Editorial note: This article examines Dr. John Demartini’s documented involvement in The Secret and compares the film’s Law of Attraction message with Demartini’s own later explanations. Where Demartini describes behind-the-scenes events, we identify those claims as his own retrospective account rather than independently verified production history.
If you first discovered John Demartini through The Secret, it would be easy to assume that his work is essentially another version of the Law of Attraction.
That is only partly true.
Demartini really did appear in the enormously successful 2006 self-development film.
He also appears in the related book.
And he continues to discuss ideas involving:
- intention;
- visualization;
- manifestation;
- gratitude;
- goals;
- synchronicity;
- and what a person repeatedly focuses on.
But his current explanation of those ideas is noticeably different from the simplest version of The Secret.
Demartini does not generally teach:
“Think positively and the Universe will deliver what you want.”
In fact, he has repeatedly criticized one-sided positive thinking.
He says action matters.
He emphasizes priorities and personal values.
And he has described the version of the Law of Attraction presented in The Secret as incomplete because, in his view, important practical elements were left out.
So what exactly was John Demartini’s role in The Secret?
And how closely do his current teachings actually match the movie that helped make his name more widely known?
The Short Answer
John Demartini was one of the teachers featured in the 2006 film The Secret.
The film’s official press materials list him among its cast, describing him as a doctor, philosopher, and international speaker.
He was not the creator of The Secret.
Rhonda Byrne created the project.
Nor is there good reason to describe Demartini as the author of The Secret simply because his words appear in the book.
He is better described as:
a featured teacher and interview participant whose material was incorporated into the film and book.
According to Demartini’s own later account, he was interviewed for more than seven hours, while only about one minute of his footage appeared in the final film.
He has also said that the final mass-market version omitted something he considers essential:
action.
That difference is important because Demartini’s present explanation of “manifestation” is less:
“Thoughts magnetically summon reality.”
and more:
“What you repeatedly focus on affects what you notice, the decisions you make, and the actions you take.”
Those ideas overlap.
They are not scientifically equivalent.
What Was The Secret?
The Secret was a 2006 film created by Australian producer Rhonda Byrne.
It presented a group of authors, speakers, businesspeople, spiritual teachers, and other commentators discussing what the project called:
the Law of Attraction.
A book version followed later in 2006.
The central message was extraordinarily simple and commercially powerful:
what you think about, you attract into your life.
The official Secret website still describes the Law of Attraction as a universal law under which the thoughts a person focuses on attract corresponding experiences, circumstances, people, and things.
The brand has since expanded into:
- books;
- films;
- audiobooks;
- apps;
- manifestation practices;
- gratitude material;
- and other products.
But the original film is what turned the phrase “Law of Attraction” into mainstream self-help vocabulary for millions of people.
Yes, John Demartini Really Was in The Secret
This is not simply a marketing claim added to Demartini biographies later.
He is listed in official Secret materials as one of the people appearing in the film.
Film credits likewise identify him as appearing as himself.
The wording used around his role has varied.
He has been described as:
- a featured teacher;
- philosopher;
- speaker;
- and participant in The Secret.
The safest description is:
John Demartini was one of the featured teachers interviewed for the film.
Was John Demartini One of the Creators of The Secret?
No.
The project is associated primarily with Rhonda Byrne, its creator and producer.
Demartini contributed interview material.
That is different from:
- creating the concept;
- writing the overall script;
- directing the project;
- producing the entire film;
- or developing the broader Secret brand.
This distinction matters because websites sometimes describe people featured in the film as though they jointly created The Secret.
They did not all have the same role.
Demartini was a contributor.
Rhonda Byrne was the driving creative figure behind the project.
Was John Demartini an Author of The Secret Book?
Not in the normal sense of being the book’s author.
The book is credited to Rhonda Byrne.
However, it incorporates statements from many of the teachers who appeared in the film, including Demartini.
His name appears in the book alongside quotations from other contributors.
So it is reasonable to say:
“John Demartini is featured in both the film and book.”
It is less accurate to say:
“John Demartini wrote The Secret.”
That phrasing implies a level of authorship that the book’s publication information does not support.
What Did Demartini Actually Say in The Secret?
One of Demartini’s best-known statements from the project concerns the relationship between internal direction and outside opinions.
The general idea is:
when your inner voice and vision become stronger than outside opinions, you begin to master your life.
That theme fits Demartini’s broader work very well.
