Review: The Key: The Missing Secret for Attracting Anything You Want by Joe Vitale
The Key: The Missing Secret For Attracting Anything You WantBy Joe Vitale
ISBN-10: 0470180765
ISBN-13: 978-0470180761
Hardcover, 224 pages
Publication date: October 19, 2007
Wiley
A chain of self help books, movies, seminars, and websites has emerged around the idea behind Rhonda Byrne's movie and subsequent book The Secret. The latest addition to this sensation is Joe Vitale's book, The Key: The Missing Secret for Attracting Anything You Want. Vitale was featured in The Secret and continues to work with various other participants in the conglomerate that has surrounded The Law of Attraction.
For those who have avoided being swept away by the revelation, the secret Byrne presented to the world was the mystical Law of Attraction and how we use it unconsciously to succeed or fail in life. The basic premise is that whatever happens to us directly was brought about by our subconscious worries or desires. Vitale's "key" is the complementary plan of action for eliminating self doubt.
Divided into three parts, Vitale begins by explaining how to recognize limiting thoughts and emotions. He offers examples of how he and others have come to recognize self doubt and eliminated the individual sabotage they were administering. Exercises are provided for becoming familiar with personal desires and the various ways those desires are being internally quelled. Addressing critics, Vitale explains the value of aspiring to material ownership as a way of self actualization.
Part two contains ten methods for clearing the mind of negative thoughts and emotions. Almost every method is developed with an article from a coach who works with that particular approach. There is a lot of journaling and internal reflection, but sometimes it is necessary for someone to give express permission for a person to feel comfortable enough to delve that deeply into their own psyche.
The final section contains a question and answer excerpt from one of Vitale's seminars, a transcript excerpt from another, and Peter Michel's suggestions for "Emotional Freedom 101." The question and answer excerpt is most helpful in that participants were allowed to ask Vitale questions regarding his philosophy and how best to enact it in their own lives.
Vitale's writing style is relaxed and conversational. Entries penned by other contributors--and there are quite a few--are clearly defined so the reader does not confuse Vitale's words with his guests' words. The Key is very similar to The Secret in that it is comprised of the suggestions of many experts rather than focusing on an individual. It comes close to a compilation of essays. The marketing strategy is brilliant, as each person gets exposure for their particular product or service in exchange for contributing to Vitale's book, and while the reader is aware of the obvious solicitation, each person appears to be offering a valuable tool.
Whether or not the reader believes The Law of Attraction exists, at the core, Vitale teaches positive thinking, which can benefit virtually everyone, even nonbelievers. It is difficult to put this book away and not feel fresh, renewed, and full of confidence. As is typical of self help books on the market today, each chapter opens with an inspirational quote from an influencial figure. Between the inspirational quotes and Vitale's unyielding enthusiasm, The Key leaves the reader with a sense of invincibility the extends far beyond the pages.
Listen to a podcast interview with the author.
The following is an excerpt from the book The Key
by Joe Vitale
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; October 2007;$24.95US/$29.99CAN; 978-0-470-18076-1
Copyright © 2008 by Hypnotic Marketing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Please Forgive Me
Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
--Howard Thurman
If you feel stuck in any area of your life, if you're not attracting the car, house, job, mate, or anything else you really want, it could very well be due to a lack of forgiveness.
Maybe you didn't forgive the other person. Maybe you didn't forgive yourself. It doesn't matter. Holding on to past emotions, memories, or stories is guaranteed to tie up your energy and block your ability to attract what you want.
What you have to do now is forgive.
I used to struggle with this one. I was afraid that if I forgave someone, I would not learn the lesson they gave me and I would be suckered again. But as I looked at that belief, I realized it was just that: a belief. It wasn't reality. It wasn't factual. It wasn't true.
I remember when a client owed me a great deal of money. He wasn't paying, and it was clear he was going to rob me of what was due to me. In those days my mind-set was still that of a victim. I thought my client, and much of the world, was out to get me. I had read so many books about robber barons in history, and about survival of the fittest, that I felt unless I became greedy and cutthroat in business, I'd always fail. However, I refused to become something I didn't like. I refused to become one of "them." So I lived with my pain and resentment.
