myself more in this year, as well.

Good for you. Brave proclamation. The Secret is not my brand of vodka ( i agree about the packaging) but i believe having any personally genuine belief system to build from will always help your growth. I hope you achieve your goals. Happy New Year.

Hey, it’s your business and your life – do whatever you have to do to make it happen. I am a strong believer in visualization, to the point that it kind of freaks me out when they actually come to life. But again, if it works? No matter how silly, I’m doing it.

Wonder how much others could accomplish if they resigned to this “silly” stuff…

Thanks for the admission, Chris. Happy ‘eleven!

It’s never easy to expose a belief that can open the door to ridicule. I applaud you for the courage! I personally prefer Jack Canfield’s clarification on the topic (see his Effortless Success program). I’m not going to claim it’s ‘better’ and all that because there are 1000 others claiming to do the same. But who knows… maybe I’m telling you this for a reason

Hi Chris,

It has been a long time since I have seen “The Secret” but what I remember of it and visualizing your successes it absolutely true.
I dabble in powerlifting and have seen some crazy things. The mental aspect of ability is nothing short of amazing. I have seen where a guy who has squatted a personal best of 550lbs actually lifted 650lbs when he was told it was only 550. I personally have had missed lifts when I got under the bar with the wrong attitude just to turn around and get back under it after “visualizing” the lift and been successful.
I see why this would be no different in any other aspect of life. Thanks for admitting your belief in the Secret and inspiring me to see it again. Maybe I will read it this time instead.

Brian

It makes perfect sense that what we focus on grows. This is true whether it is positive or negative. Psychologists research this sort of thing all the time and we find that it works! For example – For many people with depression, we teach them to change their thoughts and behaviors, rather than dwell on what’s bad about life, think about what’s positive and what you can do about it. W

@Carrie has it just right – focus + belief + action = success.
And that’s no secret.

Isn’t it a bit of common sense; “put your mind to it and just do !”
In that mindset, whatever you have achieved is always more than by not making any effort towards your goal. “Ship it !!” as Seth G would say.

I’m with you! I first discovered The Secret via audio book (so I wasn’t affected by the visual hokey-pokey stuff). I listened to the entire book in one sitting and took 16 pages of notes! The thing is, everything it said rang true for me. You get what you focus on. If you focus on achieving a particular result, the mere act of focusing on that will bring it to you. Makes perfect sense. You are right though — the key is taking some action. Just thinking about something while sitting on the couch eating bonbons won’t cut it.

an inspiring thought! added this to my bucket list! thanks!

Trish Reid

So glad to hear you are a believer!

To add to the teachings of “The Secret” author Wayne Dyer says “we attract what we are not what we want” (paraphrased). My own thought is that in addition to making intentions we need to identify and list the top 10 things we need to ‘clear’ or deal with or that blocks our ability to stay in the feeling and the flow of moments that are present
to our intentions.

All the best to you Chris! Hope your new year is filled with your desires manifesting and laced with delightful unexpected surprises!

Carolyn

Chris

Wow. What a way to trust your audience. Admitting to following a book that some of us view the same way we view Magnetic Wrist Bands and the predictions of 2012 was a risk. But I think it was worth it!

Now, a % of people just decided to stop reading and may have moved you to their “nevermind” list. Frankly, those are people who don’t want to take the time to really read and understand what you are saying. They were probably looking for quick fixes from a “guru” and didn’t want to take the journey of learning with you to really discover what you have to say.

Here is how I interpreted it:

You are visualizing your success.
You are writing down you goals.
Your nature is one of giving, so you are sharing your process with your readers.
You are taking a big step in personal development. You are not “caring” how people criticize your beliefs. That’s probably the biggest step in your own development.

So you read a wacky book that is more about creating success for the writers and publishers than the readers. Did you learn something from reading it? Yes? Then it was worth the time.

Wishing you well in the New Year!

Mark

PS. I believe in Area 51. Its there at Groom Lake – I don’t believe that we have any aliens in cold storage there though.

PSS. If you start wearing magnetic wrist bands for more energy…we need to get a beer and talk.

