Tuesday, February 19, 2008

The Secret, The Law of Attraction and Artists

Lately, I have noticed lots of artists have been talking about "The Secret" and "The Law Of Attraction" and the the teachings of Abraham through Esther and Jerry Hicks. It seems fresh and even unbelievable when we first hear about it. You mean anything I think I can have, anything I think I can do? Apparently, if you are on the right vibration, feel it, and really believe it; that will make it happen. These ideas made me think of two books I had read in college, "Think and Grow Rich" and another book, "The Power of Positive Thinking".

I had made an observation a few years ago related to art shows. My formal education has been in business management and marketing. I have studied with numerous artists in a non academic setting, apprenticed with a well known artist and sold art on the road for many years. However, I always felt if the juror was highly educated in art or a realist that I had no chance to win and little if any chance to get in. I entered many shows with many different artist friends over the years, some art educated and some not and what I had noticed is my artist friends not only expected to get in the show, they expected to win, regardless of their education or style. These artists do win, they win a lot, not every time, but most every show they entered. A theory had formed in my mind, perhaps winning art shows was a matter of believing you would win.

I have made a scholarly study of many of these books and have discovered the origins of these thoughts come directly from the Bible. They have been repackaged for modern times. Some of them even use quotes from the Bible in their messages. In Matthew 7:7 we find the famous verse, "ASK, and it will be given; SEEK and you will find; KNOCK and it will be opened to you." According to my recent readings, you must Ask, Believe and Receive. ASK and really know what you want and hold no contradictory thought. You must BELIEVE, really believe you will receive it. In fact its even better if you feel and act as though you already have received it. Then be prepared to RECEIVE and know that you will receive it.

May you go forth and create exactly what you want in life.
Yours Truly,
Jean Bourque