Tag: the movie The Secret

Someone on Facebook wrote a variation of this statement…

“Napoleon Hill said, ‘Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.’ This is the biggest load of monkey poo since the Law of Attraction. Right now, I am conceiving and believing that I can walk on water. Wish me luck.”

This is a wonderful example of illogical thinking.

Does the person really think they can walk on water?

Can they really imagine it?

Do they really believe it?

Obviously not.

And if they can’t, then they just proved Napoleon Hill right.

Hill said, “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve”  and not “Whatever your mind can make up, even though you don’t really believe it and it’s not really possible, it can achieve.”

Big difference.

And please note that Hill said you can achieve it, not that you will achieve it.

He wisely left room for the possibility of you not actually attracting what you “conceive and believe.”

He knew you still had to work all the steps, including taking action.

His quote wasn’t just about conceiving and believing.

He said there were at least 16 laws, remember.

He wrote about them in such books as Laws of Success and of course Think and Grow Rich.

The ridicule people give the Law of Attraction or Napoleon Hill is a reflection of people’s own belief system – only they rarely see it.

I remember being in Russia at one of the many book signings and author meet and greets I did there.

An elderly gentleman in one audience said, “I really want to believe in this Law of Attraction but the skeptics make a good case against it.”

“Have you ever noticed that the skeptics seem to hang out together,” I began, “and the Law of Attraction positive thinkers seem to gather together?”

He smiled, nodding, as it dawned on him what I was saying.

“Everyone is living the Law of Attraction,” I explained, “but some know it consciously and others do not. You are free to believe what you like and you will attract whatever evidence you need to support your belief, even when it’s illogical to others. That’s the Law of Attraction.”

Remember, you get what you really believe, not what you want to believe.

In other words, when you examine your own statements, you might see the twisted logic behind them.

But like the person who posted the opening line, you probably won’t see the fallacy of your thinking without someone there to lovingly point it out to you.

This is why it’s so important to have a coach.

A coach can listen to you speak, reflect back to you the very beliefs you won’t even hear yourself saying, and help you question any beliefs that don’t serve you.

For example, the person who was poking holes at Napoleon Hill’s statement probably didn’t realize they weren’t being logical or even accurate. Seeing this blog post, they might grasp it.

But arguing for limitations seems silly to me.

Why argue against goals, success, visualization, positive thinking and the like?

Why not argue for them?

After all, the whole point is to help you achieve success.

Why not find ways to prove Napoleon Hill right?

Hill also wrote, “Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.”

Anyone who tries to dismiss the positive and encouraging words of Hill is speaking without thinking.

More than that, they are raining on the hopes and dreams of other people.

That isn’t wise, kind, loving, or useful.

As Mark Twain said, “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

Napoleon Hill believed in you.

So do I.

Go for your dreams.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – For the record, I can walk on water. I’ve done it numerous times, usually in Ohio, usually during the Winter months. We called it ice.

PPS – I also found this on Facebook: “Dear Optimist, Pessimist and Realist: While you guys were arguing about the glass of water, I drank it.” – Opportunist

PPPS – And here’s Napoleon Hill himself giving you some coaching:

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

People have been asking the same question about the Law of Attraction since it made its public appearance in the mid 1800’s:

“Why doesn’t this stuff work for me?”

In 1926, William E. Towne addressed it in an editorial for his magazine, Nautilus:

“Many New Thought people fail to succeed in their undertaking because they expect the reading of an inspiring book, or the repetition of some good affirmation, to take the place of directed ACTION.”

The caps were his.

That’s how important he regarded ACTION.

He went on to write –

“It is necessary to work in order to get results and to get the best results it is also essential to LOVE your work.”

His answer still works (no pun intended) today.

In other words, sitting around and reading positive articles and inspiring books is fine.

Sitting and praying and intending and visualizing and meditating is also fine.

But at some point you have to get out of bed or out of your chair and do something.

And when you do, it’s smart to have an attitude of love and appreciation, as that feeling will help you get more of the results you prefer.

It seems to me that too many people expect a home run the first time they go up to bat.

They visualize what they want, take a swing, strike out, and say “This positive thinking stuff is BS!”

They don’t seem to realize that you have to repeatedly affirm and visualize and pray — and repeatedly step up to bat, too.

Success is in the moment, and isn’t always measured with dollars or home runs.

The more you can be here now, while taking action in the direction of your dream, the more you will learn, grow, course correct, and keep moving forward.

It’s the way of life – whether in 1926 or 2014.

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Check out Miracles Coaching by clicking right here.

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

“Joe, did you make a deal with the devil?”

“Excuse me?”

“I heard you just recorded a track of saxophone music with Mathew Dixon and then you went and played sax on an album with Ruthie Foster and Daniel Barrett but you’ve only been playing the sax a few months.”

“And that means I made a deal with the devil?”

“You also came out with nine albums in just over three years. How else can you explain such rapid accomplishment?”

“Well, you could credit it to hard work.”

“Come on, what’s your real secret?”

