You’ve seen the commercials for The Secret movie. It is polished to a Da Vinci Code paranoid sheen positing that there’s a big secret suppressed throughout history that the smart and powerful have used to get ahead and you are ignorant of this secret that has helped everybody but you and you are doomed to be broke and miserable unless you plunk down your dollars to view the movie.
I was a bit disappointed.
Nothing gets me more juiced than a good conspiracy theory: JFK, Roswell… I like my secret societies bathed in madness and anarchy. I was hoping for some blend of Masonics and aliens and the Cigarette-Smoking Man and somehow the homosexual agenda (it’s always the gays or the Jews these days isn’t it?) fit in a nice tight Pandora’s box gift-wrapped in angst and sealed with a poisoned kiss.
I was disappointed.
There were no Nazis. What’s a conspiracy theory without a well-placed connection to fascism? The Secret is slick. It is slick like that annoying What the Bleep movie that supposedly had real scientists debating quantum theory (Dr. Emoto - you think that is for real?) and spirituality being the same thing until the end when you realize JZ Knight is from that Ramtha cult and you think to yourself - whatever happened to SETH and all those crazies (I’m allowed to rip on them, my dad and I got up the morning of the Harmonic Convergence to watch the sun rise - few suspect my hippy past!).
The Secret comes to us via some commercial producers and you can tell - the rhythms of the piece are quiet amazing. The editing, the pacing, the punctuality and dynamics of the movie are stunning. If I ever do any kind of product like this, I want this kind of production value. The video delivery is equally stunning. Usually the videos you see being distributed for pay these days are a bit more - ahem - naughty than The Secret but whoever did the video distribution for this movie did a great job. It is literally watching movie quality work - in complete mastered stereo right on your desktop. VERY impressive. Very vivid video (wink).
The Secret is the law of abundance. Or the priniples of attraction or whatever we’re calling it this week. The old adage of "Think of stuff - get stuff." Rapid-fire testimonials from our cadre of experts include things like a gay man attracting abuse by homophobes and a guy who suddenly gets checks for money in the mail (with absolutely no context to how this happened). I don’t deny the amazing power of the human body and the human mind and the human spirit/soul/whatevah. I find the whole movie a bit unnerving.
I think what irks me is all ‘the trappings’ put around this abundance stuff - the idea that meditating on the results you want focuses your attention on achieving results and forwarding action and momentum - none of this is new or secret or strange. But it is wrapped around this core of ‘THINK THIS - GET STUFF’. I almost feel like the suffix should be ‘and then you work your ass off.’ That always gets left out of the picture - yes you do work you love - you attract the things you need and then… You Work Your Ass Off. And yeah the narcissism seems to infect the whole topic - and materialism - all of these wealth and millionaire books and programs…
Self-help falls into the trap of challenging you to improve yourself first and then falls short of asking you to go improve the community/world around you. Become the change you want to see in the world - but you don’t stop with yourself. It is like those prayer without good deeds or worrying without action. There’s a little smart-assed comment about how people holding anti-war demonstrations are in effect, attracting war. Then why do we call them peace protests?
Plus I think people that become enchanted with this thinking get deluded about their reality being just a collection of perceptions and that the social/economic/political context around them isn’t an entire dynamic operating in this world of ‘wealth’ and ‘attraction.’ Sometimes I think these frameworks are what we cling to in the face that random shit happens in the world and there’s little explanation or cause or it - usually we are told we have to ‘have faith’. I know that the EST/Landmark folks will just tell me that this is my Racket and I’m simply not evolved enough but screw it.
Summation: Clever re-marketing of Nothing New wrapped in a chocolatey-warm fuzzy shell.
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203 Comments
I haven’t watched the movie, but I drew exactly the same conclusions as yours by watching the trailer. The Secret couldn’t really be a “secret” at all. Many of the experts they cite are very popular motivational speakers. Nothing wrong with that, but if they’re speakers, then they’ve been speaking, right? About what? Everything except the “secret”? Don’t think so…
The secret is in the packaging.
Which, by the way, really is remarkable.
Andy, I love your blog. and truly love your book - it helped me start my own blog! Thank you!
I’d like to add my 2 cents in appreciation of the movie… The producers know that wrapping something in a “chocolatey-warm fuzzy shell” will get people’s attention. They did use clever marketing and slick production and packaging - and I say hoorah for them! I for one would like to see more content (of all sorts) delivered via the internet like that. Very good marketing, production, and great use of technology!
As for the content… I think most people can appreciate the power of positive thinking. We know that thoughts affect our emotions, mood, and actions. So if the movie helps people pay closer attention to what they think about and choose their thoughts more wisely, then I think it was a success!
Positive thinking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I think you can be a pessimist and a cynic and still make a bunch of money.
This whole “Secret” thing felt like a sham from the first time I saw the trailer, and I drew my own conclusions on what it’s about. Now I see it’s the same nonsense that Napolean Hill and the rest of those fools made millions of dollars bilking other people out of their money for. “Think and grow rich!” The only secret is the cop-out: “If you don’t grow rich, then you didn’t follow the plan!” Bah.
Sorry guys, I’m a big fan of the Secret. Passion, enthusiasm, and drive have always been the secrets to be accomplishing the really big things in my life. I have always seen the things I wanted as real before they are real in my life. Rosy colored vision has always come naturally to me. I think the Secret teaches us how to get clarity around what we want, how to wrap our passion around it, and make it happen.
Now granted - I have seen people go way to the extreme with this stuff. I know Joe Vitale gets a little “wiggy’ at his events. I heard he will take a seed in his hand and claim that if he really wanted to bad enough he could make that sprout into a flower. So stuff like that is overboard.
And I am there with you Andy how you say they forget the part about “Work Your Ass Off!”. Yeah, they conveniently forget that part. But when you are feeling “high” about what you want in life, it doesn’t really feel like work. And then you seem to attract all the things you need to make that very thing happen.
But give me an idea I am passionate about, a vision of that in my head, and I’ll create something phenominal. The Secret has always worked for me.
Andy - I couldn’t agree with you more. My friend sent me the link and I couldn’t even bring myself to watch it because I knew it would be the same old stuff in a fancy package. I used to be a self-help junkie but after being disappointed more than once I am now looking the other way.
I found a great book and blog you might like on the subject - SHAM How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless by Steve Salerno and his blog at http://shambook.blogspot.com/.
Enjoy!
Well, I’ll have to second Kristie’s ideas - I, too, am a big fan of The Secret. Call it coincidence, call it luck, call it whatever you want - “the secret” has been working in my life. Do more of what feels good and produces positive results and do less of what feels bad and produces negative results. No, it’s not rocket science, but it’s working in my life and my business. One of the things I’ve been working on in my life is the disparity I’ve heard in some of the comments here (and which I’ve felt in my life, too) is the relationship between money and stuff and being happy. I understand for myself that if I’m working for the money, I’ll never have enough money because I look at things through a scarcity mentality. But if determine that I’m working to gain a different relationship with money (for example, I want to earn enough money so I don’t have to worry about money), then I’m concentrating on a different goal. The irony for me in my experience is that when I stop worrying about money, the money is there.
Call me crazy, call me “woo-woo,” call me whatever you will … I’ll choose being happy, successful, prosperous and fulfilled over the mindset I used to have.
Maybe it’s not a big secret, but if it can provide opportunities for us to create bigger small talk, it can’t be all bad!
I saw the secret and agree with the basic message that thoughts influence actions and wow….we can take that to such higher levels. But, to me the movie pacakaging detracted from how wonderful the message could be. It continuously emphasized excess wealth as the “carrot” for one. And, I had that feeling you get when a cheezy used car salesman is trying to say all the right things in any and every way to sell that car. Not sure why…but the movie had that tone. Too bad. Still a good message underneath the packaging and checks suddenly showing up just because you wished it to be so.
Took the words right out of my mouth in a far more eloquent way than I would have put it!
I love love love The Secret, as does my husband and several of our good friends. Plain and simple it’s The Law of Attraction laid out step by step for you in a way that makes it easy to understand and simple to use.
