Sigh. I just saw a CNN's segment on what is now the phenomenon of "The Secret" DVD. It's a typical news story -- giving a summary of what it is, pro and con opinions, and so on. In 3 minutes.

Well, I was going to write a very long rant about how the story is misleading and dumbed down and gives half-truths about the concept the DVD attempts to communicate (and to be truthful, I do agree that the DVD does a bit too slick of a job at it, making it seem like "new age informertial" as one of my friends puts it).

So according to Law of Attraction, if we think positively, we can attract positive things to us.

That sounds so simplistic, doesn't it? I had a hard time believing it at first.

For example, that sounds awefully like simply running away from reality. If the reality is tough, then escape into the fantasy land of everything being OK. Well, everytying is not OK and I don't believe in running away from it. (though I admit, taking a break is a good idea) Only after facing the reality you can learn to overcome it. Well, so I thought.

Turns out there is a fundamental difference between escaping the reality and maintaining positive image in the face of difficulty. A very big difference.

Well, apparently Oprah had a special show dedicated to the film "The Secret" last week. This is one of the two things that I encountered earlier this year that's been basically rewriting how I approach my life. The film can come across like "new age informercial" (quoting a good friend of mine) so I've been hesitant to identify it specifically in my blog. But since Oprah showed it, I'm sure the concept can now be accepted as "mainstream." ;)

The concept of Law of Attraction is nothing new. It's just being repackaged and the information has been presented to me in a few different ways. What's really gratifying to me is 1) my experiences is consistent with the theory, and 2) I see parallels/references to it all over the Bible, making it very compatible with the Christian world view, my foundation.

Well, here are a few things that bring me joy:

• playing my guitar
• hanging out with my kids
• having deep conversation with people, particularly with my wife
• counseling other people
• eating great food

By doing these things, I'm inviting more of these things into my life. That seems so simple. Yet it's hard to execute. Because there is a block inside. A fear. Something very, very hard and tense. A feeling of distrust. A voice whispering "no, don't believe it. You can't have it. It's not true." And that is the only thing that is preventing me from having abundance in my life.