Hi Chris,

I became obsessed with the Secret over the past week. I decided to have some fun with the law of attraction and manifested a hefty sum of money yesterday after visualizing myself counting large amounts of money for the past 3 days. I set aside 2 hours a day to study the book and played the first 20 minutes from the film on youtube in the background for 8 hours a day.

I was intro’d to it a while back and live by many law of attraction principles but put it into overdrive the past week of my life. Visualizing does work and quite well when you get can rid of the any anxiety of the “How” part of the manifestation, going about your work in a light manner.

The goal isn’t just to acquire money but it certainly doesn’t hurt to manifest it with little physical effort In the same respect it’s necessary to move into inspired action on a consistent basis. The one thing I have learned from most of the teachers from the Secret is that the effortless way is the best. Work, but work intelligently and most of all be light or easy about your work. Visualize yourself in possession of your goal and feel the emotions of the goal having already manifest.

When you can generate the emotions of having the goal now on a consistent basis the manifestation of your goal will be as certain as the change of seasons. The same force creates each.

Thanks for sharing your insight Chris.

RB

Even Jesus said, “Anyone can do this…” (Mark 11:23)

Hey, we have a lot of give-away books in a bookcase in our apartment laundry room and I found The Secret dvd in there the other day. Borrowed it so I could see what all the fuss was about. And now here you are coming out about it. I think that’s a sign. I’d better have a look.

Well said Carrie! Yes, visualization is important, but nothing replaces remaining focused and being willing to put in the hard work. And Chris’ point about keeping your goals practical is important, too. (Sigh. I’m well past–by a few decades–ever becoming a Prima Ballerina. LOL!)

Carrie, you beat me to my comment. It’s often biblical believers that so often like to beat down people who tout the Law of Attraction. I get strange looks all the time if I slip and mention it in any form or fashion with my church friends who aren’t in my true inner-circle.

Chris – you continue to inspire me everyday. I have a bunch of things I’m going to attract in 2011 – and I think I’ll add meeting you (and even the Barefoot Executive) in person to the list.

I can see it already

Chris,

I understand exactly what you mean but I have to be honest. I think the Secret while easily digestible falls terribly short of explaining the Law it is attempting to communicate. I agree with you and I believe in the Law of Attraction. As a matter of fact I found you and your work directly because of my investigation into the field of personal development. But the reason I say the Secret falls short is because it leaves out the idea of execution. I’m not sure if you’ve read or know of these other books, I suspect you do, but Think and Grow Rich, Man’s Search of Meaning and Success through a positive Mental Attitude all out rank the secret in my book. That said I agree with the sentiment. I just think execution has to be one of the major factors and the secret leaves it out.

I’ve read all those books, and I agree that Think and Grow Rich is a great book. I think Man’s Search for Meaning was a little harder to implement directly, but I used Covey’s filtration to make it make more sense.

The Secret book isn’t *really* the admission in the post. It’s just the starting point. There are plenty of better NLP books than Tony Robbins, but he made it accessible. Secret, in my mind, is more of a starter book. Right?

That’s what I thought anyhow.

I haven’t yet heard from my preacher friends, but I suspect the ones I hang with don’t feel as harsh about it. Maybe. I’ll find out.

And thanks, Rich. I’m hopeful.

Look at that! It’s the law of attraction kind of stuff. : )

Well that’s quite interesting stuff, Ryan. I love hearing that you tried some samples out and achieved them. I had a much less lucrative success today. I visualized no traffic between my house and my parents’ house because I was late for a visit. It worked out. Law of Attraction? No idea, but I’ll take it. : )

Mark – *exactly* on the magnetic wrist bands analogy. I’m totally there.

You’re not wrong with the whole selection process. By putting this out there, I’ve just told a bunch of people that they can get off at the next stop. Though I like to respect people’s wishes, and I do, it’s just a way of pushing some self-selection out there. It’s okay.

That’s really great thinking, Carolyn. I thought, though, that the idea was to only voice it in the positive. So, if I have to clear out negative voices, I should say something about having only positive voices around, right?

Well that’s cool, Sharon. I didn’t think to look for an audiobook. That would’ve cleared that up.