Saxman Joe Rockin'

“Truth is, I make deals with angels.”

“Angels?”

“Yes, angels. Most angels are unemployed, you know. Most people don’t ask them to do anything.”

“How does that work?”

“Why would I want to make a deal with the devil when my angels are floating around waiting for me to make a few requests? I keep them busy. I ask for help and guidance for whatever I am doing, like learning how to play the sax.”

“And they help you?”

“You tell me. I just recorded a saxophone track and I’m beginning an entire album of sax music.”

“You are amazing!”

My bari sax debut on first track

“Not really. I just enlist support from the angels and they come and help.”

“It’s that easy?”

“I’m sure it could be harder if I requested it.”

“Come on, there must be more to your method!”

“Well, okay, here’s what I do to learn anything: I get inspired and I set an intention, I read everything I can find, I listen to everything I can find, I get coaching, and I practice and persist.”

“That sounds like a lot of work!”

“It’s only work if you don’t really want to do it.”

“You want to do all that?”

“Yes, or I wouldn’t do it. We all do what we want.”

“But you really believe in angels?”

“Do you really believe in a devil?”

“I think so.”

“Then read Napoleon Hill’s book, Outwitting the Devil.”

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Angels come in all forms. Look for them in my Miracles Coaching program, too.

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

“Do you believe in God?”

I would get that question after people read my book, The Attractor Factor, or read (or saw the movie) The Secret.

They somehow assumed that the Law of Attraction replaced God.

They somehow assumed that people who practice the Law of Attraction are playing God.

That confused me.

“God gave you the Law of Attraction,” I would explain. “Just as God — or the Divine, Universe, or Nature — gave you gravity. It’s a tool you can use, but it doesn’t replace the person who gave it to you.”

Not God but keep reading to discover Rudy Pensa and his heavenly store...

I’d go on to explain that I absolutely believe in God, but usually call that “ultimate force of life” the Divine, to neutralize any emotional buttons people have when they hear the word “God.”

But this unseen force is not only giving us life, It is nudging us in a certain direction, too.

In a way, the force is “pruning” us.

As you go about your life, you get bumped and rocked by events as a way for Life (God, Divine, etc) to direct you where IT wants you to go.

The more you follow the nudges, the easier life gets.

This blog post is an example.

I was sitting, eating dinner with Nerissa, when the idea for this post entered my mind.

I wasn’t looking for an idea.

I was enjoying my dinner.

But I’ve learned to obey the Divine’s inspirations.

So I turned to Nerissa and said, “You know how I get ideas at odd moments?”

She looked at me and said, “See you later.”

She understood.

Here’s another example:

I was in New York City on business and decided to visit Rudy’s Music Store in SoHo.

I knew it was famous, that Rudy Pensa is a renown collector of rare instruments, and I suspected it’d be worth the trip to see it.

Not God either but Gordon French at Rudy's showing me a Versoul electric guitar (made by Kari Nieminen in Finland)

It was.

The beautiful store is two stories of new and old guitars, acoustic and electric, some highly collectible, all stunning.

I was in awe of the place.

In a display case was a 1938 D’Angelico New Yorker archtop guitar.

If you know guitars, you just fainted.

The late John D’Angelico is considered the Michelangelo of guitar makers.

His instruments are sought after by collectors, musicians, museums, and fans.

Books have been written about his style and his guitars.

Even Rudy, the owner of the shop, created a mammoth coffee table book (Archtop Guitars) with some of D’Angelico’s guitars described inside, knew D’Angelico, and owns a few of his works.

Stunning book of archtop guitars made by D'Angelico, D'Aquisto, and Monteleone, compiled by Rudy Pensa

D’Angelico made 1,164 guitars in his life. (He died in 1964).

He didn’t hand carve all those guitars for fame or fortune.

He said, “Big money? Big title? For what? I want to build guitars under my own name, for my own customers, the way I do it! For me that’s a good life!”

And there I was, staring at one of them.

Gordon, the shop keeper, pulled the 1938 masterpiece out of the case and handed it to me.

“I can play it?” I asked.

“Yes, of course,” he said. “We want you to experience any guitar you see here.”

1938 D'Angelico New Yorker

I held the archtop as if it was out of a museum.

I strummed it and heard the sound of angels.

I looked it over and saw God’s handiwork in a guitar.

I could tell the guitar was well played, well loved, and still in flawless shape.

“Everything on it is original except the covering on the pick guard,” Gordon said. “We even have the original case.”

Later, Rudy showed me the ledger in his book revealing the serial number for the guitar, year made, and who it was made for, all in D’Angelico’s handwriting.

This is where I felt the inner tug at my heart that I think is the Divine calling me.

I’ve learned to follow those tugs.

After Rudy told me the price, and I gasped, I asked if there was a discount for a guitar lover who would probably buy other guitars from him.

He laughed, ran some numbers, and gave me a slight break.

I bought it.

What does this have to do with God?

