As I see it, The Secret offers some powerful and necessary global messages that are worth appreciating.

The first message is that our thoughts have a powerful effect on our lives. Another insight is that we are entitled to a rich life, although real wealth is much more than money and "toys". Instead, it involves feeling fulfilled in all areas of life, including our relationships, careers, and health. What we need to do is look within to see if we actually feel worthy of authentic wealth.

Another message that is subtly conveyed in The Secret that I believe to be true is that when we have a sincere desire and say yes to doing our part to manifest the desire, synchronicities will emerge and dormant powers will come to life.

On the other hand, I feel that the idea that more "toys" in the form of cars, houses, jets, and boats will make us happy and demonstrate our ability to express ourselves is potentially harmful and crippling to many people who are already in the realm of self-love. and "broke" self-esteem. The problem with this image is that the desire to have often comes from a sense of lack rather than a sense of completeness. And because of this, what we get in hopes of feeling "full", whole, happy or perfect will inevitably not work because we feel empty inside.

The truth is that we are not empty, but already full, and when we understand and feel that this is our new reality, then the outer world will begin to "echo" our inner consciousness.

A Course In Miracles reminds us that to the extent that we can accept and be truly grateful for our heritage as a limitless, abundant, whole, and limitless Self, we will attract to ourselves the perfect outward manifestations of our claimed inner worth. This reclaiming of our authentic Self will then miraculously manifest any material items that will serve the greater good of both our lives and those around us, yet we will feel no dependence on them for our happiness.

So if you want to know and live the true secret, find your Authentic Self, reclaim it - and your true heritage will follow.

Moreah Ragusa, RFM, is a psychotherapist, registered family mediator, marriage and divorce counselor, corporate coach, and popular speaker and seminar leader.

She is the author of four books on spiritual transformation: The New Marriage Paradigm: Inspiring the Transformation and Evolution of Committed Relationships; The New Divorce Paradigm: Transitioning Your Relationship With Integrity; Rediscovering Your Authentic Self: Applying A Course in Miracles to Everyday Life; and Our Cosmic Dance, a candid autobiography offered as a teaching model for personal and relational growth.