Are You Thinking Rich or Drinking Kool Aid?
It’s hard not to notice the ramped-up backlash over the concepts of positive thinking and the law of attraction lately. I think the monetary success of “The Secret” and its offshoots have much to do with that - and for the most part, I agree with the detractors.
That’s probably not something you expected to read on a site like this.
But think about it for a minute. I’m not here to bash “The Secret” specifically, but it does leap out. First of all, what they’re saying is no secret. This isn’t stuff that you should have to pay for or join some mysterious society to receive. That’s crap. The foundations of the law of attraction can be found for free all over the Internet. Search for Napoleon Hill or Wallace Wattles or any of the “New Thought” writers and only pay for the information if you want it on a CD or in paperback form. Otherwise, just print it out and enjoy. Hook up with blog writers who share their experiences and don’t expect a dime in return other than a random ad click or two.
It’s true that Hill and some of those writers are not exactly easy to read. That doesn’t mean that what they say is beyond our understanding and we need to pay somebody wiser or more virtuous to explain it to us. It’s simply that the authors lived in a different era and the language has loosened up a lot since then. You may have to read their works more than one time - or more than three times - but that doesn’t mean it’s beyond your grasp. These writers were not trying to make it hard to read or to inject hidden meaning that only special people could find. They were doing their best to share with us what they had learned and experienced.
The concept that “thoughts are things” has many critics, too. And again, for the most part I can find many reasons to agree with them. We all know and would never argue that our thoughts have an effect on us personally. How can anyone deny that constantly thinking you’re a failure or you’re stupid has an effect on your ability and desire to try new things? On the other hand, if you get up in the morning thinking “I’m going to do great today,” it’s actually kind of hard not to do great.
But are thoughts really things? I mean, can they really cause a result to come about out there in the world outside our brains?
In my experience, yes, they can. But never when I just sit on my butt at home and think happy thoughts. For thoughts to be things they require action. They require expression. It does me no good to think about the fact that by giving more I will receive more if I don’t actually give anything. Gratitude unexpressed is dead on the vine. Abundance not acted upon is emptiness.
Think of the truth in James Ray’s response, when asked on The Early Show if the secret of The Secret is “ask — believe — receive,” Ray said, “Well that’s one of the author’s interpretations. I believe that you have to think, feel, and act …”
Let’s give ourselves a break here for a moment and pull away from the negativity on the one hand and the money grubbing on the other. If you believe in the law of attraction and you can make it work for you, then ignore the criticism. Success is its own reward. There are people out there who will never believe in the power of thought - even if they are currently using it and benefiting from it - and it’s a waste of your power and mental energy to try and convince them. Keep your strength within and use it to better your life and the world around you in whatever ways you can. Use your own yardstick to measure your success, not someone else’s.
And when someone tries to drain away your money by offering you secrets, just walk away. There are so many people out here sharing the light that you don’t have to search in dark corners to find it. You are being asked to pay for the key to a door that’s already wide open. Please, save your money and your sanity; these inflated promises only lead to deflated dreams. Don’t drink the Kool Aid.
Protect your spirit while it’s growing, but realize that detractors can help us receive clarity about this world we’re immersing ourselves in. When they point out the stupidity of cult-like behavior, ignoring reality and far-fetched claims, they expose exactly what we need to avoid.
And what do you know? Their thoughts become things despite themselves. And their thoughts can have a wonderful effect on us when we use them to clarify our own thoughts and actions. Let’s be grateful for that.
