The Secret

[AvaSylvian]

I just saw this movie The Secret last week. It talks about The Law of Attraction and how if you think positive, you'll get positive things...but if you think negative, you'll attract negativity. It's been out for a while, I'm sure a lot of you have seen it or read the book.

 

Do you guys believe in this?

 

I try to think positively but negative seems to always creep on in there. Especially, with the environment I'm in. How do you keep thinking positive even with all of the negativity around you? I really want to change my thinking.

[knaveman]

Well, I can't really comment on The Secret as I haven't read it. Yet. But from what you say and the bits I have read here, it may take more than just "thinking positive" for positive things to happent to you. How are your actions? Are they a reflection of your state of mind? You can't just want and want and want and expect it to happen just because you wanted it bad enough.

[Pedigree]

I haven't watched or read those kind of material so I can't have a response on that.

 

For my part, thinking positively and negatively helps you in their own ways. Thinking positively helps keep you going. Thinking negatively helps you find a way out. No joke about this second one, you become more attentive to possible avenues out of the predicament you're in as opposed to sitting back and hope it'll all be okay.

[xpaperxcutx]

In my opinion, thinking positively won't affect your environment. However it can help you approach problems more effectively. As always, things like " The Secret" is another way to attract media and mass attention. Afterall, the title itself is misgiving.

[LucreziaBorgia]

I wholly believe that a genuinely positive attitude toward things will help you take the necessary steps in your life in order to make those things happen as well as they can. I don't think it is a 'secret' so much as common sense, though.

 

I do not think that simply thinking positively will magically make things happen, nor do I think that the universe will change according to your thoughts. The only changes you make are the ones you make for yourself.

[Ross PK]

You need to think positively but still be realistic. I've read that just trying to be positive all the time and thinking 'happy happy happy' and trying to ignore anything negative is actually supposed to do more harm than good.

[TheLoneSock]

She's talking about a movie. Everyone else is talking about a book. Are they one in the same? I've heard of both, but didn't assume they were linked.

[LucreziaBorgia]

Yeah, there is a book and a DVD based on it. Now there is a Secret for teens, too but it tanked. Didn't do nearly as well as the original.

[Alan430]

Havent seen that movie either.

 

However i have been working on my Optismitic outlook on life. Over the last few years i have taken quite a nose drive into the darkside.

 

But i would like to say and i wish i could remember where i read it because it does make sense to me.

 

Having a positive outlook in life increases long term happiness in two ways.

 

1) reducess Stress

2) Typically pessismests are avoidant of risk taking because they can only see the negitive outcome. So in reality you would not takes risks on things that could potentially have great positive impact in your life. I can vouch for for this.

[Angel1111]

The Secret is an adaptation of Napolean Hill's book 'Think and Grow Rich', which was published many years ago. There were quite a few writers somewhere around the 30's, 40's and 50's on this very topic - Napolean Hill (who learned directly from Andrew Carnagie), W. Clement Stone (which is who Jack Canfield studied with), and Joseph Murphy, to name a few, and the creator of The Secret merely resurrected this concept. Those earlier writers were probably inspired by the end of the depression in an attempt to improve people's lives after such a tragic event. What I don't like about The Secret is that it makes it look like there was this great conspiracy to conceal the Law of Attraction and that's just nonsense. People are free-thinkers and it has always been in our abilities to better our own lives.

 

Another name for the Law of Attraction the Law of Belief. I believe in this concept because there is a lot of evidence to show that we attract what we believe. All you've got to do is read this stuff on LS and look at how people attract to themselves the very things they either fear, focus on, or believe in (even when they don't like it). We all do it. Conversely, if you've ever been around successful business owners or executives, you'll notice a completely different mind-set. They typically don't let things get them down, they don't dwell on the negative, and they go after their dreams. They also usually have a unique relationship with money, where most of us fear it, let it run us, etc. The Law of Attraction doesn't mean sitting back and letting magic happen, but I think it means that if you give your mind a mission, it will find ways to open doors for you.

