Is it really the Secret?

When you suddenly find yourself alone or unemployed, where do you start to pick up the pieces? Do you start with a new resume, a support group or a stiff drink?

Some people can't think to write their resume or find people to support them, let alone order a drink. Others bypass the resume, group and drink and quickly make solid decisions and move on into a world of abundance.
Why is it that some people are in a hopeless holding pattern of what to do next and others make decisions and have opportunities that lead to abundance all around them? Is it true that it is not random and coincidental, but a result of our own mind...our own thoughts?

People sometimes miss opportunities because they've grown accustomed to the status quo. Whether they come from poverty or wealth and education, they expect nothing more than what they already have. When an opportunity arises, rather than grabbing on to it in faith, and believing for the best, they slinker away and think "that could never happen to me. I should be thankful for what I've been given." We often set our standards so low:
"I'm not really healthy, but my body doesn't hurt that much."
"I'm not really happy in my marriage, but we get along ok and I guess this is the best I can expect."

Perhaps what you receive is directly connected to your expectations. Our expectations set the boundaries for our lives. And our expectations come from what we think about.

According to Bob Proctor, the Secret to our success (no, not the movie with Michael J. Fox) is the law of attraction. "Everything that's coming into your life you are attracting into your life. And it is attracted to you by virtue of the images you are holding in your mind. As you think of yourself living in abundance, you are powerfully and consciously determining your life through the law of attraction." If you think abundance, abundance will come to you.

Michael Beckwith writes that what you are thinking now is creating your future life. You create your future with your thoughts. Because you are always thinking you are always creating. And what you think about most is what will appear in your life. If you think abundance, you will create abundance.

Eckhart Tolle in A New Earth reveals that "Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment." You have abundance because it is the most helpful step at this moment in the evolution of your understanding.

In The Art of Happiness, the Dalai Lama emphasizes the importance of determination, effort and time when searching for happiness. He believes in "the tremendous, perhaps even unlimited, power of the mind - but a trained mind that has been systematically trained, focused, and concentrated, a mind tempered by years of experience and sound reasoning." When you are determined to exert effort over a period of time you will be blessed with abundance.

The Bible states in Isaiah 54:2, "Enlarge the place of your tent, let the curtains of your habitation be stretched out. Spare not. Lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes, for soon you will be bursting at the seams." God is saying get ready...I have so much more to give you. Expect more. Don't become complacent with what you have. Jesus said, "According to your faith will it be it done to you." Matt 9:29

Maybe I've been waiting on God to make a move, and God is waiting on me to step out in faith.

When my friend in LA decided to date, he imagined all the amazing people out there. He thought about how fun it would be to get to know them. He visualized the dates he would go on. And when he lost his job he was excited to have the opportunity to explore all the adventures he'd been thinking about for months. He not only "saw" these opportunities, he expected them.

When you suddenly find yourself alone or unemployed, think about what you want. Then step out in faith.

It's not a crapshoot.