Newsweek's turn to attack The Secret

[Antiventurecapital]

Please take a number.

Note the low reader score for the article at the bottom.

[dor]

I think it was a pretty fair minded assessment, to tell you the truth.
Granted it has an overall negative tone but many of the objections the author had, I had.

[alexb5784]

I couldn't even get past the second page in that article. The writer's language was so negative, I had to run away

The true secrets of life are so simple, that we take them for granted. There is nothing wrong with The Secret, except that it might have been produced too commercialized. But how else would people be able watch it and gain hope?

The truth is that the majority of society has been conditioned to believe in lack and limitation. Most people aren't taught that they are in fact powerful and able to manifest what they want.

The only way that the whole entire world could live in peace and abundance is if we eliminate negative thoughts. In other words, we will always have people who will manifest the lives they want, and people who will not. It's human nature.

Thankfully, we have the choice to choose what type of life we want.

I don't think that everyone who watches The Secret will improve their lives. I would say about maybe 10% of the people who watch that movie, will actually go on to manifest everything that they want.

Every person learns from something different. The movie could possibly be something that will lead them to something that will help them.

[Angela]

New York Times has a piece on how The Secret folks behaved dishonorably to the Hicks's. I'd link it, but you have to register -- it's The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia.

[Antiventurecapital]

Originally Posted by Angela

New York Times has a piece on how The Secret folks behaved dishonorably to the Hicks's. I'd link it, but you have to register -- it's The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia.

I read it. It was a real snore.

The first wave of media provides positive coverage of it like Oprah, Ellen, and Larry King did. Then the second wave of media to hear about it decides that it needs to say something "fresh and new" about it which translates into an attack.

There's another thread here on the NYT article.

[alexb5784]

Here's a link to the article if your not a subscriber to the NY Times.

Giant Doom Magnet

I thought the article was...um...a bit funny

Anyway, the journalist has completely misunderstood the concepts, but at least she reminded me that I understand them.

[Antiventurecapital]

Originally Posted by alexb5784

Here's a link to the article if your not a subscriber to the NY Times.

Giant Doom Magnet

I thought the article was...um...a bit funny

Anyway, the journalist has completely misunderstood the concepts, but at least she reminded me that I understand them.

That's a different one. IOW, the NYT has attacked The Secret twice.

LOL!

[Akashic_Librarian]

Fear based idiocy. They don't want to believe life is that simple so it won't be. Just ignore it and get on with your life.

[alexb5784]

Akashic_Librarian, I could not have said that better. Life really is very simple. It's just that most of us have been taught that it's hard, cruel, you can't get what you want, the rich always get and the poor always miss out.

Gosh, my head just hurts from typing all those negative beliefs.

I need an Evian and a 10 minute meditation to relax myself...

[dor]

Originally Posted by alexb5784

Akashic_Librarian, I could not have said that better. Life really is very simple. It's just that most of us have been taught that it's hard, cruel, you can't get what you want, the rich always get and the poor always miss out.

Gosh, my head just hurts from typing all those negative beliefs.

I need an Evian and a 10 minute meditation to relax myself...

actually I was thinking the first people to react to the responsibility model are those groups which profit from victim status and use it for gain. Especially ethinic activist groups that make a direct monetary and moral profit by reminding their in group they are 'victims'.

[alexb5784]

Yes that's true too. A lot of people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson "remind" black people that they are "victims". But this type of thinking hurts people and allows them to create excuses for being unsuccessful. And it actually creates racism.

[dor]

Originally Posted by alexb5784

Yes that's true too. A lot of people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson "remind" black people that they are "victims". But this type of thinking hurts people and allows them to create excuses for being unsuccessful. And it actually creates racism.

I remember reading in a 'nation of victims' that martin luther king's advisers had him remove all references to self-help and other traditional protestant ideals.

[Elenny]

Jerry Adler from Newsweek was obviously on a deadline and didn't have time to do his research. He makes it sound like the Law of Attraction is something Rhonda Byrne invented just to sell books, and that Wallace D. Wattles' "The Science of Getting Rich" doesn't really exist.

So far I haven't read one person who has made a smart attack on "The Secret". Everyone rationalizes that everything in "The Secret" is fake just because they don't believe in it, yet many of those critics spend their days in forums just like this one reading about everything related to the LoA and IM.

And everyone uses the same example -- the kid getting his shiny new bike without getting a paper route. By now most critics of "The Secret" seem to be copying off each other.

I personally don't visit websites or try hang around people that I don't agree with, because I don't want their negative energy rubbing off on me.

So I guess my point is, if you don't believe in this stuff, don't get so bent out shape over it. Move on to whatever melts your butter and try to be happy that way --- although because of their negativeness, many of those people will never be happy in any environment.