It is less about wishing for an external object and more about:
- self-direction;
- clarity;
- priorities;
- independence from social pressure;
- and living according to what he calls your highest values.
Demartini still refers back to this statement in his current teaching.
So the small amount of material that survived the edit does appear consistent with themes he continues to teach.
How Much of His Interview Appeared in the Film?
According to Demartini himself, very little.
He says his interview for The Secret lasted:
more than seven hours.
But he says approximately:
one minute
was ultimately included in the finished film.
That information comes from Demartini’s own retrospective description of the production.
We have not found an independent production log allowing us to verify the exact seven-hour and one-minute figures.
So they should be treated as:
Demartini’s account of what happened
rather than a separately documented production statistic.
Still, if accurate, it would explain an important problem when trying to judge his philosophy based solely on the film.
One minute cannot represent decades of teaching.
Demartini Says The Secret Originally Looked Different
Demartini has also told an interesting story about an earlier version of the project.
In a later interview, he said the project initially involved a much smaller group of participants — according to him, approximately six people — and had a more detailed focus on ancient ideas and life mastery.
He says the project later expanded to include many more contributors as it moved toward a larger commercial audience.
Again, this is his retrospective account.
It should not automatically be treated as an independently verified production history.
But what matters for understanding Demartini is what he says happened next.
He believes the final version became:
more simplified and less practical.
What Does Demartini Think The Secret Left Out?
One word appears repeatedly in his later explanation:
action.
Demartini has argued that the mass-market presentation made the Law of Attraction appear more esoteric than practical.
He has specifically criticized the idea that someone can simply:
- think;
- visualize;
- wait;
- and receive.
He gives the deliberately absurd example of someone expecting a million-dollar check to appear in the mailbox merely because they visualized it.
His conclusion is basically:
that is fantasy, not effective goal pursuit.
This Is an Important Difference
The popular caricature of the Law of Attraction is:
Think about what you want strongly enough and reality will bring it to you.
Demartini’s version is closer to:
Decide what is genuinely important, keep your attention focused on it, notice relevant opportunities, make decisions, and take repeated action.
Those two ideas can produce similar motivational language.
But the proposed mechanisms are very different.
One invokes an external attraction process.
The other can potentially be explained through ordinary psychology and behavior.
How The Secret Describes the Law of Attraction
The current official Secret material makes a very strong claim.
It describes thoughts as having:
- energy;
- frequency;
- and a magnetic relationship with the physical world.
According to that explanation, thoughts interact with the Universe and attract corresponding people, objects, and circumstances.
That is much more than saying:
“What you focus on affects your behavior.”
It is a proposed mechanism connecting thought directly with external reality.
That distinction is important when asking whether the Law of Attraction is scientific.
How Demartini Explains It Today
Demartini’s current explanation often sounds more psychologically grounded.
He argues that what you repeatedly focus on influences what you become consciously aware of.
Suppose your highest priority is building a particular business.
You may notice:
- potential clients;
- useful conversations;
- relevant books;
- partnership opportunities;
- industry events;
- and problems worth solving
that someone else might ignore.
That is not a mysterious observation.
Attention is selective.
People cannot consciously process everything in their environment equally.
What feels like:
“Opportunities suddenly started appearing everywhere”
can partly reflect:
“I started noticing information relevant to my goal.”
The New-Car Effect Is a Good Example
Buy a particular model of car and suddenly you seem to see it everywhere.
The cars were already there.
Your attention changed.
Something similar can happen with goals.
Decide you want a new job and you may suddenly notice:
- job advertisements;
- networking opportunities;
- skill gaps;
- people in the industry;
- and conversations you previously ignored.
That can increase the probability of useful action.
No mysterious attraction mechanism is required to explain this part.
But Demartini Still Uses Manifestation Language
This is where his position becomes more complicated.
Demartini does not completely abandon words such as:
- manifestation;
- synchronicity;
- attraction;
- intention;
- and innermost dominant thought.
He sometimes describes opportunities appearing in ways that sound more metaphysical than an ordinary attention-and-action model.
That is why it would be inaccurate to rewrite him as a conventional behavioral psychologist.
His worldview mixes:
- practical goal pursuit;
- personal values;
- perception;
- psychology-like concepts;
- philosophy;
- spirituality;
- and sometimes scientific terminology.
That mixture is part of what makes his work appealing to some people and frustrating to others.
Demartini Is Not Really a Positive-Thinking Teacher
This may surprise people who know him primarily through The Secret.
Demartini has explicitly rejected the label.