Of course, the only person this hurt was me. The client who owed me money never felt my pain. I have no idea if he felt anything at all. So my holding a grudge kept only one person down: me.
As I began to read self-help books, I began to realize that I could let go of my resentment. I could forgive my client. I could forgive myself.
I did just that. And -- you probably guessed it -- my client surfaced and paid me the money he owed me. But I didn't forgive in order to collect the money. I forgave and forgot and let it go.
But let's look at this more closely so you understand forgiveness and the power of it as a clearing method.
Forgiving another person is, in part, an ego trip. When you say "I forgive you" to someone, you are saying you had some sort of hold over them. You were the King or Queen, and by the "I forgive you" decree you could pronounce them "free" of your resentment. That's not forgiveness. It may even be a form of manipulation.
What's more powerful is to say "I'm sorry" to the people you hurt. If you've never seen the television show My Name Is Earl, watch it sometime. It's about a petty thief who awakens to the idea that if he does good things, good things happen. He makes a list of everyone he ever hurt in his life. He then works to do something to erase his wrong.
A couple of decades ago I did something similar. I made a list of people I felt I had hurt. I then went to them and paid them money if I owed it, returned tools or objects if I had walked off with them, and told them I was sorry for my behavior. I did my best to make peace with my past. It was a wonderful feeling.
I also know there is a level of forgiveness beyond being forgiven by others or forgiving others. The forgiveness that becomes one of the most powerful clearing methods you can use in an instant is the one where you forgive yourself.
It's your perception of a situation or person that is an error. It's not the other person. Yes, they may have done something you prefer they hadn't done. But it's your judgment of them that causes the friction. When you let go of your judgment, you free yourself. And often, when you free yourself, the other person does what you wanted all along. But your motivation has to come from forgiveness of you.
Copyright © 2008 by Hypnotic Marketing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Author
Joe Vitale is President of Hypnotic Marketing, Inc., an Internet marketing consulting firm, and one of the stars of the hit movie, The Secret. He has been called "The Buddha of the Internet" for his combination of spirituality and marketing acumen. His other books include The Attractor Factor, Zero Limits, and Life's Missing Instruction Manual, all from Wiley. For more information on Joe Vitale, visit www.MrFire.com.
For those who have avoided being swept away by the revelation, the secret Byrne presented to the world was the mystical Law of Attraction and how we use it unconsciously to succeed or fail in life. The basic premise is that whatever happens to us directly was brought about by our subconscious worries or desires. Vitale's "key" is the complementary plan of action for eliminating self doubt.
Divided into three parts, Vitale begins by explaining how to recognize limiting thoughts and emotions. He offers examples of how he and others have come to recognize self doubt and eliminated the individual sabotage they were administering. Exercises are provided for becoming familiar with personal desires and the various ways those desires are being internally quelled. Addressing critics, Vitale explains the value of aspiring to material ownership as a way of self actualization.
Part two contains ten methods for clearing the mind of negative thoughts and emotions. Almost every method is developed with an article from a coach who works with that particular approach. There is a lot of journaling and internal reflection, but sometimes it is necessary for someone to give express permission for a person to feel comfortable enough to delve that deeply into their own psyche.
The final section contains a question and answer excerpt from one of Vitale's seminars, a transcript excerpt from another, and Peter Michel's suggestions for "Emotional Freedom 101." The question and answer excerpt is most helpful in that participants were allowed to ask Vitale questions regarding his philosophy and how best to enact it in their own lives.
Vitale's writing style is relaxed and conversational. Entries penned by other contributors--and there are quite a few--are clearly defined so the reader does not confuse Vitale's words with his guests' words. The Key is very similar to The Secret in that it is comprised of the suggestions of many experts rather than focusing on an individual. It comes close to a compilation of essays. The marketing strategy is brilliant, as each person gets exposure for their particular product or service in exchange for contributing to Vitale's book, and while the reader is aware of the obvious solicitation, each person appears to be offering a valuable tool.