I’m certainly working on the actions to take, but this week, I’m going to try getting my head ready for it all. : )

Kinda. The idea here is that you’re using the “law of attraction” to put very specific intentions out there into the universe. As I understand it, that’s the real goal. So, we’ll see if it works out. : )

chris – don’t know how to tell you this but this ain’t no secret its called wishful thinking and we all do it and people who are driven – artist, inventor, entrepreneurs, startup, people who dream all have the same wishful thinking secret – its also called day dreaming – if you can dream something you can do it and lots of people have proved this one out – food for imagination – anyway keep your secret if it makes you happy hugs and happy new you year too
geo

The thing that kind of had me hooked in The Secret was the fact they had ALL KINDS of doctors (phD and some MD) and therapists and other supposed “proof points” all really believing it. That and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul guy).

I kind of kept thinking, and this is pure basic marketing, that the social proof of all those people meant that it *had* to be real. : )

(Yes, I know.)

Chris, if you believe in the Law of Attraction, it must be because you seem to be experiencing positive results in applying it.

I do not believe in the Law of Attraction, at least in the romantic sense that some charlatans keep promoting, but I do believe in the power of positive thinking, visualization and heightened awareness through the proper attitude. In other words, there is no mystical Law of Attraction that works like magic and gives you things just because you want them badly enough. If there’s any truth in it, it’s in heightened awareness, a state of preparedness, and having the balls to seize the day.

I haven’t read all of Think and Grow Rich, but one of the key points that I sussed was that if you want to successfully make an intention happen, you also have to visualize what you will do to make it happen, kind of like the golf pro visualizing the shot she or he needs to make before they do it. And then, of course, you need to take action when opportunity presents itself.

It seems like New Year’s Resolutions on steroids, basically.

This is interesting. When I started working out years ago I struggled with increasing my squat weight. A friend knew I could do more. He made me close my eyes while he loaded up the bar. I then lifted about 50% more than I had been willing to try. That was a huge lesson. I should remember that more than I do.

Where does the negative voice come from? If you still resonate with the negative voices, visualization of the positive is only changing the suitcase, the baggage is the still the same. The law of attraction is that you are what you seek or you resonate with what you are intending.

By getting in touch with the negative’s for example – “I am not good enough” and turning it into something more postiive like “I am more than enough.” will help. Take it further and get in touch with the unmet life needs, or negative earlier experiences that resulted in the negative beliefs and turning those statements into positives such as “I forgive____ for what they did” etc. or ‘my need for being heard is met’ and the inevitable Law of Attraction wall will be more than surmountable.

Just saying…

C

And I still like you!

No seriously – if something works for you, why would you change it? It’s common sense to continue with the behavior that makes your life better.

But I do think there’s a fine line between “visualization”, the power of positive thinking, the studies that show that “lucky” people tend to look more carefully for opportunities and the ‘one step further’ bit about The Secret. A friend once put it aptly for me – so I’ll paraphrase: to accept that the “Law of Attraction” is true is to also accept that you can look at every person living in poverty, starvation, and disease-ridden 3rd World situations and say “well, they must not be thinking correctly or they wouldn’t be in those circumstances.” The problem with The Secret is that it blames 99.99% of the world for not having opportunities by saying it’s their own faults.

But that’s the opposite side of the coin. I still believe a “kiss for luck” from my daughter works… So, I say go with what *works* for you.

ETA: yes, I have watched The Secret. I did it as a promise for a friend.

As a student of psychology, sociology and the Bible, I’d have to say that the concepts inherent in such thinking as described certainly do get results. I’ve seen it personally, and quite shockingly, in my own life.

What is a bit confusing is while I attempt to do only positive thinking, people who wish to get advice from me often come to me. Now why is this, other than that I envision myself as a teacher. I’m not in a licensed sense, but have taught many how to cope with difficult times even while I am doing my best to rise above my own.

So teachers often find students, is I wuppose what I’m saying.

Other very positive things have happened recently in the face of overwhelming odds. These can be attributed to prayer, belief, visualization, positive thinking, there being a “spiritual world” belief *system* and a host of other mechanisms. No matter what, it can work for our good to believe the best and work toward that. As a Bible student and potential candidate for ministry, I find it natural to give God praise for good results and to trust him while struggling as those good things are finding their way toward me.

