We Are What We Think
Saturday, March 17th, 2007

A fair warning: this post delves into something I’m passionate about, which is somewhat philosophical in nature. So if you’re of a certain religious persuasion and easily offended by others, then please skip over this blog post. If not, read on…

“The Secret” is taking the entire world by storm. It deals with the “Law of Attraction,” in that we attract to ourselves what we think and feel, and that our perceptions mold our reality.

As Earl Nightingale proclaimed in “The Strangest Secret,” one of the first self-help programs I’ve ever bought: “We become what we think about.”

You may have seen it talked about on Larry King, Oprah, and many other talk shows. It’s the most successful Internet launch of any product. It hit Alexa #1 soon after its launch, and propelled to the Amazon.com’s #1 best selling book and DVD within a few months.

It appeared in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Time Magazine, and even on the cover of Newsweek, which came shortly thereafter.

But is “The Secret” truly worth the buzz? Or is it just an old-world philosophy packaged in some newfangled marketing? The answer to the former is definitely “yes.” But for the latter, it’s “yes” and “no.” Let me explain…

My favorite quote of all time is from René Descartes, which in Latin, goes: “Cogito Ergo Sum.” Translated, we all know it as: “I think, therefore I am.” And yes, it’s something that’s been around for ages.

My own life is living proof that it works. If you know my story, then you know that I went from being an abused child of an alcoholic and undergoing two bankruptcies, to becoming a successful entrepreneur. My life literally turned around when I applied “The Secret” to my life. So I personally believe it to be true.

(It was a pleasure when I was asked to write the copy for John Assaraf, one of the authors behind “The Secret” and whose life seems to parallel mine. From a “street kid” whose teenage years were plagued with violence, drugs, and crime, to a billionaire and now motivational speaker, John’s story, like mine, is another perfect example of the Law of Attraction in action.)

However, the recent hype, which is indeed a simple marketing twist on an ageless axiom, may be a little over the top for some people. But critics and cynics aside, I also do believe that it’s about time the word got out to reach the masses the way it has.

It’s definitely nothing new. It’s been around since the beginning of time. But there are some important reasons why this meme is finally becoming so popular — and I’ll come back to this in a moment.

One of my greatest passions is sociology. I love learning about history, culture, languages, and human behavior. It’s been one of my most fascinating topics — something I’ve studied in both formal and personal education.

I love to learn who we are, where we come from, what makes us unique. I studied many cultures, nationalities, and languages, as well as their origins and the behaviors that are innate to specific cultures.

And one such societal staple is certainly religion.

One of my favorite classes in college was studies in comparative religion. And unlike many people who seek out what makes us different, I’ve been more fascinated by what makes us similar.

I’m not here to proselytize for any religious persuasion. However, in my studies and personal research, I have read and studied the “bibles” of most religions, such as the Bible, the Torah, the Dhammapada, the Baghavad Gita, the Qur’an, and more.

I’ve studied Christianity, Judaism, Islamism, Buddhism, Theosophism, Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Shamanism, Objectivism, Paganism (from Greek and Roman polytheism, all the way to Wicca), and more. And yes, even the Church of the Subgenius. (R.A.W., may you rest in peace!)

I’ve studied all the great spiritual masters, leaders, prophets, philosophers, and writers. One of my favorite contemporary authors is the great mythologist Joseph Campbell, who taught us to “follow our bliss.”

I have also immersed myself in the teachings of Florence Scovel Shinn, Wayne Dyer, John Randolph Price, Paul Solomon, and many others.

I did so in an attempt to try to find the one common denominator in all religions, in all cultures, in all societies. Some people say it’s love. That may be true, but what I have found is, in almost all cases, the common denominator has been “You are what you think.”

Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” “Life consists in what a man is thinking of all day,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson. Or, as the Buddha said in the opening line of the Dhammapada (1:1): “We are what we think. All that we are is the result of our thoughts.”

These are just some examples. I’ve seen this again and again. In almost every religious book, teaching, philosophy, or theology, there has been some reference to this timeless wisdom.

Again, I’m not here to enter into a theological debate of any kind. But I do believe in the law of attraction. And for the longest time, scientists have worked hard to disprove the existence of a Supreme Being, and to prove the irrationality of religion, prayer, and worship.

But lately, and probably why “The Secret” is making such a splash, is that science is finally, and paradoxically, proving what scholars, spiritual leaders, and philosophers have known to be true all along.

In movies like “What The Bleep” (which I highly recommend), quantum mechanics theorists and quantum physicists discuss that science is indeed proving that we are what we think.

One of the most fascinating studies in this area is Dr. Masaru Emoto’s water crystallization experiments. It’s amazing that thoughts can actually alter the composition of water. And since we are mostly made up of water ourselves, this is proof that thoughts and feelings affect physical reality.

This philosophy has literally changed the lives of millions of people. For many others, “The Secret” is just a bunch of hype. And I can certainly appreciate and respect both sides.

But in the middle, we find the majority of people trying to make sense of it all.

When we see the movie, and perhaps even adopt its concepts, some of us are probably left scratching our heads trying to figure out how it works, seeking real-world applications of the Law of Attraction. If only there were practical, easy-to-follow steps we can take.

That’s why it is certainly no secret that, when I was asked to review “The Secret Science of Getting Rich” home study course via ReviewMe.com (as a paid review request), I was utterly thrilled to do so.

It’s a course based on a seminar given by several authors of the runaway best-selling book and movie, which helps its students apply the teachings behind “The Secret” to their lives. I haven’t taken the seminar or bought the product, so my knowledge is only limited by the content on the website. But one thing I do know…

There is a tendency for naysayers to look askance at programs like this, but never has there been a program offered that combines the credibility of teachers like Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for The Soul), Bob Proctor (success coach), and Michael Beckwith (spiritual leader) with a run-away-best-selling book and movie.

The teachers are inspirational. And the curriculum itself is worth a look.

The program includes 10 jam-packed CDs, over 15 hours of MP3s, a 180-page workbook and planner, the book itself, a variety of tools to guide you, all included in a beautiful, leather-bound briefcase to carry the course with you, wherever you go.

And the course even includes access to a private members website, where you can network and rub shoulders with likeminded students and experts.

A great bonus is that the course also comes with it’s own business opportunity. If you’re so inclined, you can promote the course yourself, with a pre-designed website and ready-to-use promotional materials, so you can make money promoting the seminar.

At the very least, check out the website and signup for the free 7-part email course. It’s a worthwhile read.

Nevertheless, if you have always wondered how you can achieve success in your life, whatever “success” means to you (and being “rich” doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be of a financial nature, either), then I recommend that you check out The Secret Science of Getting Rich.

About the Author

Michel Fortin is a direct response copywriter, author, speaker and consultant. Spy on Michel by watching videos of him in action, working with real copy from real clients, and get tested conversion strategies proven to boost response at http://www.thecopydoctor.com/. Watch a free 2-hour sample video!