Lost a good friend to "The Secret"

[corporatejay]

I totally agree with Photon. The Secret "works" because if you send out positive vibes, visualize goals and work hard to acheive them SHOCKINGLY you'll acheive those goals.

Also, positive people are generally pleasant to be around and thus it is no shock that those people are also successful.

Where "The Secret" loses me where it tries to become mystical, like we all have some aura around us.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I totally agree with Photon. The Secret "works" because if you send out positive vibes, visualize goals and work hard to acheive them SHOCKINGLY you'll acheive those goals.

Also, positive people are generally pleasant to be around and thus it is no shock that those people are also successful.

Depressed or angry people cannot or will not fathom this, so...

Where "The Secret" loses me where it tries to become mystical, like we all have some aura around us.

...visual aids help. The whole aura thing propogating to the end of the universe is a bit cheesy-looking, but a decent enough visual aid to help get the point across.

[macker]

Is it a secret or just common sense?

The Secret :
-we all work with one infinite power
-whatever is going on in your mind is what you are attracting
-we are like magnets like attracts like. You become and attract what you think
-Every thought has a frequency. Thoughts send out a magnetic energy
-People think about what they don't want and attract more of the same
-You attract your dominant thoughts
-Those who speak most of illness have it, those who speak most of prosperity have it
-You cannot have a universe without a mind entering into it
-Your thoughts cause your feelings
-you get exactly what you are feeling
-happy feelings will attract more happy circumstances
-what you focus on with thought and feeling is what you attract into your experience
-you create your own universe as you go along "winston churchill"
-it is important to feel good!
-the universe likes speed : don't second guess, don't delay, don't doubt
-when the opportunity or impulse is there ACT!
-the universe will rearrange itself accordingly
-Gratitude will bring more into our lives immediately
-Play the picture in your mind - focus on the end result
-Visualize : rehearse your future
-an affirmative thought is 100 times more powerful then a negative one
-you are the only one that creates your reality
-no one else can think or feel for your it is only you
-are your thoughts worthy of you? If not now is the time to change them
-beauty is all around you.....take time to laugh and play everyday....you are awake, energized and alive.....

[mykalberta]

Am I the only one who though "The Secret" was something more interesting than some weird religion crap?

[HOOT]

IMO the secret is good for those people in the dumps who just need something to help them get out of it by giving themselves positive thoughts. However, it sounds like your friend it taking it a little too seriously.

And to those who got into debt on the assumption they would come into money are complete morons and I hope they don't have or plan on having children because it would be a step back for man kind.

I had a friend use the secret. He didn't have the energy to find a job, his mom died of cancer, his dad didn't talk to him after the death, his brother (only family left) moved to Edmonton (gross!). He just felt like the world was against him. I'm actually the one who gave him the DVD for the secret, before it was oprah "cool", and it really helped him get our of this horrible hole he felt he dug himself.

Now he is going to school and improving his life instead of feeling sorry for himself, even though horrible things were happening. But the whole if I imagine a check worth $1M for many days and days it will come true are bogus.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Slava

I'm not going to advocate the secret here, but how exactly did your friend who began thinking positively and looking forward to the best stop being your friend? I would want to talk more to people like this as far as I can figure?

If you've ever known anybody who suddenly became a fervent believer in a religion you absolutely oppose or even some quasi-pseudo belief, it can be very difficult to talk to those people. Challenging people's core beliefs, especially for people of this ilk is extremely difficult and there is no way to find common ground.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

If you've ever known anybody who suddenly became a fervent believer in a religion you absolutely oppose or even some quasi-pseudo belief, it can be very difficult to talk to those people. Challenging people's core beliefs, especially for people of this ilk is extremely difficult and there is no way to find common ground.

What about just not challenging those beliefs? I have many friends where we don't see eye to eye on politics, religion or other major issues to us personally. That just means that we don't discuss those things, or we both know that the other persons position is A and ours is B. You don't have to agree with everything your friends believe in to be friends?

[Yeah_Baby]

Hail Xenu!

