The newest in the long line of self help books and videos has our country in a frenzy. Media outlets and well respected talk hosts such as Larry King and Oprah Winfrey have dedicated shows to the new concept. The Secret, compiles the stories and thoughts of famous authors, philosophers, psychotherapists and metaphysicists who all believe in one powerful tool, the law of attraction.

According to Author and founder of “One Coach”, John Assaraf, “you’ve got to think positive thoughts; you’ve got to feel what those thoughts give you”. He goes on to say “and then you’ve got to do something very few people talk about. You have to take action”.

On CNN’s Larry King Live this past week (click here for the transcript), John Assaraf and other Secret contributors talked about their passion for the potentially life altering practices of this book/DVD and also responded to critics. One by one, guests re-worded the prior’s comments to expound on the notion that negative energy comes back and that one will get what he or she puts out into the universe.

Critic, Professor Robert Thompson of Syracuse University responds by saying “It’s amazing how we are a nation of at best, great optimists; at worst great suckers”. Many of the secret contributors shrugged such comments off by reminded people of some of the most revolutionary changes in history. Hope itself did not lead Christopher Columbus to believe that the world was round. He questioned and went against one of the basic understandings at the time. Solar systems and the sun’s relationship to the Earth were for a long time mis-understood and this is precisely what advocates argue when discussing the major themes of the Secret.

Author Lisa Nichols says that “hope is something we are deprived of” and that “no matter what,” she went on to say, “we can drive our own life or design our own destiny”. At a time when many in the public question the ethics and place of God in the teachings of these scholars and authors, Nichols went on to say that her faith as a Christian woman does not conflict with the views discussed in the book/DVD.

Like so many others’, I too have purchased and watched the Secret in hopes that I could learn some tiny bit of information that would help me along my life’s journey. Unlike Dr. Robi Ludwig of Newsweek comments that many people are dissatisfied with their life, I felt compelled to watch the DVD in an effort to enhance what I already understood. Ludwig points to a generally accepted fact of life that “we like to feel good” when responding to the question of the popularity of the Secret. Ludwig said “this is positive thinking re-packaged” but cautions that this is not the only way to success.

One of the most compelling and eye opening portions of the philosophy of the Secret happens to be what I like to refer to as the reverse Golden Rule. Philosopher James Ray simply describes it by asking, “how can you expect others to enjoy your company when you don’t enjoy your own company?” Instead of just accepting the age old ‘do unto others’, the new additional rule would be, ‘do you treat yourself the way you want others to treat you’?

While critics blast these hopeful teachers and pass this phenomenon off as “snake oil” cashing in on hope, I strongly feel a connection with most of the principles. After all, if you can ask and believe, why not be able to receive? As long as all three components are in place, one can use these basic steps to implement actions that will help get the end result they desire. Gratitude for life’s positive rather than focusing on negative energy will also propel one to a more fulfilling way of living. Regardless of what your ambitions or wants are, they can be attracted.

About The Secret:

Like most best selling films, The Secret will have a sequel to build from the Law of Attraction by adding The Law of Right Action.

The Secret is released to the world! This ground-breaking feature length movie presentation reveals The Great Secret of the universe. It has been passed throughout the ages, traveling through centuries… to reach you and humankind.

This is The Secret to everything - the secret to unlimited joy, health, money, relationships, love, youth: everything you have ever wanted.

In this astonishing program are ALL the resources you will ever need to understand and live The Secret. For the first time in history, the world’s leading scientists, authors, and philosophers will reveal The Secret that utterly transformed the lives of every person who ever knew it… Plato, Newton, Carnegie, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Einstein.