Whether or not the reader believes The Law of Attraction exists, at the core, Vitale teaches positive thinking, which can benefit virtually everyone, even nonbelievers. It is difficult to put this book away and not feel fresh, renewed, and full of confidence. As is typical of self help books on the market today, each chapter opens with an inspirational quote from an influencial figure. Between the inspirational quotes and Vitale's unyielding enthusiasm, The Key leaves the reader with a sense of invincibility the extends far beyond the pages.
Listen to a podcast interview with the author.
The following is an excerpt from the book The Key
by Joe Vitale
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; October 2007;$24.95US/$29.99CAN; 978-0-470-18076-1
Copyright © 2008 by Hypnotic Marketing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Please Forgive Me
Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
--Howard Thurman
If you feel stuck in any area of your life, if you're not attracting the car, house, job, mate, or anything else you really want, it could very well be due to a lack of forgiveness.
Maybe you didn't forgive the other person. Maybe you didn't forgive yourself. It doesn't matter. Holding on to past emotions, memories, or stories is guaranteed to tie up your energy and block your ability to attract what you want.
What you have to do now is forgive.
I used to struggle with this one. I was afraid that if I forgave someone, I would not learn the lesson they gave me and I would be suckered again. But as I looked at that belief, I realized it was just that: a belief. It wasn't reality. It wasn't factual. It wasn't true.
I remember when a client owed me a great deal of money. He wasn't paying, and it was clear he was going to rob me of what was due to me. In those days my mind-set was still that of a victim. I thought my client, and much of the world, was out to get me. I had read so many books about robber barons in history, and about survival of the fittest, that I felt unless I became greedy and cutthroat in business, I'd always fail. However, I refused to become something I didn't like. I refused to become one of "them." So I lived with my pain and resentment.
Of course, the only person this hurt was me. The client who owed me money never felt my pain. I have no idea if he felt anything at all. So my holding a grudge kept only one person down: me.
As I began to read self-help books, I began to realize that I could let go of my resentment. I could forgive my client. I could forgive myself.
I did just that. And -- you probably guessed it -- my client surfaced and paid me the money he owed me. But I didn't forgive in order to collect the money. I forgave and forgot and let it go.
But let's look at this more closely so you understand forgiveness and the power of it as a clearing method.
Forgiving another person is, in part, an ego trip. When you say "I forgive you" to someone, you are saying you had some sort of hold over them. You were the King or Queen, and by the "I forgive you" decree you could pronounce them "free" of your resentment. That's not forgiveness. It may even be a form of manipulation.
What's more powerful is to say "I'm sorry" to the people you hurt. If you've never seen the television show My Name Is Earl, watch it sometime. It's about a petty thief who awakens to the idea that if he does good things, good things happen. He makes a list of everyone he ever hurt in his life. He then works to do something to erase his wrong.
A couple of decades ago I did something similar. I made a list of people I felt I had hurt. I then went to them and paid them money if I owed it, returned tools or objects if I had walked off with them, and told them I was sorry for my behavior. I did my best to make peace with my past. It was a wonderful feeling.
I also know there is a level of forgiveness beyond being forgiven by others or forgiving others. The forgiveness that becomes one of the most powerful clearing methods you can use in an instant is the one where you forgive yourself.
It's your perception of a situation or person that is an error. It's not the other person. Yes, they may have done something you prefer they hadn't done. But it's your judgment of them that causes the friction. When you let go of your judgment, you free yourself. And often, when you free yourself, the other person does what you wanted all along. But your motivation has to come from forgiveness of you.
Copyright © 2008 by Hypnotic Marketing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Author
Joe Vitale is President of Hypnotic Marketing, Inc., an Internet marketing consulting firm, and one of the stars of the hit movie, The Secret. He has been called "The Buddha of the Internet" for his combination of spirituality and marketing acumen. His other books include The Attractor Factor, Zero Limits, and Life's Missing Instruction Manual, all from Wiley. For more information on Joe Vitale, visit www.MrFire.com.
2 comments:
You just won my contest! Come let me know your address so I can send you your new book. :)
I'll keep your review in mind when I write mine.
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