In another post, Ryan Biddulph said: “Visualizing does work and quite well when you get can rid of the any anxiety of the ‘How’ part of the manifestation, going about your work in a light manner.”

Ryan’s advice is how I approached the life I lead in the past few months and I have seen positive results.

Its no surprise to me that you have a belief in the principals of the Law of Attraction it shines through in how you communicate and connect with people.

I think “The Secret” did well to introduce the theory to the mainstream marketplace but I always think if you want the best information go back to the source.

There are some great early books based subject, Power of Awareness by Neville, Dynamic Laws of Prosperity by Ponder, Science of Getting Rich by Wattles are all great reads on the subject.

I think you have been reading my FB. This is where I have been for the past few months in my personal life and have incorporated it professionally (for me I could only do one at a time as when I tried to both, I failed). I see it, I feel it, I smell it and I taste it – so with this much that I put into it, I know it will happen. It goes far beyond the power of positive thinking.

When we believe this way, we take action and/or make decisions as if it happened already. We have to do x as then x will happen. The confidence we exude is like no other. We have to be fully committed to it as if there is any little part that is unsure, we start to unravel and we lose the premise of the secret.

I believe as I am doing it right now. I have too much of me invested personally and professionally for it not to happen.

Our similarities here in this thinking we both know is not new, just the first time we have publicly admitted it. I feel good about that, you?

Very cool about your powerlifting. And you’re totally right. If you believe you can, you probably can. if you believe you can’t, you probably can’t. – Henry Ford.

Canfield’s a good enough egg. I’m going to check out some of his books, as I think he’s a better writer than whatshername, and I think the whole process would be better handled by one guiding voice. Thanks for the recommendation, Rick.

True that, Annie, and same to you! : )

Oh, I have a decent belief system. I just wasn’t using any visualization tools or any of that other stuff. : )

Cool. Jump on in, the water’s fine. : )

So, it’s interesting. You and I agree that the book is a bit hokey, and yet, you’ve seen your friends actually manifest it, in the negative form. Do you believe that it’s true, but that they’re picking the wrong side of the experience?

Definitely wonderful perspective there, Liz. Thanks for your thoughts.

And parts of the Bible were based on older books, or rather, some of the stories predate the time when they were captured. I think everything’s sourced from somewhere else. One of the books that changed my life, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, is really just an amalgam of other books.

We’re singing the same song from different songbooks. : )

Life is Beautiful. I hadn’t thought of that for a while. Yeah, now I’m bummed out thinking about that part. : )

Thanks for taking the risk and sharing this, Chris, especially for clarifying how and why you believe in it. That makes a huge difference. I’ve heard this defended and attacked in so many ways. Glad to hear a sensible interpretation that acknowledges the controverial aspects. And, as always, I enjoy the ongoing conversation in the comments as well. Have a great new year!

Essentially, it’s nothing that wasn’t said by Napoleon Hill in his book several decades ago. Other books go further back and say it. You can cobble it together out of Bible verses. What I liked was the sense of how to actually execute.

I think we’re on that same wavelength. Maybe that’s why our project is moving along. : )

Agreed, Jackie. You’re not alone in giving me other books to check out. I’ve had no fewer than 10 recommendations that are useful. Thanks for yours!

Hi Gina Kay.

I agree with you. I have seen it work rather well, and I agree that there are many paths to the finish line. I’m certainly not an incense-burning type or anything, but I’m also not a sunday school type. So, I’ll find my own way. And you’re right (or Ryan’s right) about not sweating the HOW. That’ll be the hardest part for me. : )

See, I didn’t look for the flaws in the logic. I just started trying out what I had read. And when it worked, I was happy and started trying more things. I’m not trying to fix 99% of the world. I’m just trying to find the future me.

: )

You’re spot on about Think and Grow Rich being an easier to palate Secret.

However, I think that if you read both texts and just discounted some of the hokey, you’d find that your end point would be different than you’re assuming.

You’ve wanted me to do this for years. I’m just doing your bidding. : )

Just heard the same from 2 others. I appreciate it. : )

I don’t know that they’re “picking” so much (or even utilizing “the secret” in a Dark Side of the Force type fashion) as trapping themselves in a cynical rut of negativity. At least, I’d hope if they’d the ability to chose between keeping their chins up or grousing about most everything they’d choose the former. But then I have known a lot of people who seem to be way too comfortable being surly and with a mindset that the cards are always stacked against them.