In fact, I blogged about it in June right after I watched it. I’m happy to say that we have both (my hubby and I) been applying the principles in a focused manner with great results so far!
I say if you like it, great - use it. If you don’t like it, great — don’t use it. But I intend to continue to use it every day to make my life better. And by the way, Andy, you’re absolutely right about working your butt off, but I was doing that anyway. The difference is now my success comes to ME rather than me exhausting myself chasing IT!
~Monica
Hi Andy et all,
Well, here’s my rant against your rant against the law of attraction. In my view, it’s like ranting against gravity. The law of attraction is a universal law. It works every time, whether you like it or not. We get what we think about. If we think we have to work hard to get what we want, we will have to work hard. If we’re focused on what’s wrong with our lives, we’ll get more of that. And if we put our focus more on what we desire than the lack of it, we are closer to realizing our dreams.
I personally have used the law of attraction in business and train others how to use it to attract perfect customers. It is very effective. I decided this year that I wanted to work less and earn more money and this has manifested through my focus on attraction. I have attracted so many new clients that I have to hire help to get all the work done. And I just sit on the phone or email handing out instructions.
The bottom line is you are using the law of attraction right now. There is no option to not use it. The question is, will you focus more on what you desire than the lack of it? Or will you focus on what’s showing up and believe it is all you can ever get from life. It’s up to you. But telling people that the Secret is bunk is definitely not helping your subscribers. And since you believe you have to work your ass off to acheive your dreams, you will!
My 2 cents. At least your rant got me to finally write to a blog. I believe it’s my first comment!
~julia
Andy great marketing create controversy. So here some more. It seems that most of the comments were from those that did not watch the movie, right judge a book by the cover and remain ignorant. As for the comments about Napoleon Hill I bet he’s broke too, Napoleon Hill interviewed 500 of the riches people at the time. I wonder who do you listen to someone whose is broke or someone who has done what you want to do.
Andy I had respect for your teaching until I read your comments on The Secret.
Some get and some don’t the negative press about the movie The Secret tells me you just don’t get it
Im sorry but I loved it. Now before you start pre labeling me for life, I enjoy pulling or extracting all the good info out of any learning material.
I enjoy thinking for myself to such a level that I can confidently read a book or buy a course and decipher the goodness from the bad and take the good.
Yes, The Secret is a glorified abundance dvd but do you know how many people have used the secret to extract money from the misled masses. Once you can fully understand that the secret is a tool to see though deception one is able to focus on what’s important in our lives.
I remember taking a course on abundance years ago and they would always keep the “secret” just out in front of you so that you would buy the next abundance course and eventually you would learn that they were the only ones becoming abundant. But they would always dangle that carrot out in front of you to extract more cash.
So the secret was and is great because it teaches one to focus on what it is that you want in life and to stop focusing on what you do not want and more importantly to decipher the good from the bad, honesty from dishonesty.
I watched the secret on recommendation of our neighbors. I completely agree that ‘the law of attraction’ will work…but “and then… You Work Your Ass Off.” has to be included. You can’t just sit in your parents basement, do nothing, want everything, and expect to ‘win’. You actually have to buy a lottery ticket to win the lottery, the state won’t deliver a winning lottery ticket to you because you will it to happen. There is nothing wrong with watching this video, and if it inspires you to accomplish great things - that’s awesome. Just remember, the people in that interview worked hard to become successful.
Hiya Andy,
I haven’t seen the movie, but your review hit on a few philosophies that make me wanna holler when it comes to psuedo-spiritual-quantum-psychology-whatever. While it indeed seems largely based on fundamental dynamics echoed throughout the ages of various religions, and while quite effective and beautiful, these truths get distorted. They get used to essentially let everyone off the hook for any responsibility for their part in the balance of good and evil. (Now that’s good marketing…relief from the eternal struggle of the human condition.) Nobody has to feel obligated to work for anything outside of themselves because whatever crap they allow in the world (poverty, war, violence, corporate greed) can be chalked up to a result of somebody else weakly thinking bad thoughts and attracting bad things to themselves. Yeah. Say that about the Holocaust. Rwanda. Child abuse. Extreme examples, yes. But these things happen from the human weakness of ignoring the horrible acts of other human beings, which happens on a smaller scale everyday in our own individual lives. The shadow-side of self-help is that for all the positive energy it puts out, it also works to justify that human weakness and make it something acceptable. That is so not OK with me. For example, the oft-mentioned idea that cancer is a result of not adequately purifying one’s thoughts and emotions is a cruel and obnoxious blaming of the victims. We can at once insulate ourselves from the fear of getting cancer ourselves, and relieve ourselves of any guilt we might feel about how we might contribute to a toxic society that causes cancer and other illnesses. We can continue blithely buying products produced from carcinogenic manufacturing processes. And we don’t have to push ourselves to cultivate true compassion, empathy, and or step up to improve the general health of our infinite interconnectedness.
Keep in mind, I’m a holistic lifestyle coach and massage therapist, and I do believe in the laws of attraction, power of thoughts, abundance-vs-scarcity, etc. But it isn’t a convenient miracle, it is a conscious way of using your thoughts to produce intention-based action. Intention, as in doing-it-on-purpose. Action, as in Work-Your_A** off to create what you want. And it is always better if what you want doesn’t screw someone else over.
Cheers,
Erika
Jordan wrote:
“I think you can be a pessimist and a cynic and still make a bunch of money.”
Sure, but will you be happy? You see, it’s not about the money — it’a about what we think money can get us — for most, we want happiness.
As to the comments about “working your a__ off”, well of course you can’t expect to meditate in a corner all day and have what you want come rolling in. They way I have been taught the Law of Attraction, is that you spend *some* moments of your day in positive thinking (and it’s other aka’s), and that the clarity you get by slowing your mind down helps you make better choices of how to now take inspired action. Sort of like working smarter, not harder, except replace “smarter” with “more positively” or something.
Disclaimer: I haven’t watched the movie, so my comments are about the concept. I’m also not rich (yet!) but I sure am feeling happier!
I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it, but I appreciated what, I think, the producers were trying to do with this movie.
It’s a marketing piece more than anything. And like all marketing pieces, it really talked up the benefits in a language “consumers” can understand and feel motivated by. More money. Perfect romantic partners. Vibrant Health.
It’s the markety-stuff of this movie that urked me, not the message so much.
See, I’m a long time lover and student of the Law of Attraction. Lately, it’s the only thing that makes sense to me. And as a lover of the Law of Attraction, it does make me itch and twitch when teachers and gurus promote it as a way to get rich quick. And that it’s all as easy as “think money…get money.”
When you really walk this path, it’s not easy. Like any spiritual path, it involves work. Personal work. Deep, dark and demanding personal work. But, the rewards are great.
Thanks, Andy, for your critical, cynical eye. You scrape the sparkle and glitter off these flashy pieces, and I appreciate it. Just don’t be too quick to judge a Law by its marketing messengers.
Andy, Andy, Andy — the Secret is just a motivational movie, slickly and beautifully done that simply tells us to focus on what we want rather than on what we don’t want. I loved it for that message and watch it frequently to remind myself to be grateful for what I have manifested in my life. And it has taken effort to do so, but I don’t consider it “hard work”, I consider it a gift to be able to do it whan so many others are not able to do so. Anyone who has learned NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) can attest to the fact that creating a powerful vision around a well-formed outcome is a sure way to attract that into one’s life. As a practicing certified NLP Coach, Master Practitioner, and WealthyMind Trainer, I have seen amazing things happen with clients when they change their limiting beliefs around abundance and what is possible for themselves.
Abundance isn’t just about money, it includes abundant and rewarding relationships with family and friends, abundant health and radiance, and money in quantities so one can actually make a difference in this world. Did you know that only $45 will help a woman in Africa start her own business?
I am living a life today that just four years ago I considered impossible. But this miracle is one I created for myself. By making new choices, I have made a new life. I hope by sharing my story, others will realize they can do this too.
