The Secret

[skalenfehl]

The gratitude part is what I mainly took from the book.

[Elphaba]

"What you resist you attract"

"The law of attraction says like things attract like. . . "

In my opinion this is new agey mumbo jumbo that comes out every two generations or so. What you want it to say will pop out at you, because anything and everything is included somewhere in the book. However, you won't notice the information you're not looking for as it isn't relative to your life at the moment.

I also do not equate this with religious worship, or faith. I equate this with exploitation.

Elphaba

[EighthChild]

"you won't notice the information you're not looking for as it isn't relative to your life at the moment."


isn't that the case with anything you read - including the scriptures?

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by EighthChild

"you won't notice the information you're not looking for as it isn't relative to your life at the moment."

isn't that the case with anything you read - including the scriptures?

Yes it is. However, to me there is a difference.

I can't exactly put my finger on what it is, which is odd for me, because I am an atheist and believe the scriptures were all written by men with no supernatural involvement.

I think it is because I don't picture the authors of the scriptures as charlatans exploiting people's pain while raking in the big bucks.

Each generation has its "guru," such as the author of "The Secret," whom I do consider to be a charlatan.

Wait ten years and see how people regard "The Secret." I guarantee you it will be with disdain.

Elphaba

[EighthChild]

I am curious why this book seems to be so offensive to some.

I don't see the author of "the secret" as a guru. She is a person who happened on information she found useful. She saw a need and an opportunity to share what she learned with others. Doesn't that describe most business owners in America?

Why is it offensive if she makes a profit? Should she not desire to improve her own circumstances in a way that is uplifting to others?

[crytsprospect]

yes it is a bit new age but its not a bad book says a good message and I like it for what it is . There is good in it. I choose not to waste my time tearing down because I submit my self to negative (satan ) that way and look for the good . The basic message is good and if they make money on it well that is what life is right now so more power to them.

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by EighthChild

Why is it offensive if she makes a profit? Should she not desire to improve her own circumstances in a way that is uplifting to others?

It is offensive because, as I said in my previous post, it exploits people who are in pain.

These people will buy the book hoping once they find the "secret," they'll know what to do to finally do away with their depression, their difficulty with their relationships, their feelings of inadequacy, their inability to stay out of debt, their fear of death, etc., But it won't. As I said, wait ten years and and I guarantee the book will be looked at with disdain.

Here is my advice:

Look in the mirror every day and say: "I love you."

Practice being assertive in your relationships and tell them up front what you want and need from them.

Always start your sentences with "I feel. . ." rather than "You make me feel. . ."

Take time for yourself every day where you can meditate on your relationship with God, or your connection with your higher power, or your love of nature.

Repeat the Serenity Prayer every morning:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Do something different every day, even if it is only having a different sandwich for lunch. Soon you will be finding new ways to make the bigger changes you want to make but are too hesitant.

Buy a dog.

That will be $10.95

Elphaba

[EighthChild]

Elphaba,

It sounds like you may not be giving people "credit" to have enough intelligence to recognize the book for what it is.

[tomk]

Can you describe the "Law of Attraction" in a bit more detail?

I know that what I focus my thoughts upon, what I really desire -- which is right -- often does come to pass. Truth attracts Truth. Intelligence cleaves unto intelligence. It is a real transformation. A spiritual and physical transformation that is quite literal.

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by EighthChild

Elphaba,

It sounds like you may not be giving people "credit" to have enough intelligence to recognize the book for what it is.

Then you misunderstand me.

I give people all of the credit in the world. As Tomk said he has already experienced truth attracts truth. It's not that difficult of a concept, and has been in the human psyche for centuries. People don't need a book to understand this.

On the other hand, there are people who have had difficult lives and have already tried to apply "laws of attraction" to their lives, and it simply has not helped them. So they purchase "The Secret," hoping it is the answer to end their suffering, and will teach them how to rise above the whirlpool that sucks them in to darkness. Thus, when they apply the principles of the book and when it doesn't work for them, it is yet another failure to them, and deepens their depression.

That is exploitation of people's pain. So when someone writes yet another self-help book that is going to be looked at in the future as ridiculous nonsense, it is an atrocious insult to a significant portion of readers.

There is no sense of decency to me when these self-appointed "guru"s write such books while making a profit.

Did her book help anyone? Yes, I'm sure it did. Did it harm anyone? Absolutely. And yet the author made a profit from these people. It's despicable.

Elphaba