[Akashic_Librarian]

The honest truth is that past is the past. Whats done is done. What is, is. Nothing can change that. If you constantly tell yourself you are a victim, then you will be a victim, but only of your own negative thinking.

Do you think the greatest people in society withdrew into themselves and cried and moaned and shouted everytime someone insulted their work?? NO. Of course not. Think positive, think powerful and BE GREAT. Its the only way to live.

[Shaden]

The honest truth is that past is the past. Whats done is done. What is, is. Nothing can change that. If you constantly tell yourself you are a victim, then you will be a victim, but only of your own negative thinking.

Do you think the greatest people in society withdrew into themselves and cried and moaned and shouted everytime someone insulted their work?? NO. Of course not. Think positive, think powerful and BE GREAT. Its the only way to live.

There is no disregarding the power of positive thinking, whether it is an objective or subjective truth.

[dor]

i re-read this article last night and some of the author's self defeating skeptisim came through

She has seen evidence of this in her own life, she says, where "many tough things" happened to her. "The Secret" devotes several pages to the weight she gained after her pregnancies. Unaware of the law of attraction, she mistakenly believed that eating made her fat. She now recognizes her error: "Food is not responsible for putting on weight. It is your thought that food is responsible for putting on weight that actually has food put on weight.

well it turns out, ::

Belief in exercise may make it more effective - Yahoo! News
People who think they're getting a good workout obtain more benefits than those who perform the exact same activities, but don't think what they are doing is exercise, according to the findings of a study by Harvard researchers. These results support the idea that the benefits of exercise may involve a placebo effect.

[John Wesley]

I think the article has some valid points. This is a conflict between people trying to sell books and people saying that the LoA is total BS.

I think the truth is somewhere is between. If you won't listen to or converse with people that don't believe in the LoA, then your just as bad as the skeptics.

[LemonTree]

Originally Posted by John Wesley

I think the article has some valid points. This is a conflict between people trying to sell books and people saying that the LoA is total BS.

I think the truth is somewhere is between. If you won't listen to or converse with people that don't believe in the LoA, then your just as bad as the skeptics.

I agree with you.
The LoA seems fine to me because it puts you in the right "mood" to obtain (with the normally needed effort) the things you intend to manifest.

However, somebody that pushes this simple and totally empirical principle to an almost proven cancer-cure acts in a totally unfair way and should be blamed for that. And yes, this is total BS.

Cancer needs serious scientific and medical assistance, not home-made self-applicable techniques. Saying that positive-thinking, LoA or whatever makes you heal from cancer is simply disgusting.

Bye

[Akashic_Librarian]

Well actually Lemontree people have cured themselves of Cancer through the LoA or similar methods. A man (His name escapes me) from the Secret cured himself of TOTAL paralysis save his eyes. He couldn't even breath and in 8 months I think, he walked out of the hospital. Remember all forms of healing have a place. And to disregard something without proper investigation or thurough examination is just as disgusting as you claim the LoA to be.

Try and understand that what you see in reality Is merely a reflection of your internal universe. Think about this:

As within, so Without.

That Adage has been around since time immerorial yet few so called "Mystics" or "Shamans" or whatever actually understand it through and through. You Lemontree, and a few others on this forum, don't quite understand it and in understandable ignorance you resist it. Which is fine. Now the real challenge is being able to analyise yourself and see where you are at fault. Can you nurture the darkness of soul and make it whole? Can you do that without fear? Can you admit your faults and truly strive to be better regardless of foolish pride?

Then, and only then, when you understand it thuroughly can you claim something to be right or wrong.

[Elenny]

I agree with Akashic Librarian. Close-minded people always bark at the things they don't really understand.

[LemonTree]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

Well actually Lemontree people have cured themselves of Cancer through the LoA or similar methods. A man (His name escapes me) from the Secret cured himself of TOTAL paralysis save his eyes. He couldn't even breath and in 8 months I think, he walked out of the hospital. Remember all forms of healing have a place. And to disregard something without proper investigation or thurough examination is just as disgusting as you claim the LoA to be.

So your facts are based on a story told on a DVD?
Do you have the medical records?
Do you have access to his health history?
...And moreover... Do you know this man?

Let's say that there exist inexplicable cases where people have recovered from deadly diseases.

Let's talk of statistics. How many of them?
Maybe 1 out of a billion. (But you can easily check for the real numbers)

So, is it more reasonable to tell people to cure themselves or to hope that they will be the next 1/1billion fortunate person that will heal without any help?

I would encourage people to have a checkup at a hospital instead of loosing their *precious* time waiting for something that has the 99.9% of probability to happen.

Try and understand that what you see in reality Is merely a reflection of your internal universe. Think about this:

As within, so Without.