 

The Secret is like the starter version of understanding the Law of Attraction and if it's something that resonates with you, I recommend that you read more books on it and decide for yourself if it's something you believe in.

Edited October 19, 2009 by Angel1111

[moshe]

You can actually download Think and Grow Rich for free and legally off the Internet. Just Google Think and Grow Rich download.

 

Another thing I don't like about the Secret and all the books I've read on this subject is their focus on attaining material wealth. Now, I'm not against being wealthy, far from it, but money is simply a tool, it's not and end goal. I'd like to see a book that addresses other areas of life such as success in relationships. That's a biggy! Or being motivated to live healthfully.

 

What I do is apply the principles in this literature to other areas of my life. The point is that we live for a limited time and, for me, I'd like to spend it doing what I enjoy. Some people may enjoy pursuing material wealth but not everybody does. The focus should be on having the courage to pursue what you're drawn towards and to succeed at it.

[Angel1111]

You can actually download Think and Grow Rich for free and legally off the Internet. Just Google Think and Grow Rich download.

 

Another thing I don't like about the Secret and all the books I've read on this subject is their focus on attaining material wealth. Now, I'm not against being wealthy, far from it, but money is simply a tool, it's not and end goal. I'd like to see a book that addresses other areas of life such as success in relationships. That's a biggy! Or being motivated to live healthfully.

 

What I do is apply the principles in this literature to other areas of my life. The point is that we live for a limited time and, for me, I'd like to spend it doing what I enjoy. Some people may enjoy pursuing material wealth but not everybody does. The focus should be on having the courage to pursue what you're drawn towards and to succeed at it.

 

The Secret didn't focus on material things any more than it did relationships or health or world issues. It's just that the material stuff always stands out because people make so many judgements about it.

[northstar1]

The Secret is an adaptation of Napolean Hill's book 'Think and Grow Rich', which was published many years ago. There were quite a few writers somewhere around the 30's, 40's and 50's on this very topic - Napolean Hill (who learned directly from Andrew Carnagie), W. Clement Stone (which is who Jack Canfield studied with), and Joseph Murphy, to name a few, and the creator of The Secret merely resurrected this concept. Those earlier writers were probably inspired by the end of the depression in an attempt to improve people's lives after such a tragic event. What I don't like about The Secret is that it makes it look like there was this great conspiracy to conceal the Law of Attraction and that's just nonsense. People are free-thinkers and it has always been in our abilities to better our own lives.

 

Another name for the Law of Attraction the Law of Belief. I believe in this concept because there is a lot of evidence to show that we attract what we believe. All you've got to do is read this stuff on LS and look at how people attract to themselves the very things they either fear, focus on, or believe in (even when they don't like it). We all do it. Conversely, if you've ever been around successful business owners or executives, you'll notice a completely different mind-set. They typically don't let things get them down, they don't dwell on the negative, and they go after their dreams. They also usually have a unique relationship with money, where most of us fear it, let it run us, etc. The Law of Attraction doesn't mean sitting back and letting magic happen, but I think it means that if you give your mind a mission, it will find ways to open doors for you.

 

The Secret is like the starter version of understanding the Law of Attraction and if it's something that resonates with you, I recommend that you read more books on it and decide for yourself if it's something you believe in.

 

A positive attitude, determination and hard work will bring about the best chance of success. That is the secret to success for most business people. And normally some luck.

 

What bothers me is the idea that is pushed on people that if you think hard enough about something, those thoughts will transit through magnetic force and the universe will accept those thoughts and send back what you want to you.

[sb129]

I have seen the Secret and I thought it was a very contrived way of saying what should be common sense to most people.

 

People shouldn't have to pay other people to learn ways to be "happy" IMO.

 

And the person who gave it to me to watch is still one of the most negative, miserable people I know.

