Tell me your thoughts about "The Secret"

[Diva of Dragons]

Okay, maybe someone can address this...How, as a Christian, do you apply this in in your life? When you are supposed to "let go and let God" and "God's will be done". How does that go along with the Law of Attraction?

Also, do you think Wayne Dwyer also talks about the Law of Attraction? I always thought so, but I found it interesting that he wasn't mentioned or quoted in the Secret.

I mention the "let go and let God" principle in my post above.

There are many Bible quotes that speak to the Law of Attraction. I'll have to look some up but one that comes to mind is; Matthew 9:29, Jesus is supposed to have said "It is done unto you as you believe."

Remember, we have free will. I believe that we are in collaboration with "God" and that it is up to us to make certain decisions about our lives and how we want to feel. Then it is up to "God" to create the specifics. (An amazing movie that demonstrates this is "Under the Tuscan Sun".) A part of our free will is learning to make positive, productive choices in our lives. Also, to want others to feel good too. These lessons don't end after our bumpy teen years.

Yes, Wayne Dyer's teachings are all about this and he is a Hay House author. He wasn't in "The Secret" because that happened to be a collaboration between a certain group of friends and colleagues. Also, he is under contract with Hay House and it was not one of their projects. Besides, there are many many people teaching the same things, wrapped in different packages. Some people really understand and get Wayne Dyer, while others may "resonate" more with Louise Hay or Micheal Beckwith.

You can't have too many people out there thinking and teaching positive thoughts!

Disclaimer: I put God in quotes only because many people substitute other words for God,not as a affront, and I don't want the message to be lost in semantics.

 

[KarenB]

Thanks for the replies! I went out and bought "The Secret". My goal is to get it read this week. It really was quite a story my family member told me this past week.

Diva of Dragons....sent you a PM

Karen

 

[Carly_Roach]

I haven't read the book but I've heard from people who've seen the movie and read the book. They say the movie is better.

 

[KikiFan]

Yes, but okay, maybe I'm looking at this wrong...Isn't part of The Secret about focusing on something you want, thinking positively about it, writing about it, etc. What if what you want is not within God's plan...How do you reconcile that?

That's one of the few beefs I have about the movie. It takes a very profound spiritual law and trivializes it into "getting stuff" When really it's about more then that. Though I do think it's a very good movie and introduction to the concepts.

You really do have to start with a concept of a loving God (as opposed to the more common punishing, controlling god) and a belief in free will. Because if you start with a belief system that says that God would actually inflict punishment or with hold good things from you - you've given your power away.

If you're coming from a place of a loving God, much like a parent, who wants their children to have all good things - then you are co-creating your life with God as opposed to being at his mercy.

The next step is knowing that the "things" we say we want, often represent something else - something deeper. And that's what we really want. It's not the car - it's the freedom that the car represents. It's not the money - it's the experioences or the freedom that the money represents. That's where the co-creating comes in. Because we express what we want, then we trust that the universe (God) fulfills what we really want. So when you go after a goal, you always allow that God knows what it is you really want/need and that he will meet that need in ways that you haven't even thought of.

So when you treasure map or write a creative affirmation you include God and always say thanks "for this or something better" So you're working towards a goal, yet also allowing that there's a better way that you haven't thought of, but God in his infinite wisdom has.

My church did a couple of great services on the subject that you might be interested in listening to. I think they do a great job of looking at it from a more spiritual POV They're about 20 min each. The first one talks about how "The Secret" is really no secret and has really been around a long time and the biblical basis

This second one is sort of a point /counter point discussion about the movie and the concept in general

You might also read some of the writings of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. They're older (early 1900's I believe) but they were at the forefront of the New Thought movement. They really explain the spiritual aspect much better then I can!

Another great movie I haven't seen mention is What the Bleep Do We Know? It's really more Quantum Physics less spiritual but it's one of the better (more accessible) explanations I've seen as to the energy and how we create our experience.

Another great resource is Unity.FM There's a show by a woman named Ellen Debenport that is all about absolutism and the concept that we are 110% creating our existence.

 

[bookgirl]

My thought is that once you write a book about something it's not 'secret' anymore.


I'm a librarian....I hate the oprah book club/book refereals....if she gave us some warning it would be great but nooooooo she pops out with a book and the next day I have 1000 oprah'ettes standing at my desk wanting one of the 3 copies of the book in my library system. Then they give me the "it's on Oprah, how can you not have them, shame on you speech... she doesn't warn us that's why.....arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!

