I have always been an optimist. It’s how I’m wired. It’s deep with in my DNA.
I don’t recall making a commitment or entering into any special or secret covenant to be an optimist — it’s a way of life that works for me.
More than once I’ve heard: – “You see the glass half full – I see it half empty.” I do. Guilty as charged. I see the potential in everything and everyone.
Recently friends called, emailed and otherwise sent up various smoke signals to tell me that they’d just watched a Oprah episode called “The Secret” “Oh my gosh – it was if the guests on the show were talking about you!” “You could have been on that panel!” “It was so Jack!”
Having missed the episode, I was first a washed with amazement as to how many of my friends were watching Oprah Winfrey, but secondly hoping that I did indeed live up to their hype I decided I better learn about this Secret and fast.
“You’ve got to bring “The Secret” to Tracy!”
After watching the episode, I had to smile. Yes, they were right. I could have been on that panel. After listening to the panelists like Jack Canfield, who wrote “Chicken Soup for the Soul” I had a sense of gratitude that – yeah people do get me. The key word here is – gratitude. I endeavor to live my life in a context of gratitude.
I’m grateful for the good things in my life. I’m blessed to serve a great God, have wonderful friends, a beautiful home, great jobs and a great community I call home.
You see – The Secret really isn’t a secret at all. Well maybe it is to you, but it isn’t to me. Let me explain:
The Secret is based on a philosophy known as the law of attraction. You know that same little Bible lesson we all learned in Sunday School, “Do unto others as you’d have them to do unto you.” Secular folks would say: “What you put out –you’re going to get back.” Nothing new there — no big secret.
Now let’s reveal why the Secret is so mysterious and why it’s touted as the hush-hush pathway to prosperity and happiness.
It’s all in the marketing…..Think De Vinci Code. For that matter think “Trim Spa”. People love secrets. They love clues, connecting the dots and finding hidden and forgotten treasures. We’re also a society that likes – easy answers. Give me that little green pill and I’ll lose 40 pounds. Never mind that small print saying diet and exercise must also be a part of your weight loss regiment. “Oh if I just won the lottery — I’d be so happy.”
Therefore if your invited to piece together “The Secret” of life,— as if you were watching an episode of CSI or Law and Order, intrigue will lead you to be invested in the outcome — you’ll be hooked. You’ll by the DVD, the book, workbook, calendar and all the accoutrements associated with multi-tier marketing. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
All things considered — The Secret is a good thing. Think of it as a divinely inspired philosophy for living in the 21st Century. The Secret tells us to “Ask, believe and receive.” Okay, Christians do that all the time. They pray (ask), have faith (believe) and know that God will answer their prayer (receive).
Ah, but what about you folks that see the glass half empty. What does “The Secret” offer you? Well, it offers you exactly the same thing. If you believe the world to be an awful place — well what you put out – you will receive.
“I always do horrible on a test”. If that’s you pronouncement then guess what. That’s your prayer (ask). When you used the word “always” it was a demonstration of your faith (believe). And since that was your request – you put it out there – you can not be surprised that you (receive) a low grade on your test.
The bottom line is this. If you put out negative – you get negative. If you put out good – you get good. This is exactly why your Mother use to say: “If you can’t say anything good – then don’t say anything at all.”
So my friends – I would be happy to bring the Secret to Tracy, but it’s already here. It always has been. In fact, it’s always been with you as well. Your attitude, who you hang with and what you value have all come together to give you the life you have today. But remember this, the life you have today is not “who you are” it’s the manifestation of “who you were”. Want to change it? You can. All you have to do is ask, believe and be willing to receive.
I don’t recall making a commitment or entering into any special or secret covenant to be an optimist — it’s a way of life that works for me.
More than once I’ve heard: – “You see the glass half full – I see it half empty.” I do. Guilty as charged. I see the potential in everything and everyone.
Recently friends called, emailed and otherwise sent up various smoke signals to tell me that they’d just watched a Oprah episode called “The Secret” “Oh my gosh – it was if the guests on the show were talking about you!” “You could have been on that panel!” “It was so Jack!”
Having missed the episode, I was first a washed with amazement as to how many of my friends were watching Oprah Winfrey, but secondly hoping that I did indeed live up to their hype I decided I better learn about this Secret and fast.
“You’ve got to bring “The Secret” to Tracy!”
After watching the episode, I had to smile. Yes, they were right. I could have been on that panel. After listening to the panelists like Jack Canfield, who wrote “Chicken Soup for the Soul” I had a sense of gratitude that – yeah people do get me. The key word here is – gratitude. I endeavor to live my life in a context of gratitude.
I’m grateful for the good things in my life. I’m blessed to serve a great God, have wonderful friends, a beautiful home, great jobs and a great community I call home.
You see – The Secret really isn’t a secret at all. Well maybe it is to you, but it isn’t to me. Let me explain:
The Secret is based on a philosophy known as the law of attraction. You know that same little Bible lesson we all learned in Sunday School, “Do unto others as you’d have them to do unto you.” Secular folks would say: “What you put out –you’re going to get back.” Nothing new there — no big secret.
Now let’s reveal why the Secret is so mysterious and why it’s touted as the hush-hush pathway to prosperity and happiness.
It’s all in the marketing…..Think De Vinci Code. For that matter think “Trim Spa”. People love secrets. They love clues, connecting the dots and finding hidden and forgotten treasures. We’re also a society that likes – easy answers. Give me that little green pill and I’ll lose 40 pounds. Never mind that small print saying diet and exercise must also be a part of your weight loss regiment. “Oh if I just won the lottery — I’d be so happy.”
Therefore if your invited to piece together “The Secret” of life,— as if you were watching an episode of CSI or Law and Order, intrigue will lead you to be invested in the outcome — you’ll be hooked. You’ll by the DVD, the book, workbook, calendar and all the accoutrements associated with multi-tier marketing. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
All things considered — The Secret is a good thing. Think of it as a divinely inspired philosophy for living in the 21st Century. The Secret tells us to “Ask, believe and receive.” Okay, Christians do that all the time. They pray (ask), have faith (believe) and know that God will answer their prayer (receive).
Ah, but what about you folks that see the glass half empty. What does “The Secret” offer you? Well, it offers you exactly the same thing. If you believe the world to be an awful place — well what you put out – you will receive.
“I always do horrible on a test”. If that’s you pronouncement then guess what. That’s your prayer (ask). When you used the word “always” it was a demonstration of your faith (believe). And since that was your request – you put it out there – you can not be surprised that you (receive) a low grade on your test.
The bottom line is this. If you put out negative – you get negative. If you put out good – you get good. This is exactly why your Mother use to say: “If you can’t say anything good – then don’t say anything at all.”
So my friends – I would be happy to bring the Secret to Tracy, but it’s already here. It always has been. In fact, it’s always been with you as well. Your attitude, who you hang with and what you value have all come together to give you the life you have today. But remember this, the life you have today is not “who you are” it’s the manifestation of “who you were”. Want to change it? You can. All you have to do is ask, believe and be willing to receive.
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