People with a positive outlook, and an active involvement in their lives tend to be able to make things happen. Manifesting those desires.

It’s the being active that’s key. While I do believe that message was present in the Secret (only saw the movie, didn’t read the book) it seemed to be more muted, and more so trumpeting a message alluding to “If you dream it, it will just happen.”

Which I can understand as it’s a message that’s incredibly appealing to that part in all of us that just wants to be a lazy mofo. But it doesn’t work that way, and people become disenchanted… and sometimes bitter. And often focus more on being cynical, and everything they can surmise that will support the “FML” mindset, becoming negativity magnets.

I realize I’m not rambling anything that’s even remotely ground breaking or new concept to you, just trying to work out my thoughts.

I guess the bottom line of this stage in my life experience is that I need to filter out the folks on the neg train, and stick with the folk that want to be commanding their lives, as opposed to feeling afflicted by it.

Is it incredibly apparent my brain is still pickled from last night’s festivities, and I should probably get some rest?

Yeah, I think so too.

If is this a scary admission–you need to broaden your friendships–I don’t have a friend that does not believe many of the teachings of the secret, or a Course in Miracles on some level. Its good stuff. Someone posts a quote on my facebook page from the Abraham site almost everyday—or I grab it and post it myself–right along with you and Seth and a few others.
Happy New Year.

♥

Happy New Year Chris…

I haven’t read “The Secret”, but have read a fair amount on Quantum Mechanics… Just believe one needs to be able to believe in their abilities and be able to see one doing to achieve… Like your example of being Center of the Celtics, as not all things are truly achievable- have to be realistic… In life and business-with changes or goals, I think one truly needs to be positive and put effort into achieving them…

Interesting secret to share…

I agree with Carrie and Chris on this. If “The Secret” is really about manifesting what we want by visualizing it then it’s really just an element of faith in my opinion (not talking about religion necessarily but faith as in belief). But it’s when that faith gets put into action (because we act accordingly to what we say we believe) that we see mountains move.

Just like in Mark 11:23-24. Jesus said we could move mountains if we believed. Call me crazy but I couldn’t believe it unless I could see it (at least visually in my mind before I spoke it and it came to be).

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

you’re welcome!

Which is – no matter what else might crop up – the best way to lead a happy future!

Like I said, the really important part? Doing what *works* for you and makes your life a happier & better place.
I think it’s particularly awesome that you (whom I think has spent a lot of time earning it) have found another stepping stone on the path you’ve been building for a number of years!

Congrats. And I mean that 100%.

(btw: I’m not trying to fix the world either – it’s challenging enough just trying to get myself in functional mode!)

I just started subscribing to this particular newsletter and I must say I love the first two editions so much. I believe we all need feel-good influences to keep us going towards our goals. For me, this comes from multiple sources and I consider myself really lucky. Last year, when I lost my mother, I was a little nervous that I’d lost my “push” factor – I had gotten so used to her having to nudge me along to do certain things. But it wasn’t difficult at all – when I actually thought about it.

Clear focus, realistic goals with some patience and tolerance thrown in go a long way. The manifestation part really works – my Physics lecturer would claim that if we wanted to see someone or have something happen, all we had to do was think about them single-minded. Whether it was sheer coincidence or whatever – this actually came true for me a couple of times, and I’ve kept the faith ever since. Most self-improvement guides center around faith, belief, manifestation and visualization – and we see proof of this all the time. In any case, there’s nothing wrong with positive thinking What have we got to lose?

Thanks and Happy New Year, Chris. Looking forward to all the good stuff.

Right on, Chris! Yeah, it is kinda scary to admit. The Law of Attraction can also be viewed as the Law of Filtration – ie: whatever you focus on gets through and everything else gets filtered out. My buddy, David Howe, made his first 6 short films this way. Anybody who said he couldn’t/shouldn’t be making films – because it was too much of a dream – just got filtered out while he continued to focus on actually making films. His *actions* attracted others to his film projects, and his focus allowed all of us to believe in what he was doing. We all helped out because he was willing to filter out the naysayers. If you’re not willing to have a Law of Attraction/Filtration toward your passion than there’s nothing for the rest of us to be excited about on your behalf – there’s nothing for us to evangelize!

