Well, it seems that ‘The Secret’ is no longer a secret. For those people who believe in or have seen the power of the Law of Attraction, this comes as no surprise. What about everyone else, though? What about the “naysayers”?

As with all concepts, products, or services that become known in the mainstream circles of society, there are always going to be believers as well as non-believers.

I don’t personally agree with the naysayers, since I know for a fact that the Law of Attraction works, and that it has been a part of the human experience since the dawn of time - long before today’s teachers ever came on the scene. However, my confidence in the truth of existence allows me to freely consider the point of view of others, as well as to share that point of view in order to better educate my readers.

To that end, here are two wonderfully positive (said with tongue firmly planted in cheek) posts that you can check out to read from a few of the people on the opposite side of the Law of Attraction coin. In fact, I have put a trackback from this blog post to their sites in the hopes that they will allow their readers to see both points of view as well:

Andrew Johnson’s Web Publishing Blog - The Secret/The Law of Attraction Scam

KevinHogan.com - The Secret…The Truth Behind the Lie

Now, I will not debate the content of either one of those posts, simply because I don’t need to. People who truly understand the Law of Attraction and conscious creation know that they create their own realities, and they know that it is not “magic”.

If I were to start a “flame war” with every person who disagreed with the LOA or even with just my personal take on it, this blog would become a war zone.

So, conscious creators, what do we get when we focus on war?

Yes, more war.

On the other hand, what do we get when we focus on more open-mindedness, understanding of other people’s points of view, and a willingness to accept others for who they are?

Yes, more of the same.

All of that being said, I do want to address one issue that has come up repeatedly about the “new” interest in the Law of Attraction, and that is the fact that people are making money from teaching others about it.

I will answer that issue by saying, yes, that is absolutely correct! Why wouldn’t people make money helping other people to live better lives?

People pay personal trainers, nutritionists, therapists, counselors, teachers, coaches, doctors, and pretty much any other profession that you can imagine. People are willing to pay to learn about things that they want to understand.

Ummm… that’s not a crime. To say that people should not make money by teaching other people to create better lives for themselves is the same thing as saying that your doctor should not collect a paycheck, or that your physical therapist should not get any money, or that your marriage counselor, financial coach, or school guidance counselor should do what they do for free.

Everyone deserves to get paid for the things that they offer as a way to help others. If you take a concept like the LOA and teach people how to LIVE THEIR LIVES instead of just doing a one-time service for them, in my opinion, that is far more valuable than any other kind of product or service.

“If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. However, if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.”

So yes, people get paid to teach others how to improve their lives, and I am one of those people. I am as transparent as they come. I don’t try to hide the fact that this blog is a source of income for me and my family. I don’t pretend that I don’t want people to buy my products. Sure I do!

It costs me loads of time, effort, and continuing education in order to maintain this blog, produce new products, and come up with new services. However, my goal is to give people FAR more value with my products and with this blog than they actually pay for, and I succeed in doing that every single day.

So, for any alleged non-capitalists who are reading this post, I want you to know that - just like you - LOA and conscious creation teachers get paid to provide a product or a service.

Personally, I am ecstatic about the fact that my products and services related to teaching Self Improvement and the Law of Attraction are helping people to enrich their lives, and empowering them to become whoever they want to be!

In fact, here, I will make it easy for you:

Be sure to NOT save $5 off of already inexpensive products by joining the Today is that Day Newsletter.

You see, teaching people about concepts that help them to enrich their lives should be done with one goal in mind:

To help people enrich their lives!

Whew! That was a tough one…

Are there people out there who take advantage of the fact that “the secret” is out and that the concepts surrounding the LOA are now in the mainstream media?

Yes, there are. Just like there were people who took advantage of the Atkin’s craze, satellite TV over your computer, and people who peddle Hoodia as a miracle weight loss product.

There will always be people who take advantage of the latest social buzz and use it for the sole purpose of making money - at least during this stage of our evolution.

However, there will also be people who can actually help others by teaching them the TRUTH. Whether that truth is thousands of years old, whether it just got discovered yesterday, or even if that truth does nothing but inspire people to believe in themselves, there will always be true Teachers who are willing to share that information.

So, if you personally don’t believe in the Law of Attraction, does that mean that you should look down your nose at it, and bash it publicly? That is totally up to you.

You choose to live your life however you please, and you take the rewards and the punishments that are a result of the choices that you make. Whether you believe in the LOA or not, you ARE a conscious creator of your existence, and that fact will play itself out in whatever positive or negative manifestations that you bring about.

If someone were to say to you that everything in the Universe is absolutely perfect, would you believe them?

I mean, it seems hard to believe that in a world that is filled with at least as much insanity as order that the word perfect could ever even enter into the equation.

Actually, the Universe MUST be perfect, because if it wasn’t, the entire system would have collapsed a long time ago. In fact, it probably would have never even existed to begin with.

Everything that happens in the Universe happens in a very specific way, because that is the only way that it CAN happen based on any given set of circumstances.

Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue if the Law of Gravity suddenly started to just randomly affect different things in different ways? What if jumping off a building one day meant a messy collision with a sidewalk, but the next day jumping off a building meant you were able to leap tall buildings in a single bound?

Imagine what would happen if the electromagnetic field that protects the earth from the harmful spectrum of radiation emitted by the sun suddenly decided to reverse its polarity, just for a change of pace? We would all instantly cease having these types of debates, that’s for sure!

What about if water suddenly stopped being a conductor of electricity, but rubber and wood both suddenly became conductors of electricity? Does the term BIG BANG mean anything to you?

Think of what would happen if the moon suddenly doubled its weight and density over night?

What about if the human body’s immune system completely stopped working?

What if it is really DID start raining cats and dogs???

Okay, maybe the cats and dogs thing was over the top, but do you see the point? Everything that happens in the universe happens because it is supposed to happen that way. That’s the way things are “set up” for lack of a better term.

However, by having access to this knowledge, us mere humans on the blue marble that we call Earth have a decided “edge” over Fate. By knowing and understanding the very basic but unalterable concept of cause and effect, we can manipulate the universal laws in order to create the lives that we want to live.

Any regular readers of this blog will be familiar with the Law of Attraction, which is one of the most obvious ways that as individuals we can practice the art of conscious creation. However, there are other universal laws that also come into play, such as the Law of Polarity, the Law of Relativity, the Law of Vibration, the Law of Gender, etc.

I am not linking to a location for you to learn more about the universal laws because, to be honest, I could not find one location that I felt had all of the information in one spot. If anyone knows of a professional and fact-filled source, please post it in the comments section.

Even without one solid information source about the Universal Laws, it is still clear that they exist, and that they exert control over every aspect of our lives. Here’s the kicker, though:

By understanding that the Universe MUST be perfect, we become conscious creators of our lives by our ability to manipulate the natural laws of the Universe for our own benefit.

To break this down into a simple example, answer the following question:

Have you ever thrown or caught a ball or a Frisbee?

Yes? Congratulations. You just demonstrated your ability to manipulate the laws of the Universe. If you can throw a ball, then you understand gravity, the law of cause and effect, the law of vibration, the law of relativity, the law of perpetual transmutation, and on and on the list goes…

If it is possible for you to throw or catch a ball or a Frisbee, then in the perfect Universe that we live in, it must also be possible for you to do anything else that you can imagine.

Cook some of those concepts on your brain for awhile, or better yet, do some of your own research into the Laws of the Universe. You may be shocked when you realize that perfection not only abounds, but it can be made to correspond to your desires!

For more brain-cooking research into one of the laws - the Law of Polarity, I invite you to check out Steve Pavlina’s post on that subject. However, also be sure to stop by and see Edward over at Evolving times as he claims that Steve’s post might not be entirely accurate.

Hey, I’m just the messenger!

What happens whenever someone comes up to you and issues you a Challenge?

Do you tend to back away because you fear confrontation, or do you take an attitude that resembles something more along the lines of:

“Bring it on! Anything you can do, I can do better!”

Most people - whether they are willing to admit it or not - will take the standpoint of accepting challenges simply because they don’t want to be viewed as the person who couldn’t handle any given situation.

Now, I’m not talking about drunk people at bars picking fights or challenging you to see how many shots of tequila you can do in 5 minutes…

No, the type of challenges that I am talking about are things that you actually WANT to do, even if it is just to prove that you can do it.

After recently listening to Heidi Miller’s podcast about overcoming challenges, I was struck by her use of the term “challenge solving” and immediately had the idea to put together an empowering blog post about that concept. Big thanks to Heidi for such an excellent phrase!

As with so many other things that have been discussed in the past on this blog, the way that you think and feel about something is the primary driving force behind your level of success in that endeavor.

If you view something as negative, then your results surrounding that thing will be perceived by you to be negative. On the flip side, if you see something as positive, then you will perceive positive results about that thing.

This is the fundamental - yet very basic - mind shift that most people fail to actually fully grasp, and their lack of success in certain areas of their life is a result.

So, if you see something as a “problem” then you immediately put yourself into the frame of mind of needing to solve that problem.

And what is the nature of a problem? Something that needs a solution, and then is taken from your focus once the solution has been found.

Does that sound like the kind of attitude that you should take towards your LIFE? Are you just looking to solve one problem after another, just to find another problem waiting around the next corner?

Compare that to the concept of a “challenge”. Whenever you are challenged to accomplish something, the immediate mental process that goes into place is that you are going to have to make a consistent effort to win the challenge.

Please note the key phrase ‘consistent effort‘.

You will not need to go very far through the archives of this blog or the archives of articles that I have written in order to find many references to the fact that consistency is one of the primary keys to success.

A challenge is not something that you accept, find a solution for, and then push away because you are done with it. No, a challenge is something that you have to continually apply focus to in order to succeed.

Whether you have challenged yourself to the attainment of a goal, or if you are competing with other people in the challenge, you will still have to make a continual effort in order to win the challenge.

Consider the following list of problems and challenges and note the obvious difference between how resolving problems is a one-time affair, while winning challenges is an on-going effort.

