'The Secret' - Fact or Fallacy?

[ladybird11]

I have just started reading 'The Secret'...

Just to fill in the gaps for some people:

"The Secret reveals the natural law that is governing all lives. By applying the knowledge of this law, you can change every aspect of your life.
This is the secret to prosperity, health, relationships and happiness. This is the secret to life".

It then occurred to me, there are so many times when I have thought about something and gotten it:
- I desparately thought myself as being thin after having DS (remaining larger wasn't an option in my mind) and I lost weight quickly.
- I have wished sooooo hard for certain colleagues to transfer / leave my work, and they have.
- I have thought of myself as having more $$$, then I receive two cheques in the mail - refunds. Both were supposed to be paid to me in 2 mths time, but they came early.

So I wonder, has anyone else read the book? What are your thoughts on 'The Secret'? Could it all just be a coincidence or is there something really behind 'like attracts like'?

[LimeSlice]

Fact.

To be honest, I am so amazed this man made so much money out of it - I thought it was a fairly well espoused theory that I cannot believe so many people paid so much money to 'learn' it.
The power of suggestion, visualisation and manifestation have been applied in so many fields for so many reasons, and are very successful techniques. The notion of "self-fulfilling prophecy" is based in this. It works both way - positive and negative.

I suppose those who doubt its power are those who are not swayed by such 'airy-fairy' attitudes and notions of universal energies lol But, yes, I believe it exists and know many people who have achieved all manner of things in their lives by applying similar techniques.

[AnyDream]

Yep absolutely true. It's the basis of a whole lot of other books and teachings that have been written over the last 30 years - lots of people teach the same thing, but The Secret really stripped it down to the bare basics. Like you Limey I was surprised at what a raving success it was given that it was already out in the public domain on such a big scale.

[MrsFabuloso]

I believe it too. I too have read the book and believe the laws of attraction are real. I have wanted for things and visualised and gotten them. I htink it all just opens you up to the opportunities that are about.

[BellyBelly]

I believe it as well. BB wouldn't be what it was without it. Very early on, I got to the point where I thought negatively about not being able to be successful with what I had, but after watching the Secret and going to some seminars (they came to Aus not long after - spooky ) I met some great marketing people and BB took off with loads of ideas under my belt. I truly believe it, and its led me to even bigger and better things.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Forgive me for being a nonbeliever

I've not read it, but I think I understand the idea behind it. What I don't get is how 'the Universe' is then responsible for any good/bad thing that you receive, because you've been thinking about it....I mean, and just as an example, certainly not picking on anyone, but Leesa - you said being bigger wasn't an option for you, and so you applied these principles and lost weight easily. Is that ALL you did - think about it, put it out there? Or did you work your butt off exercising and eating right?

Basically I think that putting what you want into the forefront of your mind is going to cause YOU to be constantly doing things with that goal in mind, and therefore YOU will achieve it. And by the same token, if you constantly doubt yourself and your abilities, well, you're not going to succeed, are you!

Maybe I'm just cynical though. I'm not trying to stir up an argument or anything, this has been bugging me since it all started

[LimeSlice]

The key to it though Berenice is that it is not a 'stand alone' theory - when you place it in context with other techniques and 'laws' it makes sense more naturally.
Have a read of the Celestine Prophecy and you will begin to understand the relationships between occurances and coincidence, how all the opportunities that come across your path are a chance for you to either further your goals or not - but you still need to recognise them for what they are and choose to follow the path.

Things don't just 'happen' - you need to make them happen, but the manifestation will be directly linked to your perception, conception and energies.

Have a read of it though - because you are not understanding the premise or more accurately, the methodology, behind it. YOU are responsible, not the universe - THAT is the point. A seek and you shall find mentality.

[Babyluv]

I've seen the DVD version & I think it's rubbish, sorry no offence to anyone who thinks otherwise but it talks about thoughts, visualisations etc and how you impact positively or negatively on life occurrences.
So if you get cancer you mustn't have thought positively enough or if you are broke same thing.
I think it sets ppl up for disappointment.
Life happens to all of us, good and bad things happen every day some things are in our control but some aren't.