His broader philosophy emphasizes:
balanced thinking
rather than positive thinking.
This is central to the Demartini Method: What It Actually Is and How It Works.
If you idealize something, the Method asks you to examine drawbacks.
If you resent something, it asks you to examine benefits.
So Demartini’s framework is not:
“Replace every negative thought with a positive thought.”
It is closer to:
“Identify the side of reality you are excluding.”
Whether his theory of exact balance is scientifically established is another question.
But conceptually, that is very different from ordinary positive-thinking advice.
The Secret and the Demartini Method Are Not the Same Thing
This deserves a clear answer.
The Demartini Method is not simply:
The Secret with worksheets.
The Method is a structured questioning process designed to change polarized perceptions.
For example, you might examine:
- what you resent in another person;
- where you display a similar trait;
- benefits you have overlooked;
- drawbacks you have overlooked;
- alternative outcomes you have idealized;
- guilt;
- shame;
- grief;
- or perceived loss.
That is primarily a process of cognitive reinterpretation.
The Law of Attraction, as presented by The Secret, is primarily a claim about how thoughts relate to what enters your life.
There is overlap in:
- attention;
- intention;
- self-direction;
- gratitude;
- goals;
- and interpretation.
But they are not the same system.
The Difference Becomes Clear With a Simple Example
Suppose you want to earn more money.
A simplified Secret-style approach might emphasize:
- thinking about abundance;
- visualizing wealth;
- feeling as though you already possess it;
- believing it will arrive;
- and avoiding thoughts associated with lack.
A Demartini-style approach might instead ask:
- Is wealth actually high on your values?
- What does earning more money allow you to fulfill?
- What concrete high-priority actions are required?
- What opportunities are you currently overlooking?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of wealth?
- What fantasies are preventing realistic action?
- What tasks need to be delegated?
- What decisions need to be made?
There is still mindset work.
But the structure is very different.
The Demartini Version Is More Action-Oriented
This is probably the strongest distinction.
Demartini repeatedly says that:
action matters.
He argues that focusing on something meaningful can increase the probability that you:
- notice opportunities;
- prioritize relevant tasks;
- make decisions;
- persist;
- and act.
This is much easier to reconcile with ordinary behavioral science than the claim that thoughts themselves magnetically attract physical circumstances.
But even here, caution is required.
A plausible psychological explanation does not automatically validate every additional claim Demartini makes about:
- the brain;
- synchronicity;
- manifestation;
- values;
- or universal balance.
Is There Science Behind “What You Focus on Expands”?
There are scientifically plausible elements.
Attention influences what information reaches conscious awareness.
Expectations can influence behavior.
Goals can affect effort and decision-making.
Mental rehearsal can sometimes improve performance.
Beliefs can influence persistence.
But none of those facts establishes the stronger proposition:
“Thinking about an external event causes the Universe to attract it to you.”
These are separate claims.
This distinction — plausible mechanism versus complete philosophy — appears repeatedly when examining commercial self-development systems.
Positive Thinking Alone Is Not a Reliable Goal Strategy
Psychological research also gives us a useful caution.
Simply imagining a wonderful future does not necessarily increase success.
Research by Gabriele Oettingen and colleagues has distinguished between:
positive expectations
and
positive fantasies.
Positive expectations — believing success is realistically likely — can be associated with stronger effort and achievement.
But indulging in idealized positive fantasies about the future has sometimes predicted:
- less effort;
- and poorer subsequent achievement.
That is almost the opposite of the simplistic idea that more positive visualization automatically produces better outcomes.
Why Might Positive Fantasy Reduce Action?
One explanation is that imagining success can provide some of the emotional reward before the difficult work has been done.
You temporarily feel good.
That can reduce urgency.
For example, repeatedly imagining yourself as financially successful is psychologically very different from:
- examining your current finances;
- identifying obstacles;
- making a concrete plan;
- and doing uncomfortable work.
A motivational technique becomes more useful when it connects a desirable future to present reality.
Mental Contrasting Is an Interesting Comparison
A research-based strategy called mental contrasting does something particularly relevant here.
Rather than only imagining the desired future, you also examine the obstacles standing between:
where you are
and
where you want to be.
When combined with implementation intentions — concrete “if X, then I will Y” plans — research has found small-to-moderate improvements in goal attainment across studies.
That is interesting because it resembles one of the practical corrections Demartini makes to fantasy-based manifestation:
the future has to connect to reality and action.
It does not validate Demartini’s entire philosophy.
