Tell me your thoughts about "The Secret"

[KikiFan]

Imzadi definitely check out "What the Bleep" it's a fantastic film and really accessible. I took my 12 year old and she really grasped the concepts. Of course she's been born and raised in Unity so a lot of the concepts weren't totally new to her.

I'm sorry I haven't been on this thread very much lately, but I'm seriously cutting by computer time right now. But I read this article and *had* to post it here. I think it's so on target!

For the record, this guy is very liberal - so his comments aren't politically motivated - but spiritually motivated.

No Whining Allowed!

Over the past twenty years or so, a number of spiritually significant books have maintained long-term residence on national best-seller lists – from The Celestine Prophecy through Conversations with God to The Secret, plus very popular titles from Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson and others.

You may have – as I certainly do – reservations about these works in terms of content and/or style. But there remains the irrefutable fact that millions of people have read them; and so the intrinsic, universal Truth that they describe – the fact that we create our own reality through our personal and collective expressions of the creative Power of God working through us – has become more and more accepted by the collective consciousness we share. What used to be the kooky belief of a small fringe of our society is still not universally accepted, of course. But the strides that have been made in that direction – just within our lifetimes – are a cause for amazement and celebration.

When even mainstream politicians start operating from a recognition of the power of collective consciousness, it can’t be denied that something revolutionary is taking place. Which brings us to the former U.S. Senator from Texas, Phil Gramm. He’s about as mainstream as you can get – assuming that stream flows largely to the right – and yet these days he’s all cranked up about the power of mind we share.

Senator Gramm, who has been a co-chairman and chief economic advisor to Senator John McCain, was asked last week about his views on the economic turmoil that is being experienced throughout the country. He dismissed it all as a kind of ‘sleight-of-hand’ propagated by the news media and made worse by a gullible public. “You’ve heard of a mental depression?” he asked. “Well, this is a mental recession.” He went on to comment that we’ve become a “nation of whiners.”

Senator McCain broke all land speed records in distancing himself from his friend’s perspective, and political commentators on all sides sneered and dismissed the comments as insensitive and out of touch with the ‘realities’ of the world today. ‘Insensitive’ they probably are. But from our New Thought perspective, it has to be acknowledged that Senator Gramm is touching – however inadvertently – on a key belief that defines our world view.

The spiritual truth is, the entire economic system has no intrinsic reality outside the collective consciousness of all of us. Our beliefs create it, establish its rules, reward those who play the game well and punish those who don’t. The only spiritual Truth that applies is the Truth of infinite abundance, everywhere present and always available. Anything that denies or limits that infinite abundance is strictly a product of our collective consciousness – a figment, as it were, of our collective imagination.

This doesn’t mean that we are, or could be, immune from the effects of this global economy which we create through our beliefs. But it does mean we aren’t powerless over it! It doesn’t mean that we should judge or dismiss those – including ourselves – who are suffering and experiencing lack because of the strength with which we have endowed this economic system. ‘Whining’ is a negative and judgmental word. But certainly we can – we must! – complain loudly and speak out clearly when the system we create isn’t accomplishing the ends we intend.

It’s not that there is no problem, or that we should shut up and sit down and pretend there’s no problem. But – and here’s where Senator Gramm’s comment touches (however accidentally) on a key point – we can’t simply complain and blame it on them. We are not victims of this economy; we are its creators. If it isn’t working properly, it’s because we aren’t creating it properly. And the solution is not to wonder why they – Big Business, Washington, whomever – don’t do something – and, yes, whine like victims when they don’t. The solution is to recognize our creative power, own it, and make new choices.

How do we do that? We start with ourselves – with even the smallest of choices we make in the course of a day – choices about what to do, choices about how to express our innate abundance, and choices about what to believe. Jesus taught that consciously exercising our creative power in a positive way must always begin with appreciation. Appreciation dissolves the negative energy that fuels fear-based choice and belief. We must literally appreciate the hell out of everything!

When you’re watching the gas pump spin into triple digits, appreciate the ways in which that gas will serve and assist your life. Appreciate the abundance consciousness that allows you to buy it. Appreciate every opportunity to be a more conscious and careful consumer of the world’s resources – not out of fear, but out of love.