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Slava

What about just not challenging those beliefs? I have many friends where we don't see eye to eye on politics, religion or other major issues to us personally. That just means that we don't discuss those things, or we both know that the other persons position is A and ours is B. You don't have to agree with everything your friends believe in to be friends?

I think you are talking about something else. It sounds like Thors friend is really being evangelical about this law of attraction thing. Which is different than disagreeing about politics, religion or other major issues as you put it. I've known people like this and unless you agree with them it's impossible to hang around them.

Let's take a girl I went to high school with who was a vegetarian for an example. I am not a vegetarian and she would describe to you how the animal you are eating was killed. She was impossible to hang around, well at least eat food around. Some peoples lives will revolve around their belief in something to the point where it's all they talk about and everything relates back to it. Whether it be politics, religion, vegetarianism or the law of attraction. I think are you talking about disagreeing with someone and not talking about some issue either because of respect or you know the discussion will go no where and change no ones mind.

But if you stub your toe or get an extra burger with your McDonalds order and your friend is constantly relating such trivial things to the law of attraction your open hand might be attracted to their mouth.

[North East Goon]

Is "The Secret" you killed him?

[Locke]

I thought this is why they sold lottery tickets...

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I think you are talking about something else. It sounds like Thors friend is really being evangelical about this law of attraction thing. Which is different than disagreeing about politics, religion or other major issues as you put it. I've known people like this and unless you agree with them it's impossible to hang around them.

Let's take a girl I went to high school with who was a vegetarian for an example. I am not a vegetarian and she would describe to you how the animal you are eating was killed. She was impossible to hang around, well at least eat food around. Some peoples lives will revolve around their belief in something to the point where it's all they talk about and everything relates back to it. Whether it be politics, religion, vegetarianism or the law of attraction. I think are you talking about disagreeing with someone and not talking about some issue either because of respect or you know the discussion will go no where and change no ones mind.

But if you stub your toe or get an extra burger with your McDonalds order and your friend is constantly relating such trivial things to the law of attraction your open hand might be attracted to their mouth.

I suppose that could be the case. I kind of took this more as you laid it out here, and just avoiding the topic (or making fun of each other in an unrelenting fashion if you can both take it!).

[Temporary_User]

Who can forget how The Secret helped this one Amazon.com reviewer's life: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2X2TB3...cm_cr_rdp_perm

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Personally, I'll take "the law of attraction" over any organized religion.

When you get right down to it, there isn't much difference. One promises rewards in your current life, the other promises them in the afterlife. Neither are proven to mean anything.

[llama64]

This just in: Working hard for what you believe you deserve leads to a high chance of achieving what you want.

Put in the effort (with some intelligence), and you'll reap the benefits. But to walk around thinking that you should have a sports car and then expecting that the universe will some how magically gift you with it simply by the power of your wish -- friend, let me introduce you to the mental ward.

[old-fart]

My guess is the "book" the original author stumbled upon before writing this book was "Dianetics". The other books she checked to confirm were all either by, or about Hubbard and the great scam of Scientology.

The Secret really is "Gullible people will give you money for nothing but self help mumbo-jumbo, and are easy to manipulate into giving you even more money. Getting a celebrity on board is even better. Writing books is ok, but if you want real money - start a religion."

[EN FUEGO]

Leave it to Oprah to ruin just about anything. Positive thinking is one of the fundamentals of everything I think/do, but now I may have to convert to pessimism.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by EN FUEGO

Leave it to Oprah to ruin just about anything. Positive thinking is one of the fundamentals of everything I think/do, but now I may have to convert to pessimism.

I've found outright hatred of everyone and everything is the only way ti go. Its been working pretty well for me....

I f***ing HATE OPRAH!! GGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EN FUEGO]

Originally Posted by Locke

I've found outright hatred of everyone and everything is the only way ti go. Its been working pretty well for me....

I f***ing HATE OPRAH!! GGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I've got a question for you that may or may not make your head explode. You're faced with a sentence of being forced to watch a full hour of either Oprah or Dr. Phil.......what is your choice?

[CaptainCrunch]

Are there any sharp objects in the room, or objects that would allow you to Macgyver a small explosive device or firearm?

Cause I'd choose death personally.