The Secret Behind “The Secret”
by Tery Grant, LCSW • Roslyn, NY

Oprah swears that she lives The Secret. Many other professionals, including me, say we have known and taught our clients and students to use The Secret for years. It’s nothing new.

So why has The Secret ignited such interest? Did the DaVinci Code’s secret society begin an intriguing trend to discover long lost secrets? Who, then, is promoting this new best seller that bookstores cannot keep on the shelves? Ministers, authors and guests are featured on TV talk shows to explain The Secret. The public can’t get enough. The extraordinary interest in the DVD and the book is compelling. Wherever you go, you hear, “Have you heard about…(whisper)…The Secret?”

Personally, I love it. I believe the “secret” behind The Secret is that our spiritual nature hungers for inspiration and expression. Within us is a yearning to give and attract love, experience the joys of health, prosperity, peace, adventure and creativity. Life is waiting for us to live our true and ultimate potential. How nice is that!

Simply put, the Law of Attraction states there is a Creative Infinite Power (Intelligent Energy) that responds to our thoughts and produces “things”--feelings and images. Every thought sends out a signal (energy vibration…like a TV station) and attracts similar signals like a magnet. The result is we create an image, a visible form and what appears in our lives is an “out picturing” of our thoughts. Esther and Jerry Hicks state in their book Ask and it is Given, “You are a vibrational transmitter and you are broadcasting your signal in every moment of your existence.” It is a powerful law. Just think: we are constantly creating “our world.”

Of course, some thoughts lie dormant in our subconscious mind and when they demonstrate in our lives we are taken by surprise. However, we can observe what is visible and our conscious mind can change the thought. One positive thought can neutralize a hundred negative thoughts, so no need to despair. Mastery means we must stay awake and know that our thoughts are creative. To apply the Law Of Attraction, faith and a feeling of gratitude are essential. Abundance is our inheritance and when we are grateful for all that we have, our feelings send out a high vibration that attracts a prosperous, healthy and happy life. The focus is not on consuming more stuff. As we grow in understanding of the Law, the desire to fulfill our potential and life purpose becomes paramount. When beginners start using the Law of Attraction they often ask too little, not too much. There is nothing wrong in attracting a parking space, or a phone call from a friend or extra money, but peace of mind, abundance and happiness soon become greater desires to the Self we become.

The Law of Attraction works in all our relationships. Always begin with the relationship you have with yourself. Are your thoughts mostly positive? List at least 20 of your wonderful qualities, talents and gifts and read the list twice a day for a month. How can you possibly feel deserving of having success or a partner who will appreciate you and love you if you don’t feel great about yourself? The powerful Law of Attraction must attract to you in kind, exactly what you feel about yourself. If you won’t give yourself this attention, you will attract exactly that: no one who will want to give you attention. You’ll falsely believe there is nobody out there for you.

Loving, positive thoughts raise our emotional vibration which cause us to feel good. When we feel good, we attract people who feel good themselves and are happy. We all want partners who are mentally and emotionally healthy, don’t we? So, raising your emotional vibration by thinking positive thoughts, using visualizations or revisiting a wonderful memory are some of the tools we use (from our tool box) to feel good and attract the goals we desire. If you are in a relationship, the same approach is applicable. Write down what you appreciate about the relationship and your partner and recall to mind positive experiences you have enjoyed. Do the exercise above and create a dream map of what you love to do and what qualities you want in your partner. Picture it perfectly! Also, take a clear second look at your partner.
We each carry blueprints from the past that block us from our heart’s desire. These experiences and beliefs are filed away in our conscious and subconscious mind and we unknowingly create disappointments, limitations, addictions and emotional pain. It is not easy to let go of the drama of a stressful relationship. If you’re being drained of your precious energy and joy (bad feelings indicate negative thoughts and low vibration) it may be time for a spring cleaning. Find supportive help to create a new blueprint in your mind that will reverse the pain of the past. The Law of Attraction is a marvelous formula for happiness. Use it for success in all four corners of life: 1)health, 2)wealth, 3)relationships and 4)creative work. It offers a great promise to all who will use their imagination.

Think about what you want -- not what you don’t want! Your best life is waiting for you.

Tery Grant has a psychotherapy practice in Roslyn, L.I. and for over 20 years, has taught and lectured on metaphysics, Science of Mind and Course In Miracles. She has also produced documentaries, a cable TV series and published numerous articles on relationships.