[kitkat289]

The Secret is based on Abraham Hicks' Teachings.I found abt him about 2 months ago and since then i've been blogging ...whenever i feel low i write all the +ve things that have happened since applying 'the secret' so that my belief in it stays strong.and now i go to the abe forum almost everyday infac spend most of the day there.its not ju st 'thinking positively' that works.

u have to do some processes or do your own way to feel better ,good,happy.1st one has to find a connection with himself,love yourself unconditionally and then believe that whatever you want would come true.its not easy to do it the right way,to reach to a 'better feeling place' but when you begin to do it ie. when you get into alignment with the universe,it would manifest it to you.

I did manifest a few materialistic things plus some improvement in my relationship area but working harder on controlling my thoughts,keeping myself in a calm mode in worse situations,doing BOPA on the person whos behaviour i want to change a lil.It says when you are in your 'vortex' all the things you want line up and become real--thoughts become things.

when you go to the abraham hicks forum and read people's threads you will get more clear on this.

[salem mark]

one quick thing about the Hill book that younger men could benefit from.

 

Hill states young men spend too much energy chasing women where they could have used all that time/energy on pursuing a career and working on themselves first.

 

Great advice and something i wish i would have practiced when i was younger

[ADF]

The Secret is just a repackaging of an old, worn-out positive thinking scam. Norman Vincente Peale wrote The Power of Positive Thinking back in the 1940s. It and The Secret are basically saying the same thing. Bunch of New Age rubbish.

[PinkToes]

Yeah, it's pretty common sense stuff. What bothers me is that the whole concept is marketed as some sort of new, magical solution to the challenges we all go through. Reminds me of the gabillion dollar weight loss industry, which preys on desperate people who will pay anything for what sounds like a quick fix.

 

And it's even worse when you see people like Oprah suggesting that the only difference between her lot in life and that of the rest of us is believing that we can make our dreams come true. It's kind of insulting, really.

[sb129]

And it's even worse when you see people like Oprah suggesting that the only difference between her lot in life and that of the rest of us is believing that we can make our dreams come true. It's kind of insulting, really.

 

I agree with this.

 

I believe I would be a fantastic fill-in for Oprah!

I choose not to do it.

[Levone]

I have read the book and have watched the movie. It's not really THE BIGGEST SECRET ever but I find it true.

[Angel1111]

The Secret is based on Abraham Hicks' Teachings.

 

It's not really based on their teachings but it does flow well with the teachings of Abraham. I love Abraham-Hicks, too - the things 'they' say are so practical and make so much sense that it's astounding. Go to one of their seminars if you ever get the chance - they're awesome. You can also buy CDs of their seminars on their website, or view clips on YouTube.

 

Just a note, but Esther Hicks (Abraham) is not on the newer versions of The Secret because Esther and Jerry didn't agree with how the movie was being marketed. That's why some people are confused as to why they can't find Esther Hicks on The Secret. If you're lucky enough to have to original version of The Secret, you'll see that Esther Hicks' words made all the difference in the movie.

 

If you like Abraham-Hicks, you'd probably also like Josephy Murphy's books. Murphy and Abraham are both so positive and I think get across what I personally believe life should be.

[Skump]

It talks about The Law of Attraction and how if you think positive, you'll get positive things...but if you think negative, you'll attract negativity. It's been out for a while, I'm sure a lot of you have seen it or read the book.

 

Hot damn, people like positive, outgoing people!

 

Stop the presses!

[moshe]

Of course it's true. A positive attitude and taking responsibility for your situation rather than taking a victim attitude is crucial in succeeding. It's all true. But what's so secret about it!? As someone already posted, this stuff has been around for many years.

 

I don't think the difficulty is that people don't know this. The difficulty, and what separates the successful from the non-successful, is living your life this way. Most people whine about their situation. Few take their lives into their hands and do what they really want.

 

There are plenty of courses available to help people change. NLP comes to mind and there are lots of seminars and courses given by NLP masters that help people define their goals and work towards achieving them.