It's all the rage. No, I don't mean the iPod or the latest wrinkle reducing
magic pill. I'm referring to the latest incarnation of what is commonly called
the Law of Attraction. It's the new movie The Secret (The Secret Movie).

By the time you read this article, you will either have heard of The Secret
movie, you've seen it, or you've heard some myth or urban legend of how it
was created. And, if you've been around Abraham-Hicks, Bob Proctor, Joe
Vitale, or any of the others who were interviewed in The Secret movie, you
know all about it.

It seems that about every 100 or so years (give or take a few centuries),
someone writes a variation of the law of attraction. Buddhists have written
for centuries that whatever it is you contemplate most, you create. You'll
find various other ancient scriptures that refer to man's ability to move
mountains, create miracles, or perform heroic deeds merely by focusing
their attention, and acting with a clear mind toward a specified end results.

Today, we find the law of attraction backed by science, or at least a
variation of quantum physics.

Now, in The Secret movie, we're told once again that we can "create our
reality" by altering our thinking. The experts who discuss the power of the
human mind to create and transform have all accomplished great deeds by
setting a clear intention and following through with actions that move them
towards whatever it is they envision.

The Secret movie and the law of attraction teachers will all tell you much
the same things. But in my opinion, they omit (either because they don't
know, or don't have the time and space to say it all) a critical - perhaps THE
critical - element.

It is now being proven that the true power of intention - the law of attraction -
lay in a combination of clear, focused thought and action.

Allow me to explain. Scientists are measuring brain activity in combination
with physical tests and mental focus. Test groups are split. Some might
practice a golf swing only in their minds. Others have no practice at all. A
third group will practice on the field, but without the mental focus. And a
fourth group practices both in their minds (30-40 minute active
visualizations) and on the field.

The fourth group far outperforms the other groups, with the mental focus
group and field practice group coming in nearly identically on the tests.

It's the same with the law of attraction (as described in The Secret movie).
Those who use both the power of mental focus - imagining themselves in
the action of accomplishing their goal - and the physical actions that ensue
from their mental focus are by far more successful than those who use just
one or the other.

Therefore, I propose something entirely new as a type of New Year's
resolution.

Rather than say, "My resolution is to accomplish XYZ", or to "Make $10,000
per month", or some such similar goal, I propose that you try this:

"This year I see myself taking exactly the right steps and actions that will
enable me to...­"

See, the new focus is on imagining yourself IN ACTION toward your goal,
as well as in the ACTION of achieving or receiving your goal. If you were a
boxer, you'd imagine each and every punch and counter-punch, and see
yourself receiving the prize. You'd also practice these moves in the ring. A
basketball player will practice in his mind and on the court. A musician will
do likewise.

So, don't just see yourself walking around with a pocket full of money. See
yourself taking all the appropriate actions that will put that money in your
pocket. The Secret movie says little about the importance of both
visualization and action. And, most gurus will leave this step out.

Why? My belief is that they don't want to turn you away by saying you'll
have to do a little work. They'd rather have you plunk your hard-earned
money down on their product, leaving you with a hope and a prayer, but
little else to show for your money.

If you want to achieve great things, you have to DO great things. And, you
have to see yourself doing those great things. The law of attraction works
best if you are in action. Go watch The Secret movie again with this in mind.
You might learn a thing or two that will get you more of what you want.