But it does show why a more grounded approach can make more psychological sense than positive fantasy alone.
Does Visualization Work?
The answer depends heavily on what you mean by “work.”
Visualization can be useful when it contributes to:
- rehearsal;
- planning;
- emotional preparation;
- goal clarification;
- or identifying future actions.
But that does not imply:
visualization sends out a frequency that rearranges external reality.
Those are entirely different hypotheses.
The first can be tested through psychology and behavior.
The second requires evidence for a separate external mechanism.
Does Quantum Physics Prove The Secret?
The official Secret explanation invokes concepts involving:
- energy;
- frequency;
- matter;
- and the quantum level.
This gives the Law of Attraction a scientific-sounding framework.
But the psychological research on:
- goals;
- attention;
- expectations;
- visualization;
- mental contrasting;
- and action
does not establish that thoughts exert a magnetic quantum effect on unrelated external events.
So even if some practices encouraged by The Secret produce useful behavioral effects, that does not prove the physical explanation attached to them.
This is an important distinction throughout Method Examined:
a useful practice does not automatically validate the theory used to explain why it works.
Does Demartini Claim Quantum Physics Proves His Work?
Demartini frequently discusses science, physics, neuroscience, and other academic subjects in his broader teaching.
But his later Law of Attraction explanation does not depend entirely on the strongest Secret-style “thought frequency attracts physical objects” claim.
Instead, he often explains achievement through:
- selective awareness;
- values;
- attention;
- decisions;
- and action.
That makes his position somewhat more defensible psychologically.
It does not mean all of the scientific language surrounding his broader teachings is therefore validated.
That question needs to be examined claim by claim.
We will address that more directly in a separate article on Demartini’s neuroscience claims.
Did Demartini Distance Himself From The Secret?
Not completely.
He still prominently acknowledges being featured in the movie.
He continues to speak positively about the opportunity.
He has described the project as reaching millions of people and opening doors for its participants.
He still discusses the Law of Attraction.
And endorsements from Rhonda Byrne have appeared in Demartini marketing material.
So it would be misleading to say:
“Demartini rejected The Secret.”
He did not.
A more accurate description is:
Demartini accepts much of the underlying intention-and-manifestation framework while criticizing what he sees as the simplified, passive interpretation of it.
His Criticism Is Mainly About Simplification
Demartini’s retrospective criticism is not:
“The entire Law of Attraction is false.”
It is closer to:
“People misunderstood it as fantasy because important practical components were missing.”
He emphasizes:
- values;
- realistic objectives;
- opportunity recognition;
- prioritization;
- persistence;
- and action.
So he appears to see himself as correcting or completing the message rather than abandoning it.
The Secret Probably Helped Demartini’s Visibility
Demartini already had a speaking career before the movie.
He did not emerge from nowhere in 2006.
But The Secret exposed him to a much broader international audience.
He has himself said that his already-heavy speaking schedule increased after the film.
Independent media coverage following The Secret also began regularly introducing him through his association with the film.
So the movie appears to have been an important visibility boost.
It should not be confused with the beginning of his career.
For the broader timeline, see Who Is Dr. John Demartini? Credentials, Career, and What to Know.
The “Doctor” Issue Also Matters Here
The Secret introduced several contributors using professional-sounding titles.
Demartini appears as “Dr. John Demartini.”
That title is legitimate in the sense that he holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
But he is not a medical doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or neuroscience researcher.
That distinction matters when evaluating scientific or psychological claims made by anyone presented as “Dr.”
For the qualification details, see Dr. John Demartini Credentials: What Kind of Doctor Is He?
Being Featured in The Secret Does Not Validate His Scientific Claims
This sounds obvious, but it matters.
The Secret was a commercially successful self-development film.
Appearing in it establishes:
- participation;
- visibility;
- and an association with the project.
It does not independently establish:
- academic expertise;
- scientific validity;
- clinical effectiveness;
- or the accuracy of any particular claim.
Celebrity exposure and evidence are separate categories.
The same standard should apply whether a program appears on:
- Netflix;
- Oprah;
- a bestselling podcast;
- a documentary;
- or a university website.
Popularity tells us something about reach.
It does not automatically tell us whether a claim is true.
But The Secret Connection Should Not Be Used to Dismiss Him Either
The opposite mistake is also common.
Someone sees:
“featured in The Secret”
and immediately concludes:
“Therefore everything Demartini teaches is nonsense.”
That does not follow either.
Demartini has developed his own framework.
