I’ve had lots of interesting responses to my articles about The Secret and my description of how I use the Law of Attraction. Some people are appreciative and encouraging and others are skeptical. People sent me articles, all of which were negative and some of which were snarky. All this input really helps me understand what the public thinks when they hear about the Law of Attraction. Originally, Elaine and I weren’t going to use that term because it automatically causes resistance in some people. When The Secret became popular (1.5 million copies of the DVD have been sold, 750,000 last month), we decided to declare our alignment rather than avoid it. Either way, the process we espouse for success remains the same. Be clear about what you want and stay positive while you take action to get it.

As I planned a book proposal, I asked myself how we were different. The light bulb I mentioned last week is what sets us apart from the others who talk about reaching goals or success in general. When Elaine came up with the idea of a Promise Bracelet, she light up – I could tell that even over the phone. When I realized that I had to write this book, I lit up and I’ve stayed that way. We both have stayed lit up. We’ve continued to feel spacious and joyful about our goals. Here’s how I define the Law of Attraction: When we have a goal that is worth of our attention, we light up, take action, and we get what we want.

Let me contrast the difference between a goal that lights me up and one that doesn’t. For years,  I’ve had the desire to lose weight. I played with the words to make it as positive as possible. I said, “I want to have a healthy body.” Then I used my own coaching tools regarding having a healthy body, but my weight has stayed the same. Maybe I have a healthy body, I’m disease free and full of energy, but I haven’t lost weight. I can also say that no light bulb has ever gone on when I’ve considered what I weigh or what I’d like to weigh.

One friend suggested that my experiences in wanting and getting clients is a coincidence. She suggested that I was forgetting the times I thought about getting new clients and didn’t get phone calls. Actually there’s a difference between when I thought I should get some more clients and when I actually wanted them so much the light bulb moment happened. Those are entirely different feelings. Thinking that I need the money or I don’t want to be a failure motivated me to think “I should get more clients.” When I thought, “I have gifts to give and I want to share those with new clients,” that’s when new clients came. I have described my business completely:  the kind of clients, how many of them, how I would fill my schedule, and how much money I would make. Even though I stayed positive, that business  has never been as successful as I’ve wanted. Do you know why? No light bulb went off. I was without the passion I felt recently when I decided that I must write a book.

The Law of Attraction works for things that light me up. What does that look like? How does it feel? Do you remember falling in love with a boyfriend or girlfriend, a puppy or kitten, or most absolutely, with a baby! That’s the feeling of lighting up. You feel more spacious. You’re dancing on air. Your face and your whole being lights up. People can see it. They can feel it. And you know it in your bones. When you have that kind of reaction and you are willing to take action, the right resources and opportunities just show up!

2007, Jacqueline Hale