Right before I turned 60, I felt deeply depressed about my life. Actually, I felt I had no life and realized I had to change my health or die. I had developed Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 36. I had watched it progress from some intermittent right hand pain to full-blown Rheumatoid Arthritis, eventually claiming my right hand, left hand, neck, jaw, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles and toes. It seemed as if there was virtually no place in my body that wasn’t on fire with a toothache-like pain that was unremitting. With its’ accompanying constant feeling of weakness, depression, and loss of life energy, I began to over identify this illness as who I was. For more than twenty-three years I existed in a living hell, with no real hope of ever emerging again. I tried every known, and many unknown, remedies! All failed me, creating an ever-deepening cycle of despair and hopelessness.
In 1999, I was somehow managing to hold down a full time job at Stanford University as a Research Administrator, but the disease had progressed to the point where I was unable to walk even half a block, and I was in bed by 6:00PM each evening. On Mother’s Day the year I was 59, I was so sick I had to cancel a visit to my beloved youngest son in Albany, a mere 50-minute drive. I touched a depth of sadness I had never reached before, and had thoughts that death was a preferred alternative to the life I was living.
Then, one day it struck me; I either had to change my life or end it. Lucky for me I decided to change it. What followed was a very interesting journey of self-discovery and change. Part of that journey has been the success of our business. My husband and I started a fitness business 18 months ago that now is bringing in six figures.
Realizing my story could help others, I began attending coach training classes at The Coaches Training Institute, re-discovered a passion for NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) I had 30 years previously and subsequently completed certifications in NLP Coaching, Practitioner, and Master Practitioner. How did I do that, I changed my mind. I changed the way I think about the world and my place in it. Others can do it too. I have no doubt.
I know many of you think this is for other people. It’s not for me you say to yourself. You listen to the self-talk that says I can’t ever do that. She can do that, but I don’t have what it takes. Guess what. That’s just a thought; a thought that you created, which means that you can create a different thought. And when you create a different thought, one that’s positive, empowering, and moves you forward, you’ll see what happens.
Look around you; look at your life right now. Don’t like what you see? Well you created it all and you can create something different. And, like I said, if you don’t like what you see, you can create something different.
You can retell the story of your life. Because life is a story, it’s a story you’re making up every single day. So why not make it a good story? Many of you’ve known how to make it a less than perfect story, but you haven’t done it consciously. Now you can make it conscious. The actual methods used to create a negative story are the very same methods one can use to create a positive story; one in which you are the hero instead of the villain. You’ll discover how really powerful you are. Not powerful in the way of harming other people or lording it over someone else, but powerful in the way you are able to create your own life and what you want in it. Powerful in a way that makes a difference in the world and powerful in the way that will make every day you get up a new beginning.
Thank you everybody for your input - great stuff so far!!
Aha! Now you’re talking about the stuff I live and teach. We eagerly awaited The Secret, after delays in the original schedule.
Not only were the pre-launch ‘trailers’ very well done, they used the anticipation marketing that’s all the rage now, and it worked!
My husband and I have long been students of Abraham, and many others of those included in this first movie. There were supposed to be perhaps seven weekly TV sequels, also, but now since it never came off as a worldwide TV event, who knows what will occur with those.
As far as helping to raise the consciousness of the World, and the understanding of all toward achieving their dreams, through working with the Laws of the Universe, we were hopeful this would do it. However, having to pay for the viewing either on the Internet or via purchase of the DVD has put a bit of a damper on that, I suspect.
Be that as it may, these are Universal principles which as fast as we all learn them, and stay out of cynicism and negativity, the faster we will all begin to realize the positive results.
For those who have expressed in the negative, they likely continue to reap negative in their lives. As those who have shared their positive results attest, the Laws work for them.
And no, it’s not as easy for some as for others. If we have a lot of negative programming (as I did), we have a lot more to work through to be as positive most of the time as we would like. I’ve been one example of that.
Even though I teach it, there are times when my clients can go faster at it than I!!
However, when you have two or more focusing on the same goal, it becomes much more powerful. My husband and I manifested each other, the house we wanted and the RV we wanted, all in the last two years.
And now we’re manifesting the additional training to get our remaining blocks cleared away, as well.
For those who believe it’s possible to learn new tricks, check out what we’re doing next:
In 2-1/2 weeks we take the Psych-K Basic class at Boise.
This will blow you away -
for more info see www.Psych-K.com. There are likely classes near you.
We ordered the book and the DVd, and it’s awesome. You can clear those blocks that are frustrating you in two to five minutes (if your own subconscious/Superconscious doesn’t feel you need to learn the lessons by living through and growing through them).
Talk to me after mid-August about my own results!
Jannette
Well, Now. If hadn’t seen The Secret several months ago, I am sure that I would still be working in government at a dead end job. Instead, I am inspired now to live life on my own terms, focusing on my desires and being in service to others. Because of The Secret, and some teachings from some other popular spiritualists, I am now living my life intentionally. The Law of Atraction is magic…it isn’t immediate, but it is the Truth. The Secret is awesome.
Clyde
Right you are Andy. It is nothing new, this concept of attraction. What is new is that it is becoming a mainstream concept. Heck, I for one am tickled beyond compare when I hear that either some independent or Hollywood filmaker decided that they could make some money with something as ethereal as a Universal Law! What will they think of next?
I do want to say however, “quitcher bitchin’”. Why would you take the time to complain about a movie that has the potential to bring some positive input to the masses? (That is if the masses have the opportunity to see it) Seems to me that it would help society so much more if we put our energy towards what could improve it, rather than the murder and mayhem they have been calling entertainment. Sure the marketing was over the top. As you are well aware, that is the marketing strategy de jour. Movie maker makes movie, movie maker wants as many people to see movie as possible. Voila! Marketing that is not quite truthful. Nothing new here.
So in my world here is what I would love to see. Much more emphasis on what it takes to prosper and thrive, and more disinterest in the crap that the film and entertainment industry shells out now. I think The Secret most definitely is a step in the right direction, misleading marketing and all.
Ha! Forgot to add my name to my reply.
Just the fact that it’s called “The Secret” makes me not want to watch it. It is nothing new and seems like it’s mostly hype to me!
A-Dub,
You rock my world. I wouldn’t be as far along my blogging/marketing journey without you. The stuff you preach, in your blog and book - works. Thanks for your wisdom.
But dearest, sweet, blogging evangelist - I feel you might have been a bit tough on The Secret. I KNOW you “hang out� with many attraction coaches. You play in a virtual sand-box with Andrea J. Lee, Michael Port, Susanne Falter Barnes and the like. I imagine you generally apply similar principles for your business and your life.
While many of us are already familiar with the concepts, MANY are not. Lots of people still play victims. I agree with your statement, “you do work you love - you attract the things you need and then… You Work Your a__ Off�. Yes, it requires a LOT of work. Yet MANY are NOT doing work they love. They are stuck.
I agree with the annoying focus on materialism and getting “stuff�. But if it takes a person test driving a hot car to FEEL they can get the car, the relationship and the life that will follow, to get “unstuck� - then so be it.
Once they see the principles work, they may shift from “get stuff� to “get a life� to “get a grip� to “get conscious about the world�. Perhaps they’ll become better husbands, wives, sisters, co-workers, community members, citizens of planet earth. The ripple effect of attraction is a thing of sheer beauty. I witness it everyday with my clients and readers. Thanks for this dialogue.
Peace and all that chocolatey-warm fuzzy stuff,
Kammie K.
Re: Background and Changes to The Secret
Hello, again!
Thank you, Regina Cunningham for your post. It almost appears as though I had written it!
I think it is important to share for both the detractors and the fans of The Secret some background you may not know, and changes we were advised of by David Gordon, who, as a labor of love, publishes online the quotes of Abraham, as given through Esther Hicks, on Yahoo’s group, AbeQuotes.
The background, as we know it:
The Secret begins by telling the true story of Rhondy Byrne, the Executive Producer of The Secret, and how she came to the material, the extensive research she did; and I personally feel it is a strong testament to the Power of the Law of Atrraction that she put it all together and managed to produce The Secret.