Look behind the scenes…

"Acquired of the Angels" is another book about D'Angelico guitars

I only felt directed to go to one store in all of New York City.

Rudy’s.

I could have gone anywhere.

And while there, the D’Angelico seemed to call out my name.

I could have ignored it.

I believe all of this was Divinity aiming my direction.

Later, after I left the store and decided to walk two miles back to my hotel, I wondered what would come of my buying an investment grade work of playable art.

Then another inspiration hit me.

(Where do these inspirations come from?)

I realized that my forthcoming book, The Secret Prayer, could be enriched with the story of how I was led to the guitar.

You see, I had said a prayer before I left that morning, asking to be led to the right place and to experience a joyful event.

As I’ve written before, “Prayer is a way to activate the Law of Attraction by requesting an intention and inviting inspiration.”

I said my prayer in a state of gratitude, made a request for an exciting day, and took action by following my hunch to go to Rudy’s.

From there, I simply allowed the miracle.

And it happened.

In other words, God is directing me (and you, too, of course), and we can attract (or allow) miracles when we act on the signs and opportunities we are given.

But we have to participate.

I could have said “I”ll skip Rudy’s and go to Starbucks.”

I could have said, “Nah, that D’Angelico is too expensive.”

I could have said, “No, I’d rather finish dinner than write this post.”

But when you say YES to the inspirations, and take action, you are following Divinity’s plan for you.

When you follow inspiration – whether to build a guitar of the caliber of a D’Angelico, or to buy one – you are following the Divine’s path for you.

But you may need a razor sharp sensitivity to hear the whisper, and total faith to take action on the prompting.

Werner Erhard (founder of est) used to say, “If you knew what God wanted you to do, you’d do it and be happy. Well, what you are doing right now is what God wants you to do.”

So the next time you feel stuck or stopped, ask if Divinity is trying to redirect your path or your process.

Or the next time you receive a nudge to leave dinner early, or buy a guitar, ask if you are ready to step out in faith.

Where is God?

Right here.

Ao Akua,

joe

PS – Rudy’s Music Store in New York City is right here.

PPS – Yes, I was also practicing “prosperous purchasing” by getting the 1938 D’Angelico New Yorker, a concept I explain in my free book, Attract Money Now.

Member BBB 2003 -2015

Every month I answer questions from people in my Miracles Coaching program.

Been doing it for years.

The questions are always raw, in depth, fresh, sincere, and often surprising.

For example —

• How do I stay positive when people around me are negative?

• How do I discover my life purpose when I don’t know what I want?

• How do I attract money in this terrible economy?

• How do I attract my soul mate?

• How do I improve my self-image?

• How do I help others?

• What can I do when everything looks hopeless?

Every call is recorded, and the best of the questions and answers get put into a series of books called, The Miracles Manual. There are currently two volumes in the series with a third on the way. (All are free right here.)

Recently I had this question tossed at me —

“If you were forced to set all learning aside and could only teach one principle for the rest of your life – what one principle would host the most importance to you?”

“I can answer that question in only two words, ” I replied.

“Oh?”

Click image to get Vol 1 and Vol 2 free

“Active Gratitude.”

“Active Gratitude?”

I went on to say, “If each of us would practice gratitude in the moment, all worries would vanish, all problems would resolve, all miracles would come easily — in fact, if we really were in gratitude in the moment, we’d realize we are already happy, already peaceful, and already living the miracle.”

Active Gratitude means noticing the good in every moment. When you actually come from gratitude, you wouldn’t judge the moment as good or bad because you’d realize the jury isn’t in yet and so every moment can be seen as good.

Active Gratitude means you live in a spirit of thankfulness, realizing all you have right now is a gift and a miracle in itself.

Active Gratitude means your meditation is gratitude, your process is gratitude, and your “technique” is gratitude.

Active Gratitude means giving thanks in each moment for the moment.

If each of us practiced Active Gratitude, we’d change ourselves and the planet and probably invite instant enlightenment.

We’d realize that in each moment the Universe is giving us so much that we rarely acknowledge — It is keeping us alive without our paying or doing a thing — that we would feel overwhelmed with love.

Active Gratitude would open our eyes to see the miracle of right now.

And from practicing Active Gratitude, we would have raised our vibration so all we attract in the future moments would be better and better, always raising the bar on the incredible beauty of the now.

Why don’t we practice Active Gratitude?

We are afraid.

We subconsciously think some version of this belief:

“If I’m happy and accept this moment as good, I won’t do anything to make my life better.”

But is that true?

I’ve discovered that when I am happy, content, and at peace, I tend to pursue my calling, my life path, and my life mission.

When I lived in fear, desperation and survival, all I attracted was more of the same.

The secret door to escape the mental torment of suffering is to begin the practice of praising.

In other words, look around and find what you are thankful for, and express it.

Yes, if I was backed into a corner and told I could only teach one thing, it’d be Active Gratitude.

And I’d be grateful for that, too.

Any more questions?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Check out Miracles Coaching by clicking right here.

Member BBB 2003 - 2015