Yep and I certainly respect you finding your own way. And not sweating the HOW? uh huh. No walk in the park!

Reid, great points. I have found as well that sometimes a lack of others’ enthusiasm for ideas you are convinced are worthwhile because you can clearly see them is a way of filtering, too. If it’s not time for those ideas (or the primary concept) with one set of people, it certainly could still be time for those ideas with a different set, or morphed to enhance a different initiative. David Howe’s ability to recognize whose opinions were or were not important has carried him through his filmmaking. Concepts can be applied in multiple areas as we’ve seen Chris do in his work, where human business is the key component and driver across many of the platforms upon which he is now experiencing fulfillment and success. Visualizing how human business works, works!

[...] response to Chris Brogan’s post, “A Scary Admission,” on his My Escape Velocity [...]

If you can’t visualize your success, you can’t see the road it takes to get you there. I wish you success as you attain your goals and dreams.

Too Funny! “The Secret” is one of my dirty little secrets (pun intended) as well. I do believe it is ONE of the elements to success primarily by channeling your focus through visualization. The problem is that there are many out there that think they can sit on the couch eating junking food while visualizing wealth and health and it will just manifest. Sorry, there are still other ingredients needed like hard work and dedication.
A better book (in my eyes) on the Law of Attraction is The Answer by John Assaraf & Murray Smith. I think it is more down to earth covering the other pieces of the puzzle. I have used their “visualization board” concept with great success. One way I use it in my career is I make a “fake” business card with the Title of the next promotion I am looking to attain and place it on the board. Once I am promoted I replace it with the next level of achievement I look to attain. Every day it is there in front of me along with my other goal visualizations driving my focus and dedication. So far, so good, – three promotions in five years and I am running out of levels to attain in my day job. I am pretty sure my work and dedication had a bit to do with it as well.
The next one will have the name and title at my OWN company.

Thanks for sharing. This was sort of like a support group –
“Hello, my name is Mike and I believe in The Law of Attraction.”

More people believe in quantum physics than want to admit. The production qualities of the film are lame. The book is written to sell books – which lumps it in the “self-help I can make your dreams come true” section – and it certainly worked. But the message was key.

I read the book and watched the film four years ago. Then I got to know the contributors. Then something strange happened – I didn’t follow through. If you have self-doubt and “the genie” will grant your wish. If you aren’t clear with “the universe” you will get an unclear response.

It doesn’t matter if putting cucumber slices on your eyelids will make it happen, slice away. It’s about our actions once we set our goals. We have to feel it in our nether region. We have to believe it beyond anyone else’s opinion. And then we need to work our asses off to make it happen.

Hey, if The Secret works for you than great. The Power of Attraction, organized religion and other popular systems haven’t worked out in my life–but that’s just me.

But I do believe in a bottom line of having a personal vision and working your butt off to make it come true.

I’ve been thinking about this so much lately Chris (again, your telepathy amazes me): Opportunity is there if you are willing to see it.

Read the book too – felt like I already knew everything in it and it was way too cutesy for me, but YES, I GET IT. CRUSH IT was way better at motivating me on the same principal.

This year I will grow my business by 200% and move full time to Cortez Florida because I have decided it will happen. Can’t wait to watch you, and watch me.

Jeffrey Gitomer recently said at a live event: “Do you want to know what the real Secret is? It’s called hard work.”

I believe in positive energy and I believe in visualization and focus. Beyond that, you have to put in the hard work to make it happen (by the way, I’m currently reading Making Ideas Happen and it’s the exact functional/executional part of that equation).

You can visualize that you want to lose 60 pounds or increases your salary, but if all you do is visualize it and not actually create action items and a plan around it, all it lost. You have to do it too

I believe that the words within The Secret work for you, Chris, because once you have that visualization/seed in your mind you put it into action. The problem with The Secret is that the majority of people who read it think the hard work is just the visualization part. Sadly.