The movie and trailers make a big deal about why this information was kept secret by those early titans in America, who preferred to keep their wealth and how to attain it all to themselves!
Originally The Secret was to have been broadcast worldwide, simultaneously, and the daunting task of pulling television networks together in such a major agreement almost came together, but not quite, thus the present form, or that which many of you have seen.
As I wrote earlier, there were many others, who are already recorded, set to participate in the follow-up sequels, some of whom are familiar to me. If these will ever be shown is an unknown to me at this time.
The movie features many speakers who are well-known and who teach these principles on a regular basis. Among them, and we were delighted to see, the most often shown (about two-fifths of the time), is Esther Hicks, the (originally) reluctant channel of the Group who call themselves Abraham (a group of spiritual beings, sometimes numbering around 100, who communicate these most helpful messages).
The change we have been advised of by David Gordon, via the AbeQuotes mailing list was this:
“From: “David W. Gordon”
Sender: AbeQuotes@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:30:57
Subject: [AbeQuotes] Public statement by Jerry and Esther about The Secret
From an extremely reliable source:
Esther has also been deleted from the list of teachers on The Secret teachers.
“Regarding the documentary, “The Secret”: Although Jerry & Esther
appreciate many aspects of the finished film, it ended up being quite different from what they had originally contracted to participate in. So when the producer recently insisted on further significant changes in their agreement regarding marketing, distribution, and
theatrical rights, Jerry & Esther opted instead to be cut out of the film altogether. Thus, the current limited DVD edition of The Secret is the only version in which Abraham will appear - so get a copy while you still can!”
David”
End of quote
Now, I have no more current information, and we are saddened that Jerry and Esther Hicks made this decision, because Abraham’s input is so important in our lives, and the lives of those many followers of Abraham around the world.
The Hicks only recently decided to go more public (July 2004 was when my husband first heard them announce it) with Abraham’s message, feeling I believe the world was more ready for it.
Paul has been a student of theirs for about 20 years; I have for about ten years; and we have watched the growth of the Hicks, themselves, as they practiced the teachings of Abraham. We have both grown spiritually through their input and such as that of Neale Donald Walsch, author of the Conversations With God books, and many others.
I suggest if the readers of this blog want to see the original version of The Secret, which includes Esther Hicks/Abraham, it possibly might still be seen free on Yahoo. Or see if you can still purchase the original DVD from the web site at www.thesecret.tv.
The message of The Secret is not only about monetary wealth. It includes all forms of prosperity: good health, relationships, and all manner of good.
And truly the message is that what you focus on, you increase.
When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
Resistance to spiritual growth is not much different from resistance to psychological growth - we all have it, and do what we do when we are ready.
Peace!
Jannette Robert Murray
www.inspiredcounseling.com
Correction to my post: The Executive Producer of The Secret’s name is Rhonda Byrne. I misspelled it, and didn’t catch on one read-through. Sorry!
Jannette
Hi everyone. Paul Bixler here. I am Jannette’s husband.
I have been following the teachings of Abraham since the late 80’s and before that I was a follower of Seth who was channeled by the late Jane Roberts.
I have personally worked many miracles in my life by using the law of attraction. Back in the days of Seth, I used the principles to get us out of debt and spend 3 wonderul years in Germany. My wife at the time did not believe in these laws. She was a devout Catholic and kept telling me all this stuff was just coincidence. She died in 2003 and even though I loved her dearly, I was relieved that she no longer was casting her negativity towards me.
At first I did not want to remary, but after my wife had been gone a year, I missed having a companion around to talk things over and all the other things a wife can bring you.
I went on the Abraham cruise to Alaska in 2004 and decided to start “praying” for a woman who loved Abraham as I do.
In August of 04, I met my wife through the Abraham singles group over the Internet. We seemed to hit it off and we met for the first time in Kansas City in Sept of 04 and attended an Abraham workshop there. She lived in the State of Washington and I lived in New Jersey. She came to visit me in early October and we moved out to Washington at the end of that month
. It is just so wonderful to be able to talk to someone about Abraham and they know what you are talking about.
Together we manifested our new home and our RV, so there is no doubt in my mind that the “Secret” works.
The movie brought all these facts of how you create your reality in a very simplified form. The persons involved each had a chance to express there views and I concurred wholehartedly with them. The law of attraction works wheather you believe in it or not. It is just that you can make your life so much easier if you believe in it and use it to your benefit.
As to working our –ss off, that is up to you. I have found quite often things come with no physical effort.
I loved THE SECRET Movie!
Law of attraction is at work all the time and it just boils down to whether we are doing it “on purpose” or by default.
If you go to The Official Forum for THE SECRET:
http://thesecret.powerfulintentions.com/forum/thesecret
…you will see stories from LOTS of people that have had many miracles happen for themselves, including money, new jobs, getting raises, illnesses being cleared up, their businesses growing effortlessly, etc., and without struggle!!!
Don’t get me wrong! You can become successful through hard work…
…and you can be wildly successful by allowing The Universe/God/Source (or whatever you believe in)…to participate also!!!
Very exciting stuff happening!!!
Pat
http://pat.powerfulintentions.com
Hey Andy… are you happy, in love and RICH? I can site many examples (good and bad) in my life how the law of attraction, intending and allowing delivered exactly as promised. Mostly I do NOT work my ass off and the universe (GOD) the cosmos or whatever one calls it, has delivered exactly what I wanted. I did NOT work my ass off to get a divorce 20 years ago but I sure as hell thought about it on more than one occasion. I did NOT work my ass off to attract customers from all over the world (before IT) within a very short period of 2 years, I simply held it in my head and allowed the results to unfold. Working your ass off is fine if that’s what you enjoy, personally I do rather well NOT working my ass off and my finances, personal life and state of mind are all great. I say try it, study it a little and apply it on a ongoing basis and I promise it will work for you too. In fact, it was working for me before I even understood it or knew what to call it (guess I’m lucky that way). Do the math… how many books and programs are there on the benefits of negative thinking? None I am aware of, I’m sure there maybe a few crackpots but in the scheme of things “none” will suffice. Why is this? Because negative thinking and negative self talk is natural for a majority of population. Now isn’t it ironic that this majority is broke (in debt)unhappy, lacking love, working their asses off etc. Now lets look at the minority (10-20%) of the population that enjoys the benefits of financial security, better relationships and more moments of satisfaction (happiness). I promise you from first hand experience in my life and lives of many friends in this minority, life is not perfect and even the top ten attracts crap. But on the whole there is no featuring of negative thinking, negative self talk or belittling of family, friends and strangers. We all have the choice to think and act in a manner that will place us in either group. Personally I choose the top ten why wouldn’t you? Dream big, dream often, write your goals down and let it happen when things start to unfold. It really is that easy. If you’re working your ass off and your unhappy as hell and hating it all… then your advice is not what anyone needs.
I held in my head that I wanted a piece of cheesecake and before you could say Universal Truth I was standing in front of my fridge eating a piece of cheesecake from my party the other night. Wow! Then I held in my head that I didn’t want to gain 2 lbs. from eating the cheesecake and WOW! I only gained 1 lb. Very cool! This stuff works.
Andy- Nice marketing on your own part. Attacking something as popular as The Secret is sure drawing traffic to your blog.
As to The Secret, I’m sorry, but I respectfully disagree with your comments. The law of attraction is something that has been recognized by many greats throughout history. We very much live in a cause and effect world, and those that are not aware of it, or refuse to recognize it, are ultimately the big losers.
Religions of every sort have been trying to tell us through the ages that this approach to life will improve your life. Others try to convince us to get in the ditch with them, but I, for one, prefer to live in a positive, uplifting and expectant way. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he! Absolute truth. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Another truth. Then ask yourself, why are so many living in fear? Because they doubt the power of the mind to create, and it does create. So think of all that you don’t want, and by gosh, you’ll get it, whether you like it or not!
the Secret did a wonderful job of putting something together that could possible reach the masses, and maybe, just maybe, get some to think differently. If that’s bad, then give me more of it. First we have to get people to think, then we have to get them to think the right way.