If I jump from an airplane without a parachute I will die almost for sure.
No matter what my internal universe says. And to a person who wants to try to jump from an airplane I would suggest to bring a parachute, not to meditate that he is lighter than air and he can float gently to the ground.

If I have cancer, I will better run to an hospital as soon as possible.
And everyone who suggests me that this is not the most reasonable option is simply a criminal. Like an instructor that doesn't give me a parachute when I jump from an airplane.

That Adage has been around since time immerorial yet few so called "Mystics" or "Shamans" or whatever actually understand it through and through. You Lemontree, and a few others on this forum, don't quite understand it and in understandable ignorance you resist it. Which is fine. Now the real challenge is being able to analyise yourself and see where you are at fault. Can you nurture the darkness of soul and make it whole? Can you do that without fear? Can you admit your faults and truly strive to be better regardless of foolish pride?

Then, and only then, when you understand it thuroughly can you claim something to be right or wrong.

Here it is not a question of being right or wrong.
Here it is a question of abusing of people beliefs for commercial purposes.

I have nothing against the LoA and many of the things you are saying. I also agree with many aspects of them. Thinking positive helps a lot, even when you are in trouble.

But, here you must be *very* careful, when you speak of these things. Because you can pass a subtle message, that is: "Hey I have the solution! Just look at your "internal universe" and you will heal!" And people who are sick will *believe* you because they are desperate. And they will probably die by following this advice.

Of course a sick person, if she is in a positive mood, will have more chances to heal (there are a lot of therapies, above all meant for kids, that helps them to have fun while they are in hospitals in order to give them more chances to recover)

But omitting the other part, that is, that you *need* medical assistance is not fair.

To sum up, putting a cancer recover history or whatever similar on a DVD talking of the LoA is not the best choice, imho. They could have talked of other things leaving this "delicate" subject apart. Because they, as me, don't have the whole truth.

See you

[dor]

Originally Posted by LemonTree

So your facts are based on a story told on a DVD?
Do you have the medical records?
Do you have access to his health history?
...And moreover... Do you know this man?

Let's say that there exist inexplicable cases where people have recovered from deadly diseases.

Let's talk of statistics. How many of them?
Maybe 1 out of a billion. (But you can easily check for the real numbers)

in the movie to be fair dr demartini says by all means if it is a life threatening situation, go to a doctor - but explore alternative ways.

but your stat is wrong - visualization can help people heal faster - even the medical establishment accepts this now...and even the skeptical inquirer

Beneficial medical effects of "nonrational" treatments - psychological, emotional, and meditative practices - are also discussed in Mind/Body Medicine (Consumer Reports Books, 1993). "Meditation, visualization, hypnosis, biofeedback, and numerous relaxation techniques already show promise in helping prevent and treat a variety of illnesses, including coronary heart disease, autoimmune disorders, chronic lung disease, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems, as well as panic attacks, depression, and other psychological disorders," states one of the contributors to the book, Kenneth R. Pelletier, a senior clinical fellow at Stanford University.

In other words, there is mounting scientific evidence that emotions and the nonrational aspects of psyche and self play a crucial, constructive role in the "hard facts" of physiology and disease as well as mental health - a role that cannot be discounted by skeptics wishing that rationality reigned supreme.
Beyond the rational Skeptical Inquirer - Find Articles

[MartialDev]

Is it really true that a cabal of elites has conspired to keep the rabble from getting their hands on "Chicken Soup for the Soul"?

That's the funniest thing I've seen all week--and I saw a chimp doing karate kicks!

Rhonda Byrne is the Keyser Soze of personal development.

[dor]

thought I would tack this article on:

This 'Secret' isn't worth keeping | csmonitor.com
This 'Secret' isn't worth keeping
'The Secret' is tempting because it offers power, money, and human divinity. But this self-indulgence can't quench our real spiritual thirst.
By Peter Jones

[JHL]

Originally Posted by LemonTree

Here it is not a question of being right or wrong.
Here it is a question of abusing of people beliefs for commercial purposes.

Splendidly put, sir.

'The Secret' is tempting because it offers power, money, and human divinity. But this self-indulgence can't quench our real spiritual thirst. By Peter Jones

Wonderful!

Rhonda Byrne is the Keyser Soze of personal development.

And then JHL was...gone.

[Akashic_Librarian]

The Secret has been around longer than Rhonda Byrne has. Its been aorund for years. Napolean Hill writes about it, Wallace Wattles writes about it. Socratees, Aristotle, JESUS. They all write about it. (OK so Jesus didn't write but shut up!)

Your Subconscious has away of attracting what you focus on. Its not mystical, its not super insanly mysterious, its just not understood by science.