Oh course with reruns we do have them, but then it's 'what do you mean you have 113 copies but I have to wait'...well because even on reruns we still get at least 500 oprah'ettes who are reminded that they didn't see read it the first time and they have all reserved it as well.

Okay kidding, I like that she promotes reading but I hate when she personally announces it as a must have.

 

[JodyLynC]

Many spiritual authors have written about the Law of Attraction before the Secret came out.

Wayne Dyer - The Power of Intention
Jack Canfield - The Law of Attraction
Sarah Ban Breathnach - Simple Abundance
Deepak Chopra - Seven Spirtual Laws
And Others

Basically one needs to start with Gratitude: Being appreciative and positive about what you already have in your life. Once you see how blessed you are, you can then focus on other things/events/occurances etc. Some things won't come to pass as some things are not meant to be for you. You may receive another gift instead.

 

[Carly_Roach]

If you're coming from a place of a loving God, much like a parent, who wants their children to have all good things - then you are co-creating your life with God as opposed to being at his mercy.

The next step is knowing that the "things" we say we want, often represent something else - something deeper. And that's what we really want. It's not the car - it's the freedom that the car represents. It's not the money - it's the experioences or the freedom that the money represents. That's where the co-creating comes in. Because we express what we want, then we trust that the universe (God) fulfills what we really want. So when you go after a goal, you always allow that God knows what it is you really want/need and that he will meet that need in ways that you haven't even thought of.

KiKiFan said it so much better than I did. It's not about getting material "stuff". It's about living a better life. The "stuff" that comes along after you've internalized the attitude change are just extra bennies.

 

[wnissen]

An idea is a collection of neural connections. It is not energy. Your brain does use energy in the form of electricity to think, but the level is so low that any effects would be primarily magnetic and probably not detectable outside your body by even the most sensitive instruments. The orbits of the planets are just as likely to influence something happening on earth as the energy in your thoughts is to affect someone sitting right next to you. Sadly, there is no scientific basis for "The Secret," horoscopes, remote prayer, transcendental meditation, etc.

I'm sure it is helpful to people, and if you find it helpful to think about the world that way, I won't dissuade you.

Walt

 

[Robinrs]

My thought is that once you write a book about something it's not 'secret' anymore.


I'm a librarian....I hate the oprah book club/book refereals....if she gave us some warning it would be great but nooooooo she pops out with a book and the next day I have 1000 oprah'ettes standing at my desk wanting one of the 3 copies of the book in my library system. Then they give me the "it's on Oprah, how can you not have them, shame on you speech... she doesn't warn us that's why.....arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!

Oh course with reruns we do have them, but then it's 'what do you mean you have 113 copies but I have to wait'...well because even on reruns we still get at least 500 oprah'ettes who are reminded that they didn't see read it the first time and they have all reserved it as well.

Okay kidding, I like that she promotes reading but I hate when she personally announces it as a must have.

I'm sure the authors would beg to differ with you! I used to do publicity for Macmillan Publishing and Oprah would put us out of business!

 

[Robinrs]

An idea is a collection of neural connections. It is not energy. Your brain does use energy in the form of electricity to think, but the level is so low that any effects would be primarily magnetic and probably not detectable outside your body by even the most sensitive instruments. The orbits of the planets are just as likely to influence something happening on earth as the energy in your thoughts is to affect someone sitting right next to you. Sadly, there is no scientific basis for "The Secret," horoscopes, remote prayer, transcendental meditation, etc.

I'm sure it is helpful to people, and if you find it helpful to think about the world that way, I won't dissuade you.

Walt

Science? I have no faith in "science". I have faith in Faith.

It's like comparing Darwin to Adam and Eve.

 

[DisTeach1]

An idea is a collection of neural connections. It is not energy. Your brain does use energy in the form of electricity to think, but the level is so low that any effects would be primarily magnetic and probably not detectable outside your body by even the most sensitive instruments. The orbits of the planets are just as likely to influence something happening on earth as the energy in your thoughts is to affect someone sitting right next to you. Sadly, there is no scientific basis for "The Secret," horoscopes, remote prayer, transcendental meditation, etc.

I'm sure it is helpful to people, and if you find it helpful to think about the world that way, I won't dissuade you.Walt

Then don't try. I've been enjoying our discussion of "The Secret" and it has clarified some things for me. If someone wants to discount it or discredit it, like the above posters, I just ignore it because IMO it doesn't have a place in this thread. I'm not really looking for a debate and I think the answers I've read here have all been great, with the exception of that one.