[BellyBelly]

If you had something like cancer though, do you think the recovery/illness would be different if you thought negatively and were sure you were going to die, rather than focus on the feelings of healing and finding happiness?

It's okay to agree or disagree, but we must remember to do it respectfully. Language is important.

[LimeSlice]

There have been some amazing studies done into the power of 'prayer' and positive energy on healing during illness, particularly cancer. Even remote prayer has been found to have massive results in improving outcomes for patients.

So yes, if you have cancer, attitude can make the difference between living and dying. I have seen it.

[BellyBelly]

I know babyluv, just a reminder to all really. Its like any belief system, no matter what we have, it's not rubbish, it's our belief system and it works for us - and we all have differing needs and beliefs depending on where we are at with our lives and who we are All good

[meow]

I don't completely believe in our power to will things into being. I believe in the fundemental laws of nature over anything else so I think if your cells mutate while dividing and you get cancer then dammit! That's nature. My Dad is fully into this sort of thing and he believes a helpful thing to ask someone with cancer is "why are choosing cancer?". I think that sounds really mean and I don't think we have that much control.

I do believe in the power of ourselves over our lives, as opposed to fate or gods etc. Positive thinking can go a very long way, being open to new experiences, recognising the importance and place each person can have in our lives... so I'm kind of there with it, but not fully.

I haven't read The Secret though so I'm not completely aware of its teachings, though I have read The Celestine Prophecy and I do follow the ideas of personality types and the place of other people in our lives & the timing that they arrive that are in that book.

[Bathsheba]

I have read a little of The Secret and The Celestine Prophecy and while I agree that the basic theories have substance I'm a bit like Trish and believe that God is the originator of these laws.... not just a "Universe".

I wholeheartedly believe that you create your own luck! And agree that visualisation is a very powerful tool. The mind is one of the most powerful tools we have... much more so than the computers infront of us. But it is vulnerable too and i believe that people should also give some thought about being protective of it... just as they do about uploading protective anit-virus soft-ware on their computers. The occasional defrag and cache cleanse is also a good idea (in the form of finding a bit of quiet to organise our thoughts for example and making sure we choose a good night's sleep instead of staying up online into the wee hours too frequently) We all could do with a bit more mental hygiene. If we can manage that we'll get a higher level of performance from our mind-tools.

[AnyDream]

I've seen the DVD version & I think it's rubbish, sorry no offence to anyone who thinks otherwise but it talks about thoughts, visualisations etc and how you impact positively or negatively on life occurrences.
So if you get cancer you mustn't have thought positively enough or if you are broke same thing.

Well I did have cancer and it did come at a time in my life where I felt totally disconnected from my spirit, my sense of joy. TBH I still don't understand why this disease manifested in my life at that time, but I do know it slapped me and woke me up to think about what I do want, and what I need to change in my life to make that happen.

I can also assert 100% how much more quickly I recovered from surgery than a friend who had exactly the same thing done as me...I did lots of visualisation and meditation in preparation...plus I know I had a huge community of people sending love and support and healing "vibes" my way...my surgeons couldn't believe how good it looked 2 weeks later, given that they did an extreme form of the procedure on me (mastectomy and reconstruction). The week I spent in hospital was one of the most amazing times in my life - I lay there and just soaked up the feeling of receiving healing and blessings the whole time. My friend on the other hand is a sad-sack who always focusses on how terrible things are...she had no end of infections and problems.

But I don't think this is what The Secret is talking about. Cancer is a natural process, it's not the same as setting out to create something positive in your life, setting your intent for your highest good, and then watching your external circumstances align so that what you want is suddenly possible in a way it wasn't before.

[Inertia]

Ok, so I shall start with the qualification that I am a 'believer'. I am not going to justify my reasons as they are mine and mine alone. No one has to believe them or even agree with them for them to work for me so its a moot point. =)

However on the anecdotal side of things, my DH did give the DVD to BIL and basically got it thrown back at him. I think in a way this is why some people just don't want to believe it (no offence meant to anyone here, just my random thoughts). See BIL has been suffering 1 disaster after another. He was in Granville, several car accidents, divorced, eternally in financial hardship. He received compensation from his last accident a couple of years back and is broke again. Only last year he had an aneurysm and a stroke.

