Your Success Depends On How You Direct Your Thinking

Recently, there has been a resurgence in the trend for positive thinking and creative visualization. "The Secret" is the best known example of what is often referred to as The Law of Attraction.

This theme originated in the late 19th century, when one of the most prolific authors on the subject was Orison Swett Marden. Marden's life mission was to inspire ordinary men and women to believe that they were capable of outstanding success. His message wasn't the modern-day mantra of "just ask and it shall be yours". He taught that any one of us can achieve great things - but only through dedicated and consistent effort.

He was convinced that "Every human being on this earth could be living in comfort if he knew the powers locked up within himself and were willing to work and make the best use of them."

He wrote about the achievements of people from humble backgrounds who had risen to prominence without sacrificing either honor or integrity.

His books included short biographies of great men from lowly beginnings. He detailed their initial disappointments, their repeated failed efforts and their eventual successes. Marden himself had been orphaned at a very young age and had a harsh childhood, being hired out by his guardians to help on farms where the work was more suitable for grown men. This background made his later business achievements all the more remarkable and gave him a special status in the eyes of his readers.

Although Marden had a knack for making huge amounts of money in the catering and hotel businesses, he turned away from this to concentrate on writing. His aim was to help inspire others, in the same way as he had felt inspired after reading Samuel Smiles "Self Help". After the runaway success of his first book, "Pushing to the Front: Success under Difficulties", he established "Success" Magazine." The magazine was to concentrate more on the quality of its reader's lives, rather than their income - it gave ideas and encouragement for "making a life as well as making a living".

Marden's books encouraged a positive, cheery outlook, with an expectancy of achievement, prosperity and happiness. He taught that the starting point of a successful life was control of the thought process.

It is first essential to eradicate anxiety, jealousy and bitterness. This is done by substituting these types of poisonous thoughts with their opposite - charitable, loving, optimistic thoughts which will inevitably brighten your mood and increase your well being. Spending time thinking about what you want to achieve, rather than the barriers in your way.

But his message continued - merely thinking about your hopes and dreams doesn't bring them any closer. You need a detailed plan of action and you need to work towards their achievement, one step at a time. This is the part of the message which has been missed by some people, and why they consider that "the law of attraction doesn't work". The point is that yes, you must visualize the future that you want for yourself - but then you must also take advantage of all the opportunities that then open up to you. You create the future you desire through your own efforts - you simply need to know the most effective way to direct your energy.