I’ve just finished reading The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. The secret behind The Secret is that we manifest reality through our thoughts. This simple statement gets you thinking in more ways than one. Can we really achieve all our desires just by thinking about it? Ask, believe, receive. It’s a little more complicated than that but that’s essentially the basis of The Secret. By Rhonda Byrne’s own admission, the ideas outlined in The Secret are nothing new. They’ve been around for a hundred years and I recall having The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles in 1910 – on which The Secret is based – forwarded to me by email several years ago. I never read it at the time but many of the principles are familiar to me. Not discussing ill health in order to avoid encouraging more ill health is something I’ve subscribed to for as long as I can remember. I’ve also read similar principles in a number of metaphysical books. The Secret presents these ideas in a very accessible, appealing way but following the Law of Attraction requires a significant mind shift, especially for those that were brought up to believe success only comes with serious hard work. Or crime! Western society is further restricted by the view that success has a dollar figure. Money does not buy happiness. The sudden tragic deaths of high-profile celebrities will attest to that. The Universe knows that we must use it or lose it. According to Dan Buettner’s research, one of the indicators or longevity is an active, purposeful life.
We’ve all read stories of people that have won the lottery and then squandered it. Others win the lottery but continue to live frugal, meaningful lives. We also can’t expect the Universe to perform miracles. People often say, “I never win competitions. But when asked how many competition they enter they answer, “none.” As Quentin Crisp said, “Believe in fate, but lean forward so that fate can see you.” Give the Universe something to work with.
The Secret also has links to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with regards to positive thinking. People who are not depressed tend to achieve more. Our society is better than any other at looking at all the things we don’t have which is a big no-no according to The Secret. By focusing on what we don’t have and don’t want, we apparently attract more of that to ourselves. (So much for the saying, “Don’t think it can’t happen to you!”) I also wonder that so many of these people that attest to the power of the Law of Attraction were once homeless or otherwise destitute. When you’re that far down – the only way is up. You have to think positive and dream of a better life or you risk staying where you are.
For me, The Secret opens up questions that it doesn’t provide answers for. If we all manifest our own destiny, how is it that a six year old boy gets killed by a drunk driver while playing in his front yard? No six year old would entertain that reality let alone give it significant thought. Some very bad thing happen to some very nice people and I find it hard to believe they have chosen that destiny for themselves. This is one of the most common criticisms of the film/book. I also wonder, does the Law of Attraction work simply because we are focused on certain things so we therefore – consciously or subconsciously put more energy into it?
The real secret behind The Secret is a highly effective (some say aggressive) marketing campaign. A movie followed by a book supported by a comprehensive website and endorsed be Queen Midas herself (Oprah). It has mass appeal – marketed at anyone who wants to be wealthy (which is just about everybody) and the theory is difficult to refute. According to The Secret, if you doubt or question the Law of Attraction, it won’t work. The Secret has both supporters and detractors. I suggest you watch/read and make up you your own mind. Regardless of whether or not the Law of Attraction is, I believe if everyone were to subscribe to The Secrets of positive thinking, philanthropy and of gratitude, the world would be a better place.