So, all this has made me want to reread the Secret, which I have. I have many of Wayne Dyer's books, but they sometimes make for sloooww reading for me. I'm leaving to go camping, and I'm actually going to pick up Danielle Steel's new book for some summer fluff and I'll bring the Secret.

 

[Carly_Roach]

The beauty of "The Secret" or ANY Law of Attraction teaching is that everyone, without fail, receives exactly what they think about. If someone thinks about sickness all the time, they receive sickness. If someone thinks about accumulating wealth all the time, they accumulate wealth.

Walt believes that there is no scientific basis for "The Secret," horoscopes, remote prayer, transcendental meditation, etc. And Walt is absolutely, positively, unerringly, without a shadow of a doubt, 100% right.

For Walt.

Therein lies one of the secrets of The Secret. Everyone's right. No one is wrong. You get what you think about.

Unfortunately, where the problem comes in is when people try to convince others that their way is the correct way, or the right way, or the only way so you should do things their way. The Crucifixion, the Inquisition, the Crusades, and every single blasted war that's ever happened on the face of this earth, has happened because one group of people believed another group of people weren't doing things the right way (IE. their way).

If you want to live The Secret, you have to learn to be able to allow others to believe they're right and you're wrong because it's absolutely, positively, unerringly, without a shadow of a doubt 100% true.

For them.

 

[Robinrs]

The beauty of "The Secret" or ANY Law of Attraction teaching is that everyone, without fail, receives exactly what they think about. If someone thinks about sickness all the time, they receive sickness. If someone thinks about accumulating wealth all the time, they accumulate wealth.

Walt believes that there is no scientific basis for "The Secret," horoscopes, remote prayer, transcendental meditation, etc. And Walt is absolutely, positively, unerringly, without a shadow of a doubt, 100% right.

For Walt.

Therein lies one of the secrets of The Secret. Everyone's right. No one is wrong. You get what you think about.

Unfortunately, where the problem comes in is when people try to convince others that their way is the correct way, or the right way, or the only way so you should do things their way. The Crucifixion, the Inquisition, the Crusades, and every single blasted war that's ever happened on the face of this earth, has happened because one group of people believed another group of people weren't doing things the right way (IE. their way).

If you want to live The Secret, you have to learn to be able to allow others to believe they're right and you're wrong because it's absolutely, positively, unerringly, without a shadow of a doubt 100% true.

For them.

WOW!!!

 

[DisTeach1]

It is absolutely challenging to change negative thought patterns. I notice I automatically slide back into old thought patterns. But the idea of "You get what you think about". That's very encouraging etc. But like someone else said...it may not take the form "materially" the way you thought about it.

 

[beckmrk04]

It is absolutely challenging to change negative thought patterns. I notice I automatically slide back into old thought patterns. But the idea of "You get what you think about". That's very encouraging etc. But like someone else said...it may not take the form "materially" the way you thought about it.

This is a big challenge for me. I read "The Secret" and watched the DVD, but I still felt like I was lacking "tools" to help myself make it work.

So, I started a "vision board." That was just plain fun. I included some material things I wanted, but I also put words on there, pictures that I liked to look at, pictures that represent things I want... It definitely makes you concentrate on what you DO want.

I also started listening to different podcasts (lots available!) while I was driving to work.

Reading "A New Earth" has been easily the most helpful thing for me- I am really trying to focus on the Present, and be accepting of it, and grateful for what I have (I also keep a gratitude journal). I listen to the "classes" from Oprah's website while I'm in the car, and they are SO interesting.

I haven't won a million dollars, or suddenly inherited a lot of money. I don't really have more "stuff." But, I do FEEL better. I feel more responsible for my life and my thoughts and actions, which (usually) makes me think twice before I speak or act. I feel calmer. Less anxious. Less stressed. More grateful for all of my many blessings.

ANd it will continue to be a work in progress. I find myself drifting into negativity often. It's hard- especially when you have held those thought patterns for sooo long. I'm trying to recognize the old thoughts though, and let them go. Like, "Oh, there's one of those negative thoughts I used to think." And then replace it with a new, positive thought. Or, when sometimes I'm having a hard time coming up with a positive thought, I start reciting in my head things I am grateful for- they ALWAYS outweigh whatever bad stuff I'm thinking about.

Anyone else have "tricks" they use?

