The Secret

Gautama Buddha:
"What you have become is the result of what you have thought"

This is an expression of the idea that thoughts introduced into reality can attract like energy. It is also often alleged that the same idea can be found in beliefs as ancient as Hinduism. In the West, the idea of "positive thinking" became popular during the 19th century. One of the earliest known formulations of the ideas now known as as the Law of Attraction is contained in the 1906 book Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World by William Walker Atkinson.

Proponents of the modern 'Law of Attraction' claim that it has roots in Quantum Physics. According to the 'law of attraction', thoughts have an energy that attracts like energy. In order to control this energy, proponents state that people must practice four things:

1. Know what one desires and ask the universe for it. (The "universe" is mentioned broadly, stating that it can be anything from God to an unknown source of energy.)
2. Focus one's thought upon the thing desired with great feeling such as enthusiasm or gratitude.
3. Feel and behave as if the object of one's desire is already acquired.
4. Be open to receiving it.

Thinking of what one does not have, manifests itself in the perpetuation of not having. Proponents say that by abiding by these principles, and avoiding "negative" thoughts, the Universe will manifest a person's desires.