The staff members at Unity Church of Dallas are choosing to become more conscious and appreciative of the resources we use each day. Does that light really need to be on? Does it need to stay on all day? Does that email need to be printed out on paper? If so, can we recycle scrap paper for drafts and interoffice use? I’m sure you’re going through the same process in your life, too. It’s all Good!

The key is, we can’t be doing it out of fear. We must appreciate the gifts we have, and we must appreciate the opportunities we’re creating to be excellent stewards of the abundance we’re expressing. We must make new choices knowing and appreciating that these simple, tiny choices are contributing to a new consciousness. And that new consciousness can and will heal the inequities and problems of the economic system, the health care system, the political system – any expression of old consciousness that is no longer serving our needs and intentions.

This is exactly the work that Jesus calls us to when he charges us to create ‘the kingdom of heaven.’ It’s not going to happen someday. There is no someday. There is now. There are the small but infinitely significant choices we make in this moment. We have our work cut out for us. It’s time to get started. And remember – no whining allowed!

Blessings!
Rev Ed

 

[JodyLynC]

When you look at life through the eyes of gratitude, the world becomes a wonderful place. The more you find to be grateful about, the more you find to be grateful about. Gratitude is a wonderful antidote to depression. It lifts you out of your small self and gives you an expanded view.

A simple exercise:
Think of one nice thing that happened today that you can be thankful for....
notice how you feel as you dwell on it.

Now, think of a yukky thing that made you sad or angry or upset or fearful....
notice how you feel as you dwell on it.

Which one made you smile? Which one made you feel uplifted? Which one made you feel heavy? Which one made you feel light?

So the more times you find something to be grateful / thankful for, the more times you feel good. The more times you feel good, the more of that joy you spread to others. Watch out... it could be contagious....

It's that simple!

 

[beckmrk04]

Will those of you with Vision Boards, please post pictures of them? You don't have to show too much detail (unless you are comfortable doing so). I'm curious to see how you have them set up.

Are they neat/themed or hodgepodge? Are there pictures, words, or both? What material do you use to make them? Where do you keep them?

Do you mark the items that come to fruition or remove the item and replace with another?

I've gotta get ready for work, but I'll try to post a pic tonight.

I'm kind of Type A, and so mine is pretty neat/organized, but I think you should do whatever feels right for yours. I used pics and words from magazines, glue-sticked onto a piece of foam board. I keep it by my bed.

I have only manifested one of the items on there, but I left it on there so that I will look at it and remind myself that I manifested it, and feel grateful for the item.

I'll explain it better when I post the pic.

 

[Imzadi]

Hey, I think What the Bleep Do We Know is on Youtube. It seems to be broken down into 16 segments. (Not a typo.)

I haven't had a chance to see it yet.

http://www.youtube.com/what+the+bleep+do+we+know

 

[DreaminDisney]

Hey, I think What the Bleep Do We Know is on Youtube. It seems to be broken down into 16 segments. (Not a typo.)

I haven't had a chance to see it yet.

http://www.youtube.com/what+the+bleep+do+we+know

Thanks for posting this! I'll have to check it out later today when I get back from work.

 

[JodyLynC]

I've gotta get ready for work, but I'll try to post a pic tonight.

I'm kind of Type A, and so mine is pretty neat/organized, but I think you should do whatever feels right for yours. I used pics and words from magazines, glue-sticked onto a piece of foam board. I keep it by my bed.

I have only manifested one of the items on there, but I left it on there so that I will look at it and remind myself that I manifested it, and feel grateful for the item.

I'll explain it better when I post the pic.

Did you mark the item that manifested to indicate it was complete?

 

[beckmrk04]

Did you mark the item that manifested to indicate it was complete?

I just did. I put a smilie face on it! I hadn't thought of it til now, because I didn't want to cover up the picture. (For the record, it's the BOB stroller on the bottom left- I wanted one so badly, had a yard sale- just happened to make a little over $300... And REI just happened to have a crazy sale that same week: they normally cost $359, and I got mine for $279!!!).

Anyway- here's my board.

I divided it into four corners, and made each corner a different theme. The top left corner is devoted to family. The top right is about travel, places I want to go, places I'd like to see, experiences I'd like to have. The bottom right is my "things I'd like to have" section. And the bottom left is about spirit and health. I also threw in images I like, quotes I liked, etc.