I’ve seen both sides of this argument - and because of the way the law of attraction works, both sides are right!
Those who say, “That stuff doesn’t work for me. I asked for money and I didn’t get it.” Sure - they got exactly what they programmed for if you listen to their TONE rather than their words.
Those who say, “I create my day, and every day I get beautiful outcomes, birds singing and technicolor rainbows!” - they get what they program for, too.
Remember basic NLP - it ain’t the words that count! “The Secret”/The Law of Attraction is based on thinking and feeling. Words come afterward.
And yer darn tootin’ you get what you think about all day long!
So - “The Secret” the movie sure drew folks in with a very obvious scarcity marketing ploy, with months of buildup plastered pre-launch-style on hundreds of web sites. Bully for them. It worked, didn’t it?
In fact, I watched the free version (when that was still live) about 5 times and found it to be very uplifting. And I write about this stuff on my site all the time!
Input equals output people. True fact. So put something good in your brain bucket!
Yes indeed - both sides are absolutely right!!
If you believe you have to work your a** off to be successful, then of course you will have to work your a** off to be successful!
If you believe you can be successful without working your a** off, then that’s true too.
I worked my a** off in a j-o-b for 14 years. I was quite successful - and I was unhappy and I was sick from all the stress. I made a lot of money which I promptly spent on medical bills and buying other things to make me happy. I have no desire to work my a** off ever again. I have built my business twice since leaving the corporate world 8 years ago. (Twice because I moved during the past 8 years and had to pretty much re-invent my work a second time :>))
Both times, I never advertised, marketed, networked, etc. except for having a web site. All my clients come to me by referral. In my mind, I am very successful - although in your mind I might not even be a blip on the “success radar” - and that’s ok — we all measure success in different ways.
I may not be a millionaire or even a half millionaire or even a quarter millionaire - not even close - that’s not my goal. My goal is to be happy doing the work I love. That’s pretty simple and not something I have to work my a** off to achieve. When you do the work you love, you may work hard, but it sure doesn’t feel like I’m missing any part of my butt at the end of the day.
If buying and watching “The Secret” works for you then that is great! I personally like it very much and recommend it to my clients who don’t understand the Law of Attraction - they all like it very much and if it’s helped them to re-think their thoughts even a tiny bit, it’s worth it.
If you think it’s just a slick piece of marketing, then you are right as well. If you complain and kvetch about The Secret without even watching it, then you are doing yourself and everyone who takes your word as the gospel truth a great disservice. If you watch it and still feel it’s a waste of time, that’s ok, too. Whatever you believe in your mind to be true, is true! That’s the beauty of the Law of Attraction. We can argue this until the cows come home - the Law of Attraction is very simple and it works all the time, every minute of the day, whether you believe in it or not.
I hear a lot of lip service as to why the Law of Attraction is a lot of hooey - and I wonder if that comes from people who want to totally control every aspect of their life. They work their a**es off to be successful - pushing and prodding their way through life commanding HOW all this shakes out. I guess they might be afraid if they slow down and stop working so hard, success will pass them by. And if that’s what they believe, then, yep, success will pass them by!
Do you think that may be why people feel like they’re working their a**es off? Too many folks are in such a gosh darn hurry to “be successful” they lose the experience of the journey and end up a tired and muddy heap on the carpet of life - but hey, I guess they can say they are a successful tired and muddy heap, eh?
But are these “successes” really happy? Do they have the good health and mental acuity to actually enjoy the success they’ve worked their a**es off for? Or are they sitting buttless, tired and burnt out somewhere wondering “hmmm, is that all there is?”
As with all the self help information out there, approach it with a beginner mind, use what works for you and discard what doesn’t.
I for one want to enjoy my life with my a** firmly in place so I work with the Law of Attraction daily and it always comes through for me without me having to compromise my butt :>))
The mistake being made about the Law of Attraction is stating it as “you get what you think about”. This is not accurate - as a young man was quoted as saying “then I’d be a girl”
To be more accurate would be to say “you get what you think in your heart” or you get what you truly believe. The Hicks & Lynn Grabhorn talk about how you “feel” added to what you think- kind of a multiplier of your thoughts or adding weight & depth to them.
You can think about riches all day or self-talk “I’m rich, I’m rich” but if the bills come and you feel sick about how are you going to pay them or Why do these keep coming - you are not really thinking/believing/feeling rich.
This is why many people say they-tried- attracting & it didn’t come to pass.It is more subtle and deeper than surface thoughts & talk!Perhaps this is why it is “THE SECRET”, even as many have talked about it here they think they get it when they really don’t.
Some may think it too big a dream, however, I feel sure it was the dream of Rhonda Byrne, as it was ours, that the worldwide simulcast of The Secret could have a tremendous impact on our world, raising the consciousness of all who were told by others to be sure to see it (viral marketing at its best). When you discover something big, don’t
you want to share it with everyone you know? And why not?
Just imagine a world in which literally everyone learned that they could be, do and have anything they desired and focused on — and actually applied it! What would that world be like?
Imagine a world in which there were no more crime, no more wars, and none such as Osama Bin Laden and his ilk resenting what Americans represent to them, out of their own jealousy, and the erroneous teachings of their Madrasas . . . if they were taught positive values instead.
Just imagine . . . and as you imagine, you are raising your own
vibrations with all of your positive imagining, all of your appreciation, all of your joy at what you are creating in your own life, thereby allowing in even more of your own Good . . . more of what you are imagining.
Just imagine . . .
Do you know about the Power of Numbers? It’s the same power as is working in such as Prayer Circles, and the power that builds planets . . .
This excerpt from “Beyond Hypnosis”, pg. 54, by (I believe) Lee Pulos, speaks to the power of numbers:
“The power of combined energies seems to increase by an order of magnitude:
2 people = X to the 2nd power, or the power of 4
3 people = X to the 4th power, or the power of 81
4 people = X to the 8th power, or the power of 65,536
Each additional person seems to cause the power factor to double over the previous power factor.”
Can you imagine if each one of us reading this blog were to focus on the same thing, perhaps the worldwide simulcast of The Secret, and its principles being known and practiced by all, how we could have a powerful effect on that coming about . . .
Paul and I found each other by focusing on finding a partner who held these same beliefs, and coupled that with our own individual preferences for a partner. He and I focused together on the house we wanted, and got it. We focused together on getting our big RV, and we got it.
Focus only upon what you want, never what you do not want . . . find it’s positive opposite to focus upon instead. Believe in it, and you will create it — sooner or later, depending upon the strength of your belief, and the contradictory energy you put out the rest of the time.
Get a prayer partner who believes with you, who will help you to focus on your goals.
Our small Abraham Group which meets alternate Sundays does this
for each other.
Paul and I are learning to get rid of the blocks to our good which might still be standing in the way of free flow — by speaking the language of the subconscious and altering its contrary beliefs (see my earlier post on this blog).
Jannette
www.inspiredcounseling.com
Bin Laden saw 9/11 as extremely positive and a cause for rejoicing. One person’s positive can well be another person’s negative.
I didn’t read all of the comments to this topic, but the handful I did read, (as well as your blog,) failed to mention that the purveyors of this pseudo-religious attraction mechanism theory claim to have channeled a big group of “non-material” beings who call themselves “Abraham”. Mrs. Hicks begins speaking in the collective “We”, with an odd inflection to her hypnotic cadence, and “reveals” deep spiritual truths that only the goup known as “Abraham” can know. That’s when they try to sell you books, cds, and tapes so that you may gain access to this “wisdom”. (Most of it is common sense, you may have leared it in kindergarten,)
And then a movie.
Boy, those spirits named Abraham have got it all laid out, haven’t they? They speak through Mrs. Hicks of recordings which are to be listened to in order.
