My Take on The Secret.
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“The Secret” has been reviewed, dissected, admired, and mocked for over 2 years now since it was first published by author Rhonda Byrne in 2006 and turned into a TV special and subsequently a DVD. Being fashionably late to the party, here is my take on it:
First Things First. What is The Secret?
If you’ve been in a coma, trapped in the international space station, or been living under a rock for the past 2 years, you probably have not heard of the Secret until now. It is a book by Rhonda Byrne about the Law of Attraction and talks about how you can have anything you desire by focusing your mental energies into manifesting it. Weather it be money, power, companionship, etc.., if you believe it you will receive it.
It was an immediate success and was so popular that it spawned a DVD version and was featured on Oprah with Oprah saying that she is living proof that the Secret works (weather this is a positive or a negative endorsement is up to you ^_^)
Here is a link to the first 20 minutes of TS (I’ll be calling The Secret TS going forward), courtesy of youtube.
After the introduction, say around the 3:30 mark is when TS really shines because for the rest of the movie it goes into it’s self-promotion, infomercial mode. Don’t get me wrong it’s awesome because of the unintentional comedy that abounds when these folks work themselves into a lather in promoting TS (the dude with the glasses and the white hair comes to mind:) Entrepreneurs, visionaries, even quantum physicists! That’s well and good by I have not heard of these people, how lovely they maybe. I think it would’ve been better if we had some more accomplished individuals promoting it. A few ones come to mind and what they might say about TS:
The Secret is the most advanced piece of desire manifestation around. Results are guaranteed and it’s so simple to use - just set it and forget it!
- Ron Popeil, visionary inventor of the Vege-o-matic and Showtime Rotisserie
I am so convinced that The Secret will work for you I am sure that you will manifest 2 tubs of Oxyclean and a box of Kaboom absolutely free when you buy a bottle of Orange Glo
- Billy Mays, maker of the amazing Ding King, Lint-B-Gone and facial hair enthusiast.
It’s amazing, here I was bored out of my mind because we were shut down for the day. And all I could think about was pizza, cigars, and thongs. Then all of a sudden this chubby intern comes out of nowhere with a box of pizza on one hand and a cigar on the other. And immediately I thought, “Aw shucks…The Secret really does work!”
- William Jefferson Clinton, commander in chief and cigar aficionado.
What Do I Think About TS?
I came away smiling from watching TS (actually I was holding my sides the entire time from laughing so hard). While I do not agree with TS about the law of attraction being absolute, I did experience some interesting occurrences within a week after watching TS and making a concentrated effort to “manifest my desires”
- I was undercharged $19 on some groceries.
- Found a $20 bill on an ATM machine before making a withdrawal.
- Won 3 bucks in the lottery.
- Got a great pair of shoes at 75% off.
- Had my drive-thru order “Super Sized” for free.
- Noticed that big pimple on my forehead had cleared up.
Now is this because of TS? Or is it happenstance? While there is no way of knowing, it makes for interesting conversation, no?
I also do not agree about the law of attraction not being able to discern between the positive and the negative. In the video it gives an example that you will incur debt even if what you think about is getting out of debt. Because the word debt is what you are “sending out to the universe” through your thoughts, that is exactly what you will manifest. Same thing about the guy that has the thoughts, “Please don’t be late” going through his mind over and over on the way to work, because the universe cannot see his qualifier for the word late, he is given the gift of tardiness.
So what does this mean? If one constantly wishes that they don’t want to get cancer, by this logic - they will get cancer? If that is the case then what a terrifying secret this is.
My verdict? I’m sure they mean well but for all it’s intents and purposes the video of TS is a collection of self-promoters all saying the same thing: If you believe in something strong enough, it will come true. But is that all?
Hey, if all you need to get everything you want in life is to think about real hard, we’d all be billionaires dating supermodels. My dream for one is to dunk a basketball, that dream has still to manifest itself however.
Like every goal in life that you want to achieve, you will need more than just the desire for it. You’ll also need focus, a plan, determination, and patience. That my friend, is no secret at all.
For more takes on TS, please check out the following links:
- Tom Stine: Miracles and The Law of Attraction
- Leo Babauta: Why The Law Of Attraction is Wrong, But Why It Still Works (Go to the comments sections for the good stuff)
- Jonathan Mead: The Secret? There is No Secret
- Steve Pavlina: The Secret
And as a parting gift, here is another video of TS. May it inspire you, or at least provide a chuckle or two ^_^
Thanks for reading.
June 12th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Hi Ramoney, thanks for linking me here. =)
I think the biggest problem most people don’t understand with the Secret is there are a hierarchy of beliefs. For example:
Your belief that you are poor, has been superimposed on your memory/brain for years and years. Just thinking that you’re rich over and over for a few weeks will not override that previously enforced belief automatically.
There’s also the belief of possibility. If you don’t think something is possible for you, ie. being rich, no matter how much you think about it, it won’t manifest if you don’t think it’s possible.
A third example is the fact that observation of your current reality is an intention as well. If you send intentions that you’re rich, but keep observing that your current state is poverty, you’ll cancel out your intention of wealth.
So there’s definitely some deeper levels to “LOA” but I won’t delve into that too much here. Perhaps that belongs in another article. =)
June 12th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Thanks for coming by Jonathan, appreciate the comments. Keep up the great work with your awesome blog :)
June 13th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
The only idea that I am able to fully accept is that if we think positive thoughts, our quality of life would improve. But can we wish our desires into happening? Nah, sorry, can’t buy into that. MonkMojo had as great comic on this - you should check it out.
http://mojo1000.com/1000cuts/the-law-of-attraction-and-diminishing-returns.html
June 13th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
The Secret has dominated the blogosphere recently. Maybe because it was featured topic on Zen Habits, Leo’s blog. Based on the majority of the people in the blogosphere, it seems that TS doesn’t have a strong following.
Man, am I the only one here in the blogging world who believes that TS works. Seriously, I am a living proof that TS works.
I thought about having 5 sarcastic children and boom I got them. I imagined having a beautiful modelesque wife who can’t get enough of me then viola, I got her.
I keep thinking of getting out of debt and shazam, I’m debt keeps comming.
Oh well, I guess I have to be the only one in the blogging world who really believe this stuff, nuch like the fact that I’m the only one in God’s green earth who always picks the wrong line at the store.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
@ Vered: thanks for the link for Monks take on the law of attraction, hilarious!
Yes I do agree that positivity has a great impact on how your life will be. I always thought because the negative people waste a lot of their energy complaining.
@ Chris: Thanks for stopping by and appreciate your comments. I’m not saying that I don’t believe that TS doesn’t work. What I mean is that believing isn’t all that you need. It’s a good foundation, but you also need skill, perseverance, a plan, and the willingness to stick with it to get what you want. I bet you didn’t just willed your beautiful wife to be with you. I’m sure you had to work for her affections right?