It's something I expect to change, rearrange, add too and delete from.

 

[Planogirl]

That is so cool!!! I wish that I was so creative. I'm more of a list person and I mark things off as they are done or reached.

 

[Imzadi]

Great vision board Becky!

A vision board doesn't have to be set in stone forever. It can be for one particular theme, idea or area of your life. You can decide to do another one in 3 - 6 months, to refine it, or totally scrap it and start over as life & priorites change. So it doesn't have to be perfect.

That is so cool!!! I wish that I was so creative. I'm more of a list person and I mark things off as they are done or reached.

A suggestion, instead of doing lists in a straight, linear line, try Mindmapping. Lists use one side of the brain & cause the brain to think in a linear, straight fashion.

Mindmapping is used for problem solving or brainstorming ideas as it works in a more holistic, circular, or 3 dimensional type of way, rather than in a straight line. It engages more parts of the brain. It gives a chance to wrap your brain around an idea, as you actually wrap ideas around a central core. You see more sides or perspectives on ideas or problems. It also works in the sense that two or three separate things can be happening at the same time, so you need to plan in a way that takes in all three things. It's good for vision boards because it allows you to visualize or dream of different areas of your life at the same time, while keeping them relatively separate, but connected to the whole - YOU.

The way it works is: You write your topic/goal or your name in the center of the board. Draw a circle around it. Then draw spokes or branches out from that center idea. Use a different color for each spoke. Each spoke represents a separate idea, project, or direction. Draw smaller branches off each spoke, which are sub-headings, or smaller projects or ideas, corresponding to that particular branch. You can also use pictures & images or magazine cutouts to represent ideas. The more colors & images the better for accessing different parts of the brain.

Here is a description of doing mindmapping, although I don't think there's any real wrong way to do it.
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01.htm

Here's some pictures of some drawn mind maps, although magazine pictures or photos can be used instead:

 

[Planogirl]

That mind-mapping looks interesting and would be quite a challenge for me since I tend to approach everything in a very linear way. I will try it though.

Thanks!

 

[JodyLynC]

I just did. I put a smilie face on it! I hadn't thought of it til now, because I didn't want to cover up the picture. (For the record, it's the BOB stroller on the bottom left- I wanted one so badly, had a yard sale- just happened to make a little over $300... And REI just happened to have a crazy sale that same week: they normally cost $359, and I got mine for $279!!!).

Anyway- here's my board.

I divided it into four corners, and made each corner a different theme. The top left corner is devoted to family. The top right is about travel, places I want to go, places I'd like to see, experiences I'd like to have. The bottom right is my "things I'd like to have" section. And the bottom left is about spirit and health. I also threw in images I like, quotes I liked, etc.

It's something I expect to change, rearrange, add too and delete from.

Thanks so much for sharing!! This really gives me some great ideas!

 

[JodyLynC]

The concept of Law of Attraction has become quite popular lately, especially with the recent release of the movie "The Secret", and "What The Bleep Do We Know!", however, it is a very old concept, one which has been expounded by spiritual authors and philosphers for eons. Buddha said:

We are what we think...
All that we are,
arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts
we make our world.

On a global consciousness level we are now ready to receive and work with the concept that we create our own realities. In fact, the world desperately needs it right now.

 

[JodyLynC]

I'm so excited! Last Friday night I watched "What the Bleep do we know?" which I mentioned in an earlier post. Well, my Blockbuster also has "Down the Rabbit Hole" which is an extended version of the movie with additional scenes, explanations, and interviews. I'm watching it tonight!!

The "Bleep" website also has a study guide at http://www.whatthebleep.com/guide/

You can also check for Study Groups in your area.

 

[beckmrk04]

I'm going to have to watch this movie- it sounds really interesting!

 

[Rella Bella]

Hi everyone,

Busy week but I wanted to stop by and see what everyone is learning!

Thanks for the lesson in mind mapping. It certainly begs more investigation... very promising!

"Rabbit hole" sounds awesome... we have the "What the Bleep" movie version (that we have watched many times) and more in depth sounds awesome!! I have now watched "The Secret" 14 times and still feel I haven't exhausted it! I just ordered Louise Hay's movie "You can heal your life" I can't wait for it to get here!! And a CD set by Marci Shimoff called "Happy for No Reason" (she's the pretty brunette in "The Secret").

