The Law of Attraction’s origins are muddied. Some historians cite Buddha as the first to articulate the law. Others, Jesus. No one really knows.
But we do know that The Law of Attraction first gained world-wide recognition thanks in large part to Napoleon Hill’s 1937 book Think and Grow Rich.
While Hill’s version of The Law of Attraction was heavily weighted towards thinking, it nonetheless emphasized the importance of taking action on your thoughts. Thinking, followed by action, was Hill’s message.
Then, in 2006, The Law of Attraction, underwent major surgery thanks to a little book called The Secret. The Secret was, and still is, a big hit. It has sold over 19 million copies to date. It’s popularity is anchored in the notion that thoughts become things. The Secret promised riches, success, happiness and an amazing life. All you had to do was visualize what you wanted and that simple act would attract it.
The major surgery performed by The Secret, was in removing the organs of action from the patient. No work, no hardship, no obstacles, no goals, no mistakes, no failure. For the first time a self-help book offered success without all the effort.
With its millions of devoted followers, you’d naturally expect to see an explosion in the number of millionaires since 2006.
But that didn’t happen.
Why?
Because the real secret is that visualization does not attract that which you desire. The purpose of visualization is to help you gain clarity over your Dreams and Goals. Visualization, or thinking in pictures about the life you desire, forces the conscious and subconscious parts of your brain to work in harmony in revealing, or making clear, the path, or action, you must take in order to produce the life you desire.
Clarity is knowing exactly what you want in life and what you need to do to get what you want. Clarity reveals the action you must take. It provides the blueprint for the life you desire. That blueprint is just a plan.
Executing that plan requires effort. It requires action.
You simply cannot think your way to success.
Tom Corley is an accountant, financial planner and author of “Rich Kids: How to Raise Our Children to Be Happy and Successful in Life”, Effort-Less Wealth, Change Your Habits Change Your Life, Rich Habits Poor Habits and “Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals.”