Chris, hooray for you for talking about this. I read this a few years back and was pretty skeptical. Then I decided to put it to a test with a bad knee I was having trouble with. I really didn’t do anything “medical” to fix it, just applied these principles. Imagine my shock when I found myself one day in the Miami airport walking down a flight of stairs “normally” without any pain. I’ve been a believer in this ever since. It works in small ways and this year I intend to test it working in even bigger ways.

Excellent… Hard work without passion is not good either (especially in this day/age) You may make your financial goals, however the long term price one might pay is devastating… (Fitness, Friends, Family/Marriage/Kids, etc) Happy New Year ALL, Brian-

The kind of people who can visualize…REALLY visualize… are doers. These people just do that much better because they start with end in mind and burn the picture of it where they get to see it over and over again. I think for the people who are not doers, even the visualization is too much work!

I saw Jeffrey Gitomer speak the other month and he addresses the book, The Secret. Here’s what he said: “you want to the real Secret? It’s called ‘hard work’.”

There’s nothing wrong with visualization and focus… you have to be able to imagine it to create it – no doubt about it, but all of that means nothing without execution… or as Seth Godin calls it, “shipping.”

Chris, there’s no reason to be embarrassed that you believe in The Secret because you actually take all of that visualization and work on brining it to life. The problem arises when people believe that all you have to do is visualize it to be true (or wish for it). That’s also where the hokey part of the movie and book fall into place.

I’m currently reading the Scott Belsky book, Making Ideas Happen. To me if you put those two books together, it all stands up. An idea or visualization means nothing without putting in the hard work to make it happen.

[...] love that chris brogan is into law of attraction. i love that more and more people are understanding it. i love that this is a time of [...]

I don’t disagree that it requires some kind of manifestation. I think that’s probably a mix of two things, right? I mean, you need very strong visualization before you actually do something. Does that make sense?

I hope you review Belsky’s book. It kept poking its way into my vision, but I haven’t actually read it yet.

I think they *do* go together. I don’t disagree with you there.

I’m certainly working on a definition of success I copped from Tony Robbins. It meant that having every aspect of my house in order was the only way I could define success. : )

Look at that! I found you out. : )

Glad to know it, Mike. I’m so glad that you shared those books with me, too. And wow! I love the fake business card idea. Brilliant. Small, simple, and useful. : )

True, Reid. I like that perspective. I think that filtering is still a bit issue to me.

First off, apologies for the double-comment… I thought my first one got lost… I’m new to this Blogging thing

Once you plant that seed in your mind and you harp on it, I do think “doorways of opportunity” open up… meaning other things become less important and actions to get you to what you’re visualizing almost light up in your day-to-day life… but, I still think it’s the hurdle you jump over into “doing stuff” that makes things happen… you do it naturally and instinctively… most people don’t.

Visualization and belief gives you something to work with, it’s a way to focus. But there’s too much blame in the secret for me to take law of attraction seriously. Those Sub-saharan Africans, are they just not believing enough to attract food and adequate water?
Have you read Mark Silver’s take on it? It’s pretty interesting.
Having said that, I use energetic intention along with emotional planning and physical planning with my clients all of the time and it does bring a lot of good stuff into play. If you focus, plan and relate in spiritual, emotional and physical ways, you can manifest a lot.

Joe Vitale calles it taking “inspired action” which I’ve found a really useful way of thinking about it.

sweet quote:
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

thank u for reprinting it!

at a very basic level, isn’t creation of thought a physical action? without action even at a cellular/micro level, there can be no thought.

while it certainly helps to have action done at a more macro level, thought qualifies as an action if u come to think of it. so they say that the key is CONSISTENT intention/action/thought (all the same btw). being consistent implies a series of related n focused/specific set of actions over a period of time.

at any rate, I agree with chris too.. the social proof is evidence enough for me to take that leap (not much of a leap tho) …

i suppose it all comes down to consistent action which is led by consistent thot and is led by consistent intention (same as thot)… and preceded by focused emotion/gratitude (the fuel n power of consistent thot).