Belief is a powerful thing. Belief drives many people to acts of random stupidty. Even death! Faith is a device of self delusion. But The Secret isn't about belief, or Faith, its about Knowing. You have to KNOW what you want is coming to you. You have to desire it. You have to make it your passion, your reason. You have to want it so much that you ache with expectation.

But why am I telling you this? You obviously don't believe in it. Thats ok. Most people go throguh life not believing it, you can a happy lif ewithout believing it. But like I said, its got nothing to do with belief. It works whether your there are not. Whether your thinking about it or not. So just watch your thoughts

[JHL]

Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian

Your Subconscious has away of attracting what you focus on. ... It works whether your there are not. Whether your thinking about it or not. So just watch your thoughts

I'm not sure if your post was directed at me or not, but nevertheless there was something interesting I wanted to add.

I do believe in the core tenets of positive thinking etc (i.e. most of the (ancient) fundamentals the secret is based around). But the interesting bit for me - looking back - is that I went through a period of my life when I was a complete and utter fatalist. There is a saying that goes "You win some, you lose some." Well mine personal mantra was "Some you win, but most you lose." Pity parties were my personal speciality.

I used to dwell on fears and negative thoughts to a degree that, had people known, they would have force-fed me anti-depressants via a drip. Anyway, the interesting part is that in spite of these ever-present, all consuming beliefs, I in fact lived a very lucky, if not charmed existence. I got a new job just when I needed it. I had wonderful friends, and I lacked for nothing. If it wasnt for the fact that I felt so dead inside, my life was in all other respects pretty damn good! (and not because I came from a wealthy family, because I most certainly did not).

So, in terms of LOA, I find this to be something of an anomaly. By all accounts I should have attracted all sorts of miserable events and outcomes into my life, and yet pretty much the opposite happened. I succeeded, in spite of myself. (These days I feel much better, thank you )

Can anyone explain that? I'm not challenging anyone to defend LOA, frankly I'm just very curious about it myself!

[maryelyn]

Originally Posted by JHL

I do believe in the core tenets of positive thinking etc (i.e. most of the (ancient) fundamentals the secret is based around). But the interesting bit for me - looking back - is that I went through a period of my life when I was a complete and utter fatalist. There is a saying that goes "You win some, you lose some." Well mine personal mantra was "Some you win, but most you lose." Pity parties were my personal speciality.

I used to dwell on fears and negative thoughts to a degree that, had people known, they would have force-fed me anti-depressants via a drip. Anyway, the interesting part is that in spite of these ever-present, all consuming beliefs, I in fact lived a very lucky, if not charmed existence. I got a new job just when I needed it. I had wonderful friends, and I lacked for nothing. If it wasnt for the fact that I felt so dead inside, my life was in all other respects pretty damn good! (and not because I came from a wealthy family, because I most certainly did not).

So, in terms of LOA, I find this to be something of an anomaly. By all accounts I should have attracted all sorts of miserable events and outcomes into my life, and yet pretty much the opposite happened. I succeeded, in spite of myself. (These days I feel much better, thank you )

Can anyone explain that? I'm not challenging anyone to defend LOA, frankly I'm just very curious about it myself!

well...let's run this up the flagpole and see who salutes...

you've heard the expression 'what you resist, persists'? sounds to me like you were quite comfortable wallowing around in misery and had abandoned any resistance to your pitiful status. if you're not going to resist, it's not going to persist! at the same time, you were probably quite grateful when things did go well, even though you had no great expectations that they would. so...acceptance, gratitude, and detachment! a perfect formula for success - you just came at it from a different angle! 'tell the truth, but tell it slant...'

great job - you might want to consider marketing this technique!

[JHL]

Originally Posted by maryelyn

sounds to me like you were quite comfortable wallowing around in misery and had abandoned any resistance to your pitiful status.

Ouch!

Originally Posted by maryelyn

great job - you might want to consider marketing this technique!

Well, er, ahem, actually I had planned it all and was in fact thinking of taking it mainstream. I call it the "Law of Sullenly Expecting Results", or LOSER for short.

Log on to my website now and order my exclusive series of LOSER DVD's! I've taken ancient principles just like everybody else and rehashed them in a way that you will find pleasing and that will seem like easy success is in, and hard work is soooo yesterday!

But wait, there's more! If you order my series of LOSER CD's now, I'll throw in a special edition FREE eBook called Chicken Soup for the LOSER!

And thats not all! If you dont feel like a COMPLETE LOSER at the end of 30 days, I WONT refund your money! If THAT doesnt make you feel like an total git, well then you're beyond help!

Disclaimer: program only works in conjunction the ability to delude yourself into believing LOSER actually does work. LOSER Inc. cannot be held responsible for your inability to deceive yourself.

[Authors note: this is a parody. LOSER is not an actual PD program. The author achieved this status entirely on his own. Thank you.]