 

[CathrynRose]

I have been studying this and similar things for years. "The Secret" is just the tip of the iceberg and that's where the misconceptions about it come from. You have go deeper than what is presented in "The Secret". It is meant to be an introduction to the "Law of Attraction".

Basically, it talks about the fact that what we think about, expect, and focus on in life, we get. It's not just about positive thinking. I recommend the DVD but, I also recommend the "Law of Attraction" DVDs by Abraham-Hicks and "You Can Heal Your Life" DVD by Louise Hay. Also, the book "Science of Mind" by Ernest Holmes and writings by Ralph Waldo Emmerson. And there plenty of other teachings out there. It does take a little time to fully grasp it.

I think this whole frame of thought gets a bad rap as being "New Age", yet its principles are thousands of years old and appear in the Bible, all over the place. The problem is that eventually religious dogma took over and self-empowering spirituality was villified, as the "church" and government sought to control the masses.

All that being said.....I absolutely know it works. I can see how I have attracted all the positive and not so fun things I have experienced in my life, and the lessons they have taught me. I have known people who used the principles, in various forms, and were cured from "incurable" illnesses (Lupus & Cancer), transformed their finances and relationships etc...

I also know people who insist on bemoaning and loathing themselves, others, and life and keep attracting more things to hate into their lives. Then they say, "See, life sucks." And, they're happy they have been proven right.

I think it's better to watch "The Secret" than read it, and go from there.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat about it.

Everything she said =

The Secret Law of Attraction =

 

[vettechick99]

This is really interesting to me right now. My BFF and I are trying to change some things in our lives and know we need to start with ourselves. So what is the absolute best place to start if you have no idea what any of this is about?

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

This has been very interesting - thanks ladies and like VetteChick posted I've been wanting to make some changes too please tell us where to start. Which book would be the first one we should pick up and try.

 

[Aisling]

It's not just simply the power of positive thinking... though positivity is a major part of it. It concerns the ideal that what you speak of and think of is what you BRING to your life.

The bible says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. We speak our conditions and our blessings.

I put the Secret to my life DAILY. I just put together my board of things I want yesterday! The list of things I am grateful for is on my wall in my bedroom. I've seen this work so many times I cannot tell you.

Take the basic precepts and utilize them. Sure, some people need lots of proof and readings and statistics to believe in something... I use one word.. FAITH. As a youth I overcompensated and overread and over studied everything... it leads to doubt and double mindedness. Don't ask PEOPLE for your needs and help, use the basics and just believe.

It's amazing how it works!

Robinrs, as far as my experience goes, you're on target, girlfriend! Not to get all religious, but I learned about The Secret from the Bible. I also grew up in the so-called New Age and read all the books, searching for truth and happiness, and for me it all led me back to Jesus and the Bible. If someone doesn't believe in Jesus as the Savior, try seeing him as a great philosopher, and he teaches the same thing as in the book The Secret. I do recommend the book, too!

 

[Robinrs]

This is a big challenge for me. I read "The Secret" and watched the DVD, but I still felt like I was lacking "tools" to help myself make it work.

So, I started a "vision board." That was just plain fun. I included some material things I wanted, but I also put words on there, pictures that I liked to look at, pictures that represent things I want... It definitely makes you concentrate on what you DO want.

I have a vision board. I see it the first thing when I wake up in the morning.

Last March my car was in the shop and the prognosis was NOT good. I decided I needed to start "visualizing" what I needed. I wrote the following down:

Less than 13,000
About 3 years old
Big enough to get my stuff around (I do a lot of eBay)
No down payment
Affordable payments.

Then I looked outside and someone had a beautiful silver minivan outside unloading something. I took a picture of it.

I put the picture up in my office. People asked me about it and I told them it was "my car". Most of them just LOOKED at me.

I did a search and found a picture of it. It was for sale in a car dealership way South of me for $18,000. I called on it. The salesperson told me it would NOT go down to 13,000. I said fine.

I checked the website that Friday and there it was... reduced to 13,000 dollars!!!

I called the salesperson and she told me that was impossible.... but it was true.

I came down the next day, got the car for the price I wanted, no down payment, no trade in (wanted to donate my car) very affordable payments. It was silver and the same car I took the picture of.

I came to work Monday and told everyone "did you see 'MY CAR' in the parking lot??"

They all ran out and was SHOCKED!! It was the car in my PICTURE!

I've used it many times since, more than I can even tell you. It does work, if you really want it to!