Do you know "The Secret"?

[Che Guava]

Heard a n interesting piece on CBC radio yesterday about a self-help phenomenon known as "The Secret". For those of you who were hiding under a rock like me for the last couple of years, The Secret is a DVD/book/seminar that uses the Law of Attractions to describe how to achieve success in life.

Spoiler :

The skinny on the law of attractions is as such: all thoughts create 'energy', either positive or negative, and that like energies attract. By putting out 'positve energy', you can attract more positive energies, and bring yourself success by willing it so and using the following steps:

Know what one desires and ask the universe for it. (The "universe" is mentioned broadly, stating that it can be anything from God to an unknown source of energy.) 

Focus one's thought upon the thing desired with great feeling such as enthusiasm or gratitude. 

Feel and behave as if the object of one's desire is already acquired. 

Be open to receiving it.

(wiki entry)

Apparently the movement has really taken off, with best-selling books, DVDs, and endorsements by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Larry King, and Ellen Degeneres. Here is a a link to the first 20 minutes of the DVD (if you don't have 20 minutes to spare, even the opening sequence in the first minute or so gives you an idea of the premise...)

I have to say that I have a health amount of...skepticism...when it comes to concepts like this, but I can't argue with the fact that millions of people have bought materials and claim to have found succcess.

So I was wondering, has anyone here at CFC (or anyone you know) bought/used "the Secret"? Has it brought you any success?

Any other opinions?

 

[nivi]

So if I ask the universe realy realy hard that stupid people will stop selling stupid stuff to other stupid people, it will happen?

 

[Perfection]

I have a better secret

Spoiler :

A Prominant CFC moderator was the real killer of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman

 

[Ecofarm]

A positive attitude goes a long way, I believe that.

However, if you project positive "energy", would not negative "energy" be attracted to it? After all, the positive sides of a magnet do not atract, but repel, each other. The idea of positive polarization attracting positive polarization goes against my basic knowledge of physics. As the saying goes: "opposites attract".

EDIT: changed "positive thoughts" to "positive energy", since that is the premise of The Secret.

 

[Che Guava]

A positive attitude goes a long way, I believe that.

However, if you project positive thoughts, would not negative thoughts be attracted to it? After all, the positive sides of a magnet do not atract, but repel, each other. The idea of positive polarization attracting positive polarization goes against my basic knowledge of physics. As the saying goes: "opposites atrract".

first we have to establish that there is such a thing as 'thought energy'

 

[Civrules]

I was intrigued the first time I saw the video and it was inspiring to me. However later on I found it to be nothing special. It will not LEAD to real change, because what they suggest is common sense. Yes: A positive attitude is the best attitude.

But you can't simply wish upon something and get it. You have to work your butt off to get it.

 

[Ecofarm]

Would my telekinesis be sufficient proof of the existance of thought energy?

*Bends spoon*

 

[Che Guava]

When I heard the radio story, they interviewed someone who is part of the Secret team, and he had some real (IMHO) nutty conclusions made from the law of attractions. One that raelly stuck inmy craw is that when bad things happen, its your fault for sending out 'negative energy'. For eg, he stated that rape victims were, on some level, 'asking for it' by putting out energy that attracted rapists. He claimed that women who were raped either had too low opinions of themselves, or actually 'wanted to be raped' on some level, because they 'subconsciously enjoyed being dominated'......yeesh....

 

[Perfection]

@Eco, Only if you do it front of James "the Amazing" Randi and he says it's not a trick.

 

[classical_hero]

Here is the "The Chaser's War on Everything" take on the Secret. It is very funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbL3db2z_Ic

 

[azzaman333]

Damn, c_h, you beat me to it.

 

[classical_hero]

That is not the first time I have posted. either. It is pure gold that segment.

 

[Che Guava]

Is there anyone here at all who has had any personal experience with it? (i.e. tried it out, or knows someone who has?)

I guess why I ask is because when I heard about it, my internal 'baloney detector' went through the roof, and I don't understand the motivations of people that take it seriously. Not that I look down on anyone who does use it (hey, if it works for you, who am I to critisize?), but I really don't understant the 'attraction'

EDIT: Ooops! Missed your post, Civrules!

 

[Brighteye]

Never heard of it, but I know a few people who claim that a positive attitude in life helps. They usually focus more on being happy than actually getting what you want.

 

[Masquerouge]

I was intrigued the first time I saw the video and it was inspiring to me. However later on I found it to be nothing special. It will not LEAD to real change, because what they suggest is common sense. Yes: A positive attitude is the best attitude.

But you can't simply wish upon something and get it. You have to work your butt off to get it.

I agree.

I haven't seen the video, though.

 

[silver 2039]

I watched the entire DVD at school and discussed it in TOK class.

It was stupid, it was basically religion repackaged. It basically said if you want something enough you will get it as long as you have belief.

So of course its a load of bollocks and people shouldn't waste their time on it.

 

[Eukaryote]

I don't see how the hell this concept works, but I'm gonna try it anyway.

 

[Che Guava]

I don't see how the hell this concept works, but I'm gonna try it anyway.

Just remember, if it doesn't work, you're not doing it right

 

[Rambuchan]

Just remember, if it doesn't work, you're not doing it right

Sounds like you're a signed up, paid up moonie already Che!

Whilst I haven't encountered this piece of psycho-fraud, I did get involved with The Landmark Forum many years back. Psycho-fraud is what that was and what this sounds like too. What silver says is very true of such things...

It was stupid, it was basically religion repackaged. It basically said if you want something enough you will get it as long as you have belief.

So of course its a load of bollocks and people shouldn't waste their time on it.

 

[.Shane.]

There is no "secret". Oh, wait, I know what it is "there's a sucker born every minute."

"The Secret" is just self-help crap. People who create junk like this should be arrested for fraud.

This has all the validity of astrology or palm reading.