It’s really just a couple of CA crackpots hawking yet another BS scam to separate you from your money in the name of spiritual enlightenment. What assholes. The power of their intention is to get filthy rich selling books and junk. Mind you, there is some nice advice in there, but you can open any motel bedside table and glean the same material from a Bible. Or a Koran. Or The Book of The Dead.
Jerry and Esther, STFU already.
And one more thing:
Since light has dark as it’s counterpart, and night has day, and plus has minus, it is not healthy to deny yourself the lows of life as well as the highs. These must be experienced, for growth and faith.
One can not keep a pendulum to one side forever, and the further you push, the further it will return. You may even go mad trying ot maintain suposed “positivity” indefinately.
So I call Bullshit on the “Abraham” phenomenon.
I could pretend to channel ghosts like John Edwards, (biggest douche in the universe,) and use som biblical name to give it an air of ethereal wisdom, too, only I choose to actually use my conscience.
Thanks Andy,
Your review is spot on. The Law of Attraction works, but these hucksters pervert it by making it into nothing but a get rich quick scheme (Joe Vitale even goes on about the Universe being a neverending catalog of goodies..ho hum).
Oh well. As long as people think the sole purpose of life is to get rich, Vitale and his ilk will get richer and fatter (btw how come he doesn’t have a lithe trim body and has very little hair…couldn’t manifest that? :-))
The movie was great. I am glad they took the money and effort to make it available for me to see.
More power to them and a life of abundance. Really cool.
Hello all!
Well, I must say that there is contrast to everything! I am happy to know there are people out there that think the movie is a bunch of crap! Otherwise, how would anyone know it is another useful tool that assist people, using another angle, to get what they really want in life. It’s not really a secret. Everyone knows this. It’s inside all of us. I gues that’s why we couldn’t talk when we’re babies. That’s why when we’re all grown up, and someone comes up with a great angle, packaging, and visual, it seems like a secret revealed or not. The other side of the secret is that it’s okay not to believe that you can attract, and what you put out is what you get back, and so on, and so on! But, just for the heck of it, some of you should just try it. Who knows….you might like it. And, if not, then what the heck! You didn’t lose anything you didn’t ask for anyway!
Everything is neurtral. You color your life anyway to want to!
Happy painting,
Josie
I think the secret movie was too much mumbo jumbo. It was too New Age for me. I think people should believe more in the Lord Jesus Christ and what he can do for them than what the universe can do for them. Most of the stuff that these people were talking about can be found in the bible. It’s not the universe that gives it to you, it’s God. These people have not discovered anything new and if you study the bible, these things would not be a secret. Isn’t it like the devil to use the bible and turn it around to get glory and credit himself. Read the Bible and you will truly learn the secrets.
Or the Tao de Ching. Or pretty much any religious text from any ancient civilization.
Quote: “… a guy who suddenly gets checks for money in the mail (with absolutely no context to how this happened).”
I’ve noticed that people who believe in “The Law of Attraction” often leave context out of the stories they tell. This month alone I was forced to corner two ACIM (A Course in Miracles) believers who told me that they mysteriously “got checks in the mail”.
When I pushed for details, it turns out they were OWED that money. I objected that this was in no way miraculous or even unusual, but they didn’t see my point. “Oh, but I wasn’t expecting to get that check until next month!” or words to that effect.
I’m going to propose a Law of Attraction you can actually see happening in the real world. Here it is:
Wishful thinking leads to more wishful thinking.
I think that sounds right.
Sorry for the second post, but as I scanned back on the other comments I couldn’t help but notice something…
Whenever I search for comments about The Law of Attraction, I keep coming across rave reviews from “Life Coaches”.
I am not impressed by life coaches, or by people who think they need them. I am even less impressed by somebody who claims they could have anything — anything at all — and makes a living helping depressed yuppies.
So when I see a life coach telling me “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it”, I’m wondering to myself, “That life was the best you could attract?”
A tempest in a tea cup!
Andy’s remarks about the film reminded me a “Far Side” cartoon some years back:
Two characters are standing all by themselves next to a punchbowl in a huge, otherwise empty hall. They are the only people in the whole hall.
Above them is a banner draped across the ceiling that reads, “PWDNLDWW CONVENTION”.
A balloon from one of the characters says, “I thought that the accents were very unauthentic…” and from the other character, “Yes, and could you believe how ridiculous the Indians’ costumes looked?!?!!”
The caption to the cartoon read, “1st Annual Convention of the People Who Did Not Like Dances With Wolves”
If you don’t “get” the joke, you didn’t see the movie…
I am waiting for Andy to write his synopsis of this thread once it is all wrapped up. Here’s my “preview of the coming attraction” when he finally spills the beans on what he was up to when he started all this:
People (some of them, anyway) love controversy.
And when there isn’t enough it, there are some that will create it, when none exists.
Andy can do this when he wants to. I don’t think that he ordinarily wants to, but he is able to, and he is showing off his ability.
“The Secret” was a nice enough movie. Fact of the matter probably is, that Andy adores the flick and is making this little fuss about it is to attract more people to seeing it.
Also, you don’t really imagine that Andy works his “ass off” do you? I doubt that he does. I guess “working hard” is relative. And perhaps Andy feels that he is. But I don’t think you or I would think so, if we were looking on. I think we might make some heartfelt complimentary remarks about his insight and ingenuity, but I don’t think that we would feel that he is “working hard”. (If he were, wouldn’t that be a disappointment! All this time, I thought he was successful!)
I imagine that most of Andy’s money is coming pretty easily to him — in spite of any hard work that he might actually do — and I have no complaints, only praise.
I’ll bet Andy works smart, and not hard at all.
Like a lot of successful people he confuses the meanings of the words “working smart” with the words “working hard”.
The successful person considers he is “working hard” while he is on the phone or at his computer, or sitting talking with an associate. I think it’s fine for a successful person to think that he is “working hard” when he’s actually having fun!
But don’t YOU fall for it. If YOU are sincerely “working hard” for a living — well, that’s fine. Just realize that Andy’s definition of the words, his concept of what that means may be a lot different than your own.
I confess — I only occasionally read his newsletters, but as I recall he has promoted that he has been making really good money and that it hasn’t been that hard for him. Don’t burst my bubble, Andy! I’ve been looking up to you!
I wouldn’t be surprised to find Andy to be one of “The Secret Teachers” when they put out the next production.
Here is another club for you members of people who did not like The Secret, or Dances With Wolves: www.alanabel.com/sina.php
Excuse me — I have to go. Pretty important stuff that I have to do. I am going to write a nice whiney letter to “Sesame Street”.
(I just think that it is disgraceful the way that they are making fun of animals with those costumes that they wear! Don’t they know animals have feelings, too! )
And there are a few other things that I need to dream up in order to find a reason to get upset about something.
Perhaps Andy and I could co-venture a “Are Your Tits In The Wringer?” blog.
Dan
PS (I liked Dances With Wolves, the PTA, Dear Abbey and Sesame Street. I hope that this does not upset Andy and that he keeps me on his list…)
DL
Sesame Street! Now THERE is something I can watch and get real life lessons from.
I wish my tits could fit in a ringer - it’d mean these chest workouts are effective.
I giggle when it is proposed that I don’t work hard. Yeah, I like what I’m doing. But yeah, right now I’m working 14 hours days.
I thought a long time before I posted that post - I wrote it and rewrote it over several weeks so it is a truly thoughtful post. Cheers!
Well, *I* thought it was a good post.
Boring
And yet you left a comment.
Law of attraction works regardless if you like it or not. I know it works, and you do need to action to make it happen. If you do not apply the secret, you might end up with results you did not expect and believe me, they can be anything but not pleasant. And no one said in the movie not to put action. People in the movie are where they are due to the fact that they use that knowlage. Where are you all “antis” in the relation to them?
I haven’t seen the movie but I plan to. I have seen a SIGNIFICANT change in my life since I’ve taken on the principles in books like The Message of the Master. The fact that you are so cynical about it is why it won’t work for you. You may have riches but with that kind of attitude you won’t have wealth. The richness that comes from within.
