Positive power

I recently read The Secret.

And let me let you in on a secret about The Secret: There is no secret.

I kept waiting for some bizarre confession, like "rub yourself with butter four times and day while chanting, 'I love macramé!' and you'll be rich and famous."

But instead the whole book was about faith. Faith in a higher power, which the author calls "The Universe" and I call "Heavenly Father." And faith in yourself.

Having faith in God is complicated, of course, but it's easier most times than having faith in yourself. God is omniscient, omnipresent, perfect. And me? Well, let's just say I'm a little rough around the edges.

It's so hard to think positively about yourself when we live in a world that makes a living off of our weaknesses. We're considered haughty or ignorant if we think we're smart or talented or, heaven forbid, beautiful.

(Mariann Williamson's famous passage comes to mind: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.")

Thinking well of ourselves CAN make a huge difference. Will it magnetically bring you lavish results as The Secret promises? The jury (and my $25,000 check) is still out. However, you will feel better about yourself. And when you truly feel good, you feel optimistic. And when you feel optimistic, you feel empowered. And when you are empowered, nothing can stop you.

Try it. Watch your thoughts today and turn every negative phrase into a positive thought.

Instead of, "I'm so fat!" ... Say, "I'm perfect the way I am. I make good food choices. I am able to remake my body right now."

It sounds really hoaky, but it works. Pretty soon you'll think you're so perfect that you will become perfect.

And then you'll die.

'Cause I was sort of thinking that The Secret involved some sort of eternal life serum, but, alas, death is still included.

But at least you'll have a lived a good life.