Problem: You have a flat tire. Solution: Install the spare tire and get the flat tire fixed.

Problem: You just cut your finger slicing carrots. Solution: Wash it out and put on a band-aid.

Problem: Your workload is getting out of control at work. Solution: Apply time and material management practices and put in some extra time until your workload is caught up.

You challenge yourself to lose 20 pounds in 3 months. Instant Solution: Start and continue on a diet and exercise plan that will allow you to lose the weight. Long-term Benefit: You will have innumerable health and personal benefits as a result of your weight loss efforts, and you will have learned to live a lifestyle that will benefit you for the rest of your life.

You challenge yourself to get out of debt within 12 months. Instant Solution: You come up with a savings plan and/or a way to bring in more income in order to eliminate your debt. Long-term Benefit: You will have the opportunity to potentially live debt-free from now on, and you will have developed the habit of long-term financial awareness that will ensure financial freedom for the rest of your life.

You challenge yourself to stop smoking. Instant Solution: You apply a consistent regimen of both physical and psychological practices that eventually allow you to kick the habit completely. Long-term Benefit: You will probably live a lot longer, but just as importantly, you will have developed a level of confidence that will allow you to more fully enjoy the rest of your life.

In the case of solving the problems that were listed, yes, you got some immediate satisfaction. Take a closer look at the challenges, though.

What are the 3 things that you can see about every single instance of accepting and overcoming each of the challenges that were listed?

…

…

…

Give up? Here they are:

1) The so-called “instant solution” was actually a HUGE benefit, and not something so inconsequential as fixing a flat tire, getting caught up at work, or slapping a band-aid on a minor cut.

2) Every challenge also had a long-term benefit associated with it. Not only was there the instant benefit, but there was a long-term on-going benefit as well.

3) And finally, every challenge ended with you having skills, habits, beliefs, or confidence levels that would last you for the rest of your life.

So, from now on whenever you are faced with something that you perceive to be a problem, do not go into problem solving mode. Go into CHALLENGE solving mode and turn that situation into an opportunity to not only resolve the issue, but to create a better life for yourself in the process!

At first I had to check the window I was in on my computer because when I saw the word “tagged” I thought I must have accidentally logged into MySpace!

However, unlike some of the less than prosperous uses of time that some of the MySpace games take up, the “Why Do I Blog” meme is actually a great cause.

Many thanks to both Edward over at Evolving Times as well Lyman at Creating a Better Life for including me in the fun!

People who read blogs are showing that they are willing to dedicate some of their time and maybe even some of their trust to hearing what a Blogger has to say, so it is only fair that, as the Bloggers, we give a peek “behind the scenes” about why we do it to begin with.

So, without any further introduction, I give you the Top 5 Reasons Why I Blog (in no particular order), followed by a few bloggers who I have tagged in return:

1) I like to write. In fact, most people who know me would say that I like to talk as well, and I could not debate that, either. However, the REASON why I like to write and talk is because I believe that the things that I put down on paper (virtual or otherwise) and the things that I say out loud have value. I hope that you agree.

2) I like to help people. Before I understood the idea that “good” and “bad” were only perceptions based on the point of view of the observer, I always considered myself a “good guy”. In fact, I spent 3 years in the trenches as a Personal Trainer helping people get their lives and their confidence on track before I started working at home full-time in the pursuit of educating people about self improvement and empowerment.

3) I have faith in the human race. Many years ago when I was going through a rather rough time during the years that I spent living in Seattle, WA, my father came to visit me. Although not a particularly religious person in the strictest sense of the term, I was wearing a necklace with a cross on it. When asked by my father about why I wore a cross even though I wasn’t religious, I replied it was because I have faith in people.

My father gave me a nice cross as a present after his visit, and to this day my faith in the human race stands strong. If I can help our people to another level of understanding about life in general, then I would call that an endeavor worthy of my time.

4) I get to work from anywhere. Just as with the advice that I give to others, I have my own goals and aspirations, and one of them is to be able to travel frequently to see the friends and family that I have all over the United States. Blogging, article writing, and product development lets me help thousands of people, while at the same time creating a successful business that allows me to achieve my own goals in the process.

5) And finally - it’s fun! I have learned more about technology and “met” more people online since I have been blogging than I did during my entire 3-year stint as a personal trainer. I love computers and technology, and the fact that I can make money and also help others while doing something that I enjoy is, well, the very definition of success as far as I’m concerned!

Joseph Campbell said “follow your bliss” and not only do I advise others to do exactly that, but I practice what I preach as well.

So, there you have it. Nothing too deep or too shallow, just the top 5 reasons why I do what I do. I’ve got big plans for the future when it comes to helping others and myself at the same time, so I hope you’ll stay tuned and enjoy the ride with me!

In the meantime, let the Tagging begin! I am going to tag Brian over at BrianKim.net because his posts are always worth a look, and I am also going to tag Scott over at Dirty Mechanism, because I love his insight and his logical standpoint about the issues that he discusses.

This is Aaron, from the front lines of tagging, blogging, and personal development success, signing off!