What Was Missing in The Secret
This week The Answer hit the Wall Street Journal bestseller list for the second time. On iTunes, I notice that it stands right now as the #1 title under “New & Notable” under “Audiobooks: Business,” and is #14 in their “Top Audiobooks” list.
Why is The Answer doing so well? I think one reason is that it fills in a gap so many people feel was left by The Secret, which goes something like this:
“Okay, the Law of Attraction, I get it . . . but don’t we have to do something?”
Indeed. Lao Tzu may have championed wei wu wei, the famous Taoist “doing without doing,” but note that the first word there is not being, experiencing or even manifesting, but doing.
In The Answer, we explain the Law of Attraction by illustrating the miraculous phenomenon of resonance, which is what lies within the heart of music, love and the Doctrine of Signatures, among other many wonderful things. (Writing this section was my favorite part of the whole experience.)
But the Law of Attraction doesn’t operate in a vacuum: it’s only one-third of the story. We lay it all out in Chapter 3, sandwiched between the wild galactic quantum physics romp in Chapter 2 and the Chapter 4 tour of how your brain is more amazing than you thought it was:
There are three laws, each one equally important: the Law of Attraction, the Law of Gestation, and the Law of Action. In practical terms, they go like this:
1. Craft a vivid, compelling picture of your heart’s desire.
2. Have the patience and good grace to let it unfold on God’s timing.
3. Meanwhile, why are you just standing there?
That’s what was missing in The Secret.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Many times I have said that a poor plan implemented with lots of action will always beat a great plan with little or no action. I think too many people want the results but are unwilling to take the action.
Thanks for the post, I will certainly have to get and read The Answer … because I know action is The Answer.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Indeed Indeed John well said and written my friend!
After all the last 6 letters of the Law Of AttrACTION are A.C.T.I.O.N ya can’t just sit there on the lazy boy dreaming about all you dream of and desire in life (like we see in ‘The Secret’) waiting it to fall out of the sky and into your living room..ya gotta do something…move…take inspired action!
I like what James Ray says, “If ya dont take action they are going to come take your furniture away and your house!”
Thoughts, Feelings and Action must all be in alignment and firing at same time, that’s the resonancy part as well.
What a fitting post for the 4th of July John, as many of us think about and express gratitude for our Freedom. But what is it we are truly thankful for about Freedom?
Freedom OF and Freedom FROM what?
For me it’s always been about freedom OF Time and Freedom FROM a Boss (spelled double S..OB backwards!) and a JOB and a pyacheck (trading hourse for dollars)
The only way to protect that freedom as an antrepreneur is to take ACTION daily towards my (our) dreams as in the end…
Freedom is nothing but a CHANCE to be Better!
Chance means without Action you will never be truly FREE… nor of course will we co-create all we desire to BE, Do and Have in life.
We have to get off our duffs and do something…TAKE ACTION!
That indeed is ‘The Answer’!
Oh and John…fantastic interview you did the other night with Corey, man that was POWERFUL! What a great communicator and passionate caring sould you are John, quite the treat that was! I model my life around The Go-Giver Principles, thanks for the inspiration my friend!
BTW..I was the ‘friend’ Corey referred to on the call who shared the other great book you co-wrote (and probably my fave success book so far) THe Slight Edge, and Art Jonak was the one who shared that ‘gift’ with me, it’s quite a treasure.
Simple Daily Disciplines (ACTIONS) is the Key right!
Easy to do…easy NOT to do!
Thanks John for all you are and do and Congrats for taking action and marrying your sweet heart Anna, third time is the charm (and she most certainly is!)
Happy 4th
Jared Maidenberg