He is also the most negative and depressing person I have ever met! Everything is too hard. Everything sucks. He can not see joy in anything! But in this case its the chicken or the egg. Yet I can not see any rational explanation as to how one person can be that brutally unlucky.

He hated the movie though as it does tend to say to you - "Its all your fault. Own it". Not in so many words but for some people they do not want to hear that their life sucks because they are a downer to be around.

I dont entirely agree with that part of it. Its the SIDS discussion all over again. When they call it a diagnosis of exclusion, they really mean it. Nothing at all, not in medicine, science or belief system can explain it. As someone who has lost a loved one to SIDS, I have discovered that it is not healthy to try and find a reason. My XBIL drove himself down a path he can not return from trying to find the reason his baby could not stay with them. Nothing can explain it at all, so I do not use it as a reason to not believe in LOA.

In my world the universe works harmoniously. From Astrology, to Feng Shui, to Us and LOA. I do hold these ideals and they do work for me. Maybe in christian terms what we are bringing about is the power of prayer. Prayer is a human term. I don't think God/The Universe cares what we call it or him. I certainly do not believe he is some all powerful deity that imposed any of the rules and restrictions that come along with organised religions. I believe they are man made too. I have always believed that in the end we all believe in the same thing, we just give it a different name and practice it a different way. So for me to insult your belief system would be akin to insulting mine.

Except maybe Scientology - but we wont get into that...

[Inanna]

I believe the Secret works also... However, to me it wasn't such a secret! It's what's been shared by many others throughout the Millenia!

I completely missed the message that others in this "thread" are mentioning that the movie/book's message could be taken as an individuals "fault" that his/her life is as it is...

Essentially though I would agree that we create our reality - our Heavens & our Hells! I also observe that folk in our Society don't much like self responsibility! It seems we are more comfortable blaming others/situations/God/Work whatever rather than looking inward & taking a stocktake of our own input/reactions/thoughts/character.

I can align myself very much with Inertia's thoughts/beliefs as well.

As for "bad things"... I just want to preface this with I have had my fair share of difficulties... I believe "bad things" are how we look at them. It's undoubtedly traumatic, tragic, heart wrenching when loss, grief, serious illness occurs. However, I have found that some of my most tragic life experiences have taught me amazing things. I also believe that we have lessons to learn in each life time & sometimes that's illness, sometimes it's loss - we are given these things for our highest good. It's up to us how healthily we travel the path.

I live with the law of attraction every day - it's part of my life. I rarely think "I can't" any more. Not in an arrogant way, but in a way that I know if I work on putting it out there that or something better will come to me - for my highest good! It's like praying for water and getting rain - maybe the rain is what is most needed... YK?

I think having a trust in the process of life & an expectancy that it will all be what is most needed for me. That I am supported by this grand Universe/God/Goddess/Higher Power. I never doubt that ever! There is a lightness of Being when you can truly know that I think.

Inertia said it so well I think:

I believe they are man made too. I have always believed that in the end we all believe in the same thing, we just give it a different name and practice it a different way. So for me to insult your belief system would be akin to insulting mine.

I think our Planet shows us this in action. We have so many many Faiths & belief systems - the majority spring from LOVE! We have so many (I believe) with such similarity because we all have a different need. We all have a different way to learn & understand this "Big Thing that's Bigger than Us"!!!

I could never think or believe a Christian was wrong, or a Muslim, or a Hindu as these people are following what "God" is to them. Call Him Him or Her or the Universe or the Power but really it's the same thing.

The most insulting thing we can do is to show arrogance to anothers beliefs - how kind a world would we be in if we could all truly accept this...

Some call it prayer, some call them spells, some call it positive Energy... I say it all encompasses "The Secret"!

[Babyluv]

Sorry didn't intend to offend just saying I don't believe we can control everything in our lives with thoughts and visualisations

[Babyluv]

I totally believe in the power of prayer and positive thinking in healing and life in general. I just disagree with the angle at which the secret comes from, didn't sit well at all with me, it just felt like it put the blame on ppl too much. I personally dont feel that I can control everything that happens in my life through thoughts etc, I believe in prayer for all aspects of life.