just my 2cents

thumbed on an iPad
Kelvin

sorry.. I lost interest in Abe hicks after the lil spat over money n credit re LOA stuff. it’s one thing to disagree with the proprietor/lady of the secret book.. it’s another wen u go out of ur way by legal action n retracting any participation in the movie. they talk about letting go of ego..meanwhile that debacle was just filled with egos from all sides n their actions shown clearly beyond what they try to preach…

I just lost credibility in their “authority/expertise” on the topic just by how they publicly handled the conflict of the production n expectations of the secret…

thumbed on the iPad,
Kelvin

while the rest of the world may be in poverty compared to America’s standards… I wonder if the secret works for them relative to the level of improvements they seek/believe (consistently) for themselves.

that said, I have a hard time reconciling the workings of LOA in the perspective of illness/disease n the subconscious “desires” that manifest them ( and overtake the conscious?) despite the conscious desires/intentions…

side note… a popular LOA figure in the field recently was diagnosed with cancer I believe it was… Wayne dyer… being a public figure in the field, he’s seen as an authority to this LOA… I wonder how LOA is working in his life n how he is reconciling (assuming there’s something to be reconciled) or perceiving all this in light of LOA…

thumbed on the iPad,
Kelvin

Hi Chris,

I follow your blogs and love what you write; and think I just now respect and admire you more for your admission. A brave thing to do in this very tangible world. I believe in manifestation and visualising. It is powerful and it works. I will be at the CES show (am UK based) so it would be great to say hello.

>>The premise is that if you visualize and believe with all your heart that you’ll find what you seek, then it’ll manifest.

I wonder if a big part of the mixed results could be due to the same problem I have experienced when things don’t work out wen actively applying the law of attraction – the first step. wen visualizing, this assumes u are very clear in ur intention and outcome… then we r supposed to be consistent in our thots and feelings n visualizations… but to be uniform and consistent implies that our outcome should be clear.

I can say that the things I’ve been clear about have worked out beautifully and smoothly wen actively watching the law of attraction unfold. conversely, the outcomes I sought that were not clear were riddled with inconsistent thot, belief, actions, and communications (to self and orders in verbal and body language).

I truly believe my flubs are more to do with clarity in desire/outcome/intention (step 1) than anything else. when the foundation is flimsy, the rest follows/falls apart…

thumbed on the iPad
Kelvin

P.S.
MR. CHRIS BROGAN, I appreciate the fact u actually communicate with ur audience… that’s just good stuff! ur reachable…real…golly, I’m honored to be apart of this community *bows respectfully*

keep up the kick ass work n posts!! n much continued success in all aspects of ur life!

Chris – as usual, you are pushing the envelope for many. Bravo! I have used LOA for many years and have used it to coach my clients and employees with great results. LOA is WAY more than visualization – it is about where ( and how) you focus your attention and intention. Most of us have little training how to focus our attention; it is a skill just like learning to use a computer.

Thank you for your candor and transparency.

Kelly,
Thanks for putting this out there.
I love seeing Abe get more press in the business world.

James Arthur Ray, a contributer to The Secret, is facing triple manslaughter charges for cooking people to death in 2009. His trial is currently scheduled for February 2011. You should check that out.

Kelvin,

The Secret started out being primarily about the Hicks, and there was a contract to do just that. When things started morphing, the producer went outside of the contract without letting the Hicks know. The Hicks wanted out because the whole project had changed from the original intent and production/promotion values. It got a lot of press; the Hicks were pretty clear that they just wanted to withdraw, and the producer was not in agreement right away even tho she had been working outside the contract.

[...] Around this time last year I posted an article “Why positive thinking isn’t working for you and how to fix it” where I talked a little about my experience with “manifesting”, “positive thinking” and “visualization”. It was brought to mind recently by Chris B’s “Scary Admission“. [...]

Chris–you knew this would generate lots of discussion. I’m curious about your first reply: “Everything is sourced from somewhere else.” So there’s no starting point? It’s all just a circle? I’d dispute that assertion. I believe truth originates from an original source.

I’m also curious about why you found it “scary” to proclaim this belief.

Visualize what you want and then work your tail off has always been a formula for success, especially when combined with talent and courage. That’s never been a secret, has it?

Let your freak flag fly, brutha. Karma is as karma does. Positive out = Positive in.

Really? This theme has started popping up randomly in the oddest places for me lately.