More thoughts about The Secret, illness, and the law of attraction

As many of you know, I am a fan of The Secret DVD (see this past article).  I love the fact that this DVD and book are helping tons of people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings.  In my opinion, self-awareness and positive thinking are keys to a happy, meaningful, and successful life. 

I have been using the law of attraction (LOA) in my life for many years.  I have personally experienced the joy of manifesting wonderful things by using the LOA.  I have worked with many people who have also attracted great things into their lives.  However, I also believe that I (and the rest of humanity) can only see/understand part of the big picture.  I believe that there are things that we do not - maybe cannot - understand.  I believe that there are other Universal laws and forces that need to be considered.  Certain things are meant to be and other things are not meant to be.  Some things are simply a mystery. 

In some ways I understand some of the criticism of The Secret.  I must say that I cringe a bit when I hear some of the folks from The Secret say that everything that happens to us is a result of the LOA.  I have heard some say that disease or ill-health CANNOT live in a person who is happy.  When I hear that, I think of Mattie Stepanek... he was such a gifted and wise person who was physically debilitated by Muscular Dystrophy.  I think he was filled with happiness and peace; yet, he died very young from this disease.  I also think of children with Down's Syndrome - who are often filled only with happiness.  I think of Christopher and Dana Reeve - both were very positive and still succumbed to injury and illness.  I think there are reasons beyond which we can understand that are at play in these cases.  In other words, I believe that a person can be totally happy and still have an illness.

So how do I synthesize all of this and bring it together in a coherent life philosophy that works for me?  First of all, I believe that we are spiritual beings having temporary human experiences.  I believe that we are here to learn lessons and grow as souls.  I believe that our experiences here on earth are like a school for our souls.  We have different experiences to help us learn a variety of lessons.  Sometimes these lessons/experiences supersede everything else. 

I think there are times when we can easily see how our thoughts/feelings attract certain things to us.  Then there are times that other forces and laws are mixed in and it is hard to know why something happens.  Rather than trying to figure out the why, I find it more helpful to focus on our response to events.  For example, a soul may come in to this life with a plan to learn and teach through the difficulties of having a genetic disorder (like Muscular Dystrophy).  In such a case, no amount of positive thinking and feeling is going to change the fact that the child has MD.  However, positive thinking can help that person feel more positive and find greater satisfaction in life.  These positive feelings can help bring more positive energy into the person's life. This person can use the LOA successfully even if they still have MD. 

I believe that when we have a health crisis or illness, it is best to focus on positive thoughts and feelings.  It is good to keep a gratitude journal so that you can focus on the good things in your life.  Set your intention for health and happiness, but then let go of your expectations for the outcome and focus on the present moment.  When you stay in the present moment and connect with your essential spirit, then you live a life full of satisfaction and meaning.  If your illness remains, remember there are many forces at work and a lot of mystery in this world, so do not blame yourself... do not feel that you have failed.  You can have a life full of happiness and meaning even with a health issue.