Faith without works is dead. Of course you have to work hard, but if you’re working towards something that you’re passionate about and is for the greater good, it doesn’t feel like work at all.
I respect your perspective but I find it quite negative, close-minded, and really a whole lot of nothing. You told me nothing about the movie, but I think I learned a whole lot about you.
Basically, I find your blog to be cleverly-worded nonsense. I think you were more focused on putting neat little put-down phrases together than you were on saying something that would be of value to anyone or that would even make any sense.
EJ
Suggested Reading: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Bottom Line: There is alot of good stuff in the movie, but it goes too far. Like so many “gurus,” they are extremists.
Today, a thunderstorm moved over my house. I wasn’t even thinking about rain, but it happened. Am I responsible for this thunderstorm? According to Joe Vitale, I am.
Like with so many “Gurus” (Oprah, Dr. Phil, Dr. Wayne Dyer, etc., etc.), they have some good stuff, but they contradict themselves. They loose themselves in the ego they supposedly do not have. It’s a paradox. They are supposedly “enlightened,” yet they need the masses to validate them. Not that I believe for a minute that any of them are anymore enlightened than you or I.
It’s a good movie, worth watching…but, use your common sense. You can try to manifest the sun rising in the West all you want….but, I doubt you will be very successful…and it certainly won’t be your fault if it doesn’t happen.
Basic strategy in video production is: simple idea = high production values and complicated idea = keep production values simple. As you say, this was a well-done product with a straightforward idea.
The fact that the Law of Attraction is simple and has been preached throughout history doesn’t mean it isn’t valid. But explanations never produce what they explain, anymore than reading leadership books produces leaders…Hence, the “and work your ass off”.
The Secret also explains affirmations (when they work), prayer (when it works), positive thinking (when it works) and “you reap what you sew” (when you do)….so we have another way of talking about taking responsibility (a la your EST/Landmark friends) and being clear about what you want. Have a vision (a la Harvard Business school), then stay the course and trust the process (a la Pope John and legions of the faithful).
It’s up to you what context you choose for your actions.
Fantastic Movie
I started to see The Secret and fell asleep. It looked like another infomerical, with people I have never seen or heard of in my life. I think their “Secret” is having people buy the movie, join the “Secret” society on line, which you have to pay for, so their secret is that they are the one’s making the money!!! But without helping mankind, I believe you will attract the negative and bad things will happen to you. You can’t have it ALL and not share it with no one.
Keep The Secret…i want nothing to do with it, the manipulators who promote it or the idiots who believe in it. Were it a method to solve the legitimate issues & ills of the world and create scores of happy people rather then a means to make only yourself happy (via possission & riches for the lions share of those who believe - great message btw) I might consider adusting the way I think. Since it is not, however, I choose to let those of you who are simple minded enough to invest time into a notion such as The Secret do just that while the rest of us try to flesh out ways to make the world, not just ourselves, happy.
I find it interesting how many people automatically assume that every single person who sees The Secret will only use the information to acquire material things, simply because that is the main theme the film focused on. Yes, I am a robot. Yes, I will do exactly as the film tells me. Must…. have… more…. STUFF…. Funny, before watching the film I actually cared about world issues, poverty, war, the environment, politics - quite passionately, in fact. And yes, I actually DID something about it. And now that I have seen The Secret, and I know that all I have to do is think about money to get it… well, I somehow stopped caring about anyone or anything else and just sit on my couch all day dreaming about expensive cars and jewelry. Wow, you’re all onto me.
Pessimists will do absolutely anything to remain pessimists. I have a very hard time believing anyone who made the comments to which I am referring is doing much of anything at all to better our world.
Lindsay
This is way spiffier than The Secret, if only because you get to jack off at the same time.
Wow… reading all these comments and opinions is just like watching the secret itself. Thank you for making it more obvious with all of your replies.
Well, you’re spot on as to self-help being too focused on materialism and selfishness. And of course, all that quantum mechanics and pseudoscientists telling you pseudoscience (a “metaphysiscian”, for CRYING out loud!!) is a huge ball of crap.
AND.
The core message of this movie is, be thankful for whatever you want to achieve.
And that is one hell of a great attitude to have. It really does help me a lot, and it absolutely makes me less selfish in the end, because I can let go of my anger. So I really don’t care how I get this message across to myself. I need a reminder sometimes. So I say: Let that stuff be cheesy marketing fluff, or whatever - I want my thankful cookies, and I want them NOW!
bl
The real secret is that The Secret film is free for everyone around the world to see @
http://www.thescienceofgettingrich.biz
I’ve been interested in the Law of Attraction since I first heard about it. I honestly can’t even remember when or where I first heard about it. It is as if I’ve been thinking about it so long, that it’s just assimilated into long-term memory.
For me, the whole thing is best summed up in a conversation I had with a guy at work several years back.
We were talking about positive thinking and the Law of Attraction.
The only part of the exchange that I actually remember is when he said to me, “I tried that positive thinking stuff once, but just knew it wouldn’t work”
sheesh.
Thank you for this plug!
Yesterday,I’ve seen this propaganda movie about a calvinistic view of the world. The mix of buddhist teachings, esoteric meta hints and a hided calling for materialism is very pour and should be controverted. I hope not that so much people get convinced by this crap. If you are a searcher than look for books of fair-minded people like: Thich na tang; Tenzin Palmo; Herman Hesse or the Dalai Lama !!!
Thank you for this blog!
Yesterday,I’ve seen this propaganda movie about a calvinistic view of the world. The mix of buddhist teachings, esoteric meta hints and a hided calling for materialism is very pour and should be controverted. I hope not that so much people get convinced by this crap. If you are a searcher than look for books of fair-minded people like: Thich na tang; Tenzin Palmo; Herman Hesse or the Dalai Lama !!!
hi i was desperatly looking on the web to find a critic about this movie
and i m glad i found this blog
first of all have you been looking at the website of all those people the so called secret teachers
so awfull you just feel like they all want to send you some weird stuff
remind of those channel on tv where theres only adds for whitening your teeth or tools for your house or musculation gadget
seriously i think this movie is only talkin to buisness men or having already a lot of money
then there s this introduction at the beginning where you see all this “historical image” what are they trying to make us believe
you can t pretend fooling the people with some fake history
i found all the movie generalising about everything it s really easy to say all the great men knew the secret and then show pictures of einstein what a rip off
and the titles under the name of the actors \
philosopher metaphysician
tell me at which moment in the movie they talk about philosophy or philosophers
then they try to pretend to universaLIty showing images of chines and indian people
ok ok where are the araBS the amerindians the africans
it s just so generalising about everything
and i think the worst of it in this movie
is that it s true that the human is very powerfull
we are capable of everything creating the most amazing building like the sagrada familia or inventing the most amazing stories and at the same time killing massive number of people and fuckin with the climate
those people in this movie are really trying to kill each aspect of spirituality
the only thing you see you could get is object bike car
etc etc i know where living in a materialistic world
but you don t make a movie talkin about peace of mind accomplishment \
and you show me a white poor boy from a wealthy family getting a super bike that s nonsense thats AWFULL
there are things happening in this world \
politicians takin decision that rule the world after world
a progress or a regression through hystory
different mythology that crosses each other to build the story of the world
i won t enter in details but what i regret is that there is no details in this movie
and the aim of this movie is to kill every pixel of soul that is in the mind of everyone
cause after seeing the movie the only thing you re thinking is money and material possesion
seriously look at the website of those people there all marketing adviser not philosopher ‘
and if thery think they re learning me something they are all wrong
sorry i m a bit angry after such revelation
i defnitly agree with you
Taru, what a wonderful attitide, and I can attest to the fact it works. At 48, I had 3 heart attacks, quintuple bypass, and a stroke that left me no peripheral vision on the left side. I lost my job of driving as the government took my licence away. However, my optometrist and I wrote 9, 45 page, type written letters to the government about how absured the law was, especially when my eyes were 20/20 and I could pass every drivers test 100% to no avail.