Some parts overlap with established psychological ideas.
Other parts are philosophical.
Other claims remain poorly tested.
The right approach is to evaluate those components separately.
For example, the relationship between his Method and established cognitive mechanisms is explored in Demartini Method vs Cognitive Reappraisal: What’s the Difference?
What About the Scientific Evidence for the Demartini Method?
This is another area where the Secret connection can create confusion.
The scientific status of the Demartini Method should not depend on whether you believe in the Law of Attraction.
The Method should be evaluated through direct evidence.
In 2026, a small pilot study directly examining the Demartini Method reported promising preliminary changes in self-reported depressive symptoms and social functioning.
But the study was:
- small;
- uncontrolled;
- preliminary;
- and not a test of the Law of Attraction.
So it does not scientifically validate The Secret.
Nor does The Secret validate the Method.
For the evidence itself, see Is the Demartini Method Scientifically Proven?
The Biggest Conceptual Difference May Be “Attract” vs “Notice”
This distinction helps simplify everything.
The strong Law of Attraction claim
Your thoughts attract corresponding external things and events.
The practical Demartini-style claim
Your priorities and thoughts affect what you notice and what you do, increasing the probability of particular outcomes.
The second does not require the first.
You can believe:
“Focused attention changes behavior.”
without believing:
“Thought frequency magnetically draws objects from the Universe.”
That is why it is useful to separate the psychological layer from the metaphysical layer.
Why People May Experience This as “Manifestation”
Imagine you set a clear business goal.
Over six months you:
- think about it frequently;
- talk about it;
- research it;
- notice opportunities;
- meet relevant people;
- say yes to certain invitations;
- reject distractions;
- invest money;
- learn skills;
- and work toward it.
Eventually something significant happens.
Subjectively, you may feel:
“I manifested this.”
Another description is:
“My sustained goal changed my attention and behavior, which changed the probability of the outcome.”
Those descriptions can refer to the same life event while proposing different causal explanations.
That is where many debates over manifestation become confused.
What The Secret Gets Psychologically Right
Even without accepting its strongest metaphysical claims, several themes can be useful.
It encourages people to:
- decide what they want;
- direct attention toward goals;
- imagine possibilities;
- practice gratitude;
- question habitual pessimism;
- and take greater psychological ownership of their future.
Those can be meaningful shifts.
For someone who has never seriously considered what they want from life, the message can feel liberating.
This helps explain why The Secret has had such enduring cultural appeal.
What The Secret Risks Oversimplifying
The danger appears when:
“Your thoughts influence your behavior”
becomes:
“Your thoughts determine everything that happens to you.”
Those are not the same.
People are affected by:
- biology;
- illness;
- economics;
- social structures;
- chance;
- other people’s behavior;
- disasters;
- discrimination;
- accidents;
- and circumstances they did not choose.
A worldview that assigns every outcome to a person’s thoughts risks turning agency into blame.
That concern becomes particularly serious around:
- illness;
- abuse;
- poverty;
- trauma;
- and victimization.
This is one reason large universal claims need more caution than ordinary motivational advice.
Demartini Has a Similar Responsibility Problem
Although his framework differs from The Secret, Demartini also places strong emphasis on:
- perception;
- responsibility;
- finding benefits;
- and changing the meaning of difficult experiences.
For some people, that can be empowering.
For others, especially around severe harm, the language can become uncomfortable.
The distinction between:
taking responsibility for your response
and
being responsible for what someone did to you
must remain clear.
We examine that issue in Criticisms of the Demartini Method: What Skeptics Get Right — and Wrong.
Is John Demartini a Law of Attraction Teacher?
Yes, with qualifications.
He has openly discussed and taught the Law of Attraction.
He does not reject the phrase.
He was featured in the film most responsible for popularizing it.
But his own explanation is more complicated than:
“think positive thoughts and receive whatever you desire.”
His version places much more emphasis on:
- authentic values;
- focused attention;
- realistic objectives;
- planning;
- decisions;
- persistence;
- and action.
So if someone says:
“John Demartini teaches exactly the same Law of Attraction model as The Secret,”
that is too simplistic.
Is John Demartini Still Associated With The Secret?
Yes.
The association remains part of his public biography.
His own website discusses his participation.
Current promotional materials have used endorsements from Rhonda Byrne.
Interviews still introduce him as a teacher featured in The Secret.
So the relationship is not merely historical trivia.
It remains part of his public brand.
Did The Secret Create the Demartini Method?