Hope to catch up with you all someday soon!

Here's one of my new favorite YouTube videos... enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gonr3aSOpmU

 

[moon]

BINGO! I totally agree with MAKmom & Beckmrk04. There are many of us, throughout this thread who have said we have a problem with the way "The Secret" was presented. That it is very simplistic and kind of misses the mark.

Thank God this thread is here, because we get to help explain the stuff that's missing. There have been many reading this thread, that are saying say, you don't get "The Secret" - well, it's NOT your fault! You don't get it because of the stuff that's missing, or has been quickly glossed over.

I was shocked and actually appalled when I finally saw the first part of "The Secret" because it's missing so much. It is slanted in such a way, that the focus seems to be on acquiring THINGS. That you visualize and make a list of the THINGS you want, and you will happily get it. Think happy thoughts, and you will get happy things. It's like finding out about Santa Claus for the first time, and thinking that is what Christmas is about. That's fine at first, but eventually people had better learn that Christmas is much, much more, and much, much deeper.

"The Secret" talks about the Law of: Attraction as the end all, and be all. Only, ultimately, the principles are not really about the Law of attraction, that's a tiny part of it. The first part, but ultimately a tiny part of it all. Attracting means you are pulling things toward you.

Just as Christmas isn't really about getting presents, or making a list and getting THINGS, the ultimate reason to learning about the Law of: Attraction is about something more. It is really about your INTER-CONNECTEDNESS TO A GREATER POWER OR SOURCE. Some call that source God, some call it the Creator, or the Force, some call it the Universe. You have a greater connection to the universe than you currently have an awareness and understand of.

It is really about the Principle of MANIFESTING, not just attracting. Manifesting being defined as CREATING. Creating being defined as MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. Not just pulling things to you, but making opportunities happen. Creating being defined as having some control over your life. That with the Creator, you get toCo-Create what happens in your life. Creating opportunities in your life. Creating how you want to live. Making your life work for you instead of being a powerless (or limited power) passenger on a journey, till you die.

Most people are taught that they are tiny, fragile, limited, separate beings. Many are taught that they are even separate from God, or any higher, more extensive power in the Universe. That very power that made each of us, we are now very separate from. Like that power is no longer invested in what happens to us. That we are separate and on our own. That it did not provide ways and means to help us live. That we are living organisms inside a shell of a body, that defines us, and we end where that shell of our body ends. We are taught that we couldn't possibly have any power or influence inside or out of our bodies, how our bodies responds, or even that we can internally have any power over our health.

Many people are taught, that they have so little power & influence in their own situations & lives, that they have to take what few jobs that come their way, that they have a limited range of skills and intelligence, that they have to accept their current state of relationships they have as it, that the few opportunities and CHOICES coming their way are all there are, and ultimately they have very little power over what happens in their lives.

That the two or three choices they are presented with in any given situation, are all that's out there for them. Somehow, other people have more choices, more resources, more money, more opportunities, more luck. But they only have the two or three choices presented to them.

What if: You are actually more powerful than you were taught? That your "power" and abilities actually extend outside of your body? That you are inter-connected to a Source that wants you to win? That you have more resources and abilities to influence what happens in your life than you were taught? That there are actually more choices, opportunities, resources, jobs, and money out there than the two or three you currently see and experience? That there are five, six or twenty ways to live the life you have?

Oh, WOW

 

[s&k'smom]

What I really appreciate about the Secret is that is has lead me to other ways of learning. I have gotten two more books by Robert Collier and am just starting the Charles Haanal book (both featured in the Secret). These teachings have been around for a long time and are good companion pieces to further your studying of the secret.

What I don't get is why people complain that the Secret is about getting things. If you really read it it's about feeling good first, thinking positive. So what if you want things as well doesn't everyone?

 

[Imzadi]

Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cRxYKvTLgQ

Have a great Saturday, everyone!

 

[DreaminDisney]

Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cRxYKvTLgQ

Have a great Saturday, everyone!

What a cute picture!!

and that video... talk about a blast from the past

Happy Saturday!

 

[s&k'smom]

That is an amazing picture!