Persistence paid, ….the government changed the law after 3 and a half years of letters and developed a visual waiver program, for drivers in this province. I got my licence back, and so did thousands of others, but it wouldn’t have happened, unless the good thoughts and positive thinking, everyday guided my way and spurred me on to win. And I did, unconditionally. Whether it’s a “Secret”, or just the power of positive thinking…….it DOES work.
Did anyone else notice the old hippy baby boomer new ager kinda theme here? Talk about a new twist on an old idea. I am surprised they didn’t have Tom Cruise and the Dianetics crew on hear. Ever since the baby boomers left the planet in the 60’s and 70’s they have been trying to come back down with some sort of magical enlightenment for all us dummies down here. The basic idea here is that the universe is energy, all things are energy, God is energy, therefore we are God. WOOO HOOO. I knew it!! And the powerful intention stuff, anybody remember that the road to hell is paved with good intentions? “Captain, we are out of dilythium crystals!” “Scotty… just… imagine them and they… will… appear. Otherwise, we’re gonna end up with a shit load of anti-matter!”
Andy, both you are right, and they right… huh what, why!?
THEY: You use the law of attraction, and you get it.
You: But you must “work your ass off”. (translation you actually do some actions on the outside, rather than just in your head).
WHEN you use the law of attraction, you DO actually end up doing the SAME actions on the outside. EXCEPT it feels like you just found yourself doing them.
Basically it’s the same thing, it’s just that the mental perspective is different. If you concentrate on the attraction part, you end up doing the outside actions.
If you concentrate on “working your ass off”… guess what?! You do the SAME outside actions.
Only difference is, in case 1 you feel good and positive and happy and the results feel “like magic”, while in the second case you feel overworked, stressed and resentfull.
P.S.
There’s 2 people stating “you can’t just sit home and just will it all day long, like a new agey spiritualist and hope it comes about”… You missed that part where they say “you need to work your ass off” as weel. Why did you miss it (re-view the movie).. Because you attracted that in. You watched the movie with the wish to see a scam, so you saw one.
I loved the movie. Take it as it is and all will be well.
This is all BS. Different strokes for different folks right… let’s all agree to disagree. Im glad I just watched this crap for free so I can go spend my $4.95 on a beer and a lottery ticket. Keep daydreaming hippy dreamers. You all are what is wrong with our country today. You all only care about yourselves. Godless pagans. This bullshit is a pyramid scheme. http://www.thescienceofgettingrich.biz (scroll down and read the text on the right and visit drewpictures.net). This wack shit is for mentally retarded faggots who want to make money skull-fucking their brainless peers.
I think this movie misses the mark. yes, there is a principle that we create what we think about, and when this is presented as a schmaltzy polished-up production, it is bound to get some people exicted and wanting to get more in their lives. It is the power of intention. But what were the intentions of the producers? Me thinks to sell movies, make money, and create a sense of immortality through popularizing a notion that is anything but secret. The notion that “The Secret” is revealed for the first time is a bunch of crap. This kind of marketing is shallow and manipulative, and one might say that’s an oxymoron.
So if we’re really going to make this a better place to be, we should be focusing on virtue and principles of living. OK, we’re really not hurting anybody by espousing this stuff, but let’s call it what it is, and not claim it’s some big secret that the immortally famous have applied in their lives to achieve fame, glory and riches. I’ll bet you most of the people cited in the movie would think the notion a bunch of crap. And we must be careful about how we define “great”. Alexander seems to have the corner on the moniker, but he earned his greatness by senseless killing so he could feed his big ego. The world, I think, will be a better place if we focus on compassion and generosity rather than greed and abundance. A redutionist approach to justify one’s own motives (creating wealth and fame) gets us nowhere, but I guess my colored glasses point me to a view that make us better neighbors and seek to reduce conflict in the world. Isn’t that a little better than getting more stuff? Who knows, I just don’t think this crap makes us better people, which the movie sure seems to imply.
You just said it. You’re simply not evolved enough.
The thing about cults is, you’d really like them to be a bit more intelligent and fun than this one. This one is just so, SO stupid. It’s beyond words.
I accidently got a webpage there two years ago thinking it was some networking blogsite and then promptly forgot about it — the site, and the page. I noticed (to my great mortification) that my actual name (which I’d never given them any permission to make public by the way, I used only a username on all my blogs then) was on a blank page on their site published in the search engines. Yes. Lovely. Nice to be associated with your BIZARRO hippy dippy cult when that potential employer does a google search on me.
So I started looking into their belief system. And thought. Really? People PAY for this shit? People pay for someone else to tell them that every piece of bad or good luck they ever have is NOT the result of hard work, or even simply the luck of the draw, but something they manifested out of their own mind?
Hell, if you wanted that much guilt, why not join the Catholic church while you’re at it and dispense with A. Hicks and his supposed posthumous mouthpiece altogether.
Right, he has a talking head. Now that IS weird. How do you slip THAT one past any normal sane adult. We’d like you to join our little umm, group. Send us money for books and tapes and umm… We have some belated advice for you, from Abraham.
Well yes, we know he’s dead. But, we do HEAR from him. Yes, we’re certain its him. He talks to us through Sara Hicks.
She’ll be channeling him today in the green room and afterwards, we’ll have some tapes on sale… Nice.
You know, I respect everyone’s opinion, but I think the movie, even having not watched it, is a great breath of fresh air for all those cynics out there who can’t get out of the cycle of thinking negatively. Sure we have all been through a rough time once in a while, but what if those rough times are a result of how we think and feel about ourselves and our lives. And what if our lives have taken a downward spiral out of control? I really wouldn’t go so far as to say it was made only to make a few people rich. There are actually people out there who give a damn about other people, and what is the hurt in distributing something that can potentially have an impact on many people’s lives? Sure, you can get rich being a cynic and bitter, but do you know if those people are happy? Are they really happy or do they substitute happiness with riches? We can’t make assumptions. I would definitely spend 30.00$ on this movie–it’s worth a shot–hey we have all spent 100 times that amount of money on idiotic things such as cigarettes, alcohol, and gambling. What’s the harm in trying it out?
I’ve got just a few things to say (again) about The Secret. I believe in the Law of Attraction, because I’ve witnessed it working in my life. I’m not about to try and “convert” anyone. That’s not my way.
As far as the “critics” and “detractors” who make mention of the people from the movie who have websites and make money from it, so what? It’s not different than Andy monetizing his expertise in blogging, or Steve Pavlina monetizing his expertise in Personal Development.
Each person has something to offer the world, and if each person can find a way to earn an income from their personal strengths and expertise, nobody should stand in their as long as no harm comes to their customers/clients.
Once again, I’m not in the business of trying to “convince” people of the Law of Attraction. You either believe in it or you don’t, and my beliefs do not require anyone else to believe in it.
Bill
Andy, I feel you Man. But, the law of attraction does bring whatever you are thinking/feeling. Work you ass off? If you see yourself doing it, you will. I do not work my ass off anymore. I choose to make my life easy, and I am more well off financially than when I was busting my ass. You see what you are, not what you want. Be it. Sure there is a time factor, but who cares, if what I choose comes, it comes!
Dear Andy (can I call you Andy?)
I find you got the same feeling from the movie I did, but by the other hand you’re worried about the “unhappy” examples shown along it. I’d say the same. What, now I can get money without doing nothing? All I have to do is to pretend I already have it and it’s done? Of course that’s a bit lame, after all, we know that’s not how things really work… there’s way more than that. I know people that makes money everyday, and I’m talking about tons of it, without doning anything… but they do have a very good and reasonable explanation to it, such as investments ro anything like that. Anyway, I still think that the idea behind the movie, “the law of attraction” is just a secret and it is more than 50% of a success formula for sure. After all, what does it mean without the work. You have to put your hand onto something to get it done. You can’t just sit there and pray!
Well, I just wanted you to read this in case you don’t agree with the movie “idea”, just in case you think they’re wrong… and therefore try to show me I’m wrong. I mean… I want to come hell or high water!
Cheerio!