No.
The Demartini Method is Demartini’s own proprietary questioning framework.
His work predates his appearance in The Secret.
The Method should therefore not be understood as a product created from the movie’s success.
The movie amplified Demartini’s visibility.
It did not invent his methodology.
Does Demartini’s Appearance Make The Secret More Credible?
Not automatically.
Authority should be evaluated claim by claim.
Demartini’s participation does not scientifically validate the Law of Attraction.
Likewise, the popularity of The Secret does not scientifically validate Demartini’s Method.
The appropriate questions remain:
- What is being claimed?
- What mechanism is proposed?
- What evidence supports it?
- What evidence would disprove it?
- What simpler explanations exist?
- And what happens when the idea is tested directly?
That is the standard we try to apply throughout Method Examined.
What We Think Actually Connects Demartini and The Secret
The deepest overlap is not necessarily mystical attraction.
It is the idea that:
internal orientation affects external direction.
What you repeatedly think about can influence:
- what you notice;
- what you value;
- what you pursue;
- what you avoid;
- how you interpret setbacks;
- and what you do next.
That proposition is much easier to defend than:
“Thoughts themselves magnetically organize external reality.”
Demartini’s later explanations increasingly emphasize the first version.
That may be one reason his work can appeal both to people who enjoy spiritual language and people who prefer a more practical self-development framework.
Our Verdict
John Demartini’s connection to The Secret is real.
He was one of the teachers featured in the 2006 film.
His statements also appear in the related book.
But he was not the creator of The Secret, and describing him simply as one of its “authors” can overstate his role.
The more interesting story is what happened afterward.
Demartini continues to endorse ideas involving:
- intention;
- focus;
- manifestation;
- synchronicity;
- and goal-directed thought.
But he strongly emphasizes something that the popular version of the Law of Attraction can underplay:
action.
His current position is closer to:
focus on what genuinely matters, become more aware of relevant opportunities, make decisions, and act consistently toward the objective.
That contains psychologically plausible mechanisms.
It is also different from the stronger claim that thoughts themselves emit a frequency that magnetically attracts external reality.
Scientific research supports the importance of:
- expectations;
- attention;
- goal pursuit;
- planning;
- and action.
It does not follow from that evidence that the full metaphysical Law of Attraction has been scientifically established.
That distinction helps make sense of Demartini’s unusual position.
He is genuinely part of The Secret story.
He has benefited from the association.
He still uses some of its language.
But his own system is not simply The Secret repeated under another brand.
The fairest conclusion is:
John Demartini is a genuine former contributor to The Secret who now presents a more action-oriented and values-based interpretation of attraction and manifestation — while still retaining philosophical claims that should be evaluated separately from established psychological science.
That is more accurate than either:
“He is just a Law of Attraction guru.”
or:
“His work has nothing to do with The Secret.”
The truth sits somewhere between those descriptions.
Sources & References
The Secret — Official Press Kit
Official production material listing John Demartini among the cast members featured in The Secret and describing how he was presented at the time.
The Secret — Law of Attraction
Current official explanation of the central Law of Attraction claim, including the idea that thoughts possess energy or frequency and attract corresponding external experiences.
Rhonda Byrne — The Secret
The 2006 book based on the film. Used to verify the relationship between the film and book and Demartini’s inclusion among the quoted teachers.
IMDb — The Secret (2006), Full Cast & Crew
Independent film-credit listing identifying John Demartini as appearing as himself in the film.
Dr. John Demartini — The Law of Attraction and How to Use It Effectively
Demartini’s own later explanation of his involvement in The Secret, his claim that more than seven hours of interview footage produced approximately one minute in the final film, and his emphasis on values, attention, opportunities, decisions, and action.
The Underground Marketer Podcast — Episode 60: Align With Your Deepest Values With Dr. John Demartini
Long-form interview transcript in which Demartini discusses his recollection of the early version of The Secret, the expansion of the cast, his belief that the final version was simplified, and his criticism that action was underemphasized.
Oettingen & Mayer (2002) — The Motivating Function of Thinking About the Future: Expectations Versus Fantasies
Four studies distinguishing realistic positive expectations from idealized positive fantasies and finding that positive fantasies could predict lower effort and achievement.
Wang, Wang & Gai (2021) — A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Mental Contrasting With Implementation Intentions on Goal Attainment
Meta-analysis of 21 studies reporting a small-to-moderate positive effect of mental contrasting combined with implementation intentions on goal attainment.