Reply #57: Balantz,

[lildreamer316]

I am sorry that was your exposure and reaction to "The Secret". Mine has been quite different.
I first came upon the movie for free online. I now have it in my possession, not ever having paid one cent for it.

It came to me and my family at a time when we were barely making it...food on the table was hard; arguing and begging for utilities to give up "one more week" or maybe a couple of days? My husband, bless his heart, had wrecked our only family car, and was in court (attorneys + everything else for fees) and facing mandatory 30 days incarcerated. I did not work at the time.

It was..not the worst,I am sure, but not very bright times, indeed.

The movie helped me to see things from a different perspective; to realize that *I* was more in control of myself than I was giving myself credit for; that I could *choose* how to react and how to feel about a situation.

Today, we are well on our way to being secure. We got another car last year that lasted exactly as long as it needed too. THEN, we qualified for a car with a loan, something neither of us thought we could *ever* do!! (we do not have debt, no CCs, etc....but no credit either!). The payment are right where we can afford. The insurance, too..suprising after the wreck and court stuff he had.

My husband has served his time; one day a week for almost eight months instead of the dreaded 30 days straight...allowing him to get a WONDERFUL job (that did not mind his jail time!! REALLY!!). This job, within the year, moved him up to an even better position, and we got the hint today that he may be headed for an even BETTER position within the next year or two!!

Last weekend he made...well, enough to cover our bills for a month and a half (we still do live fairly simply, however).

I tell you all this not to say that "The Secret" either completely is responsible for our better fortunes, or failed in that we did not visualize even better for ourselves, but to say that it profoundly made an impact on how we perceived the world and in turn, ourselves. We both modified our actions to exude the most positive attitudes that we were able. Perfection in this is not strived for, just to do the best you can. Thinking "positive" was,if not (provably) necessarily a help, certainly a better feeling way of dealing with our situations that being upset and stressed and worried..and focused on the problems we faced, instead of the joys in life.

The key to the "Secret" is to just, as in many things, take from it what rings true to you, and leave what does not. The push towards materialism in the movie turned many off, and I understand that. I believe it was made that way to reach the widest audience possible, to strike a common chord in the collective consciousness that is the consumerism-obsessed society in which we live. I believe the authors/producers wanted to get the message out that underlies the 'prosperity' overlay..that true prosperity is a wealth of self-confidence, and love for yourself and others around you. I truly believe that one cannot fully love another without loving one's self - and this is just another path to learning to honor and love the source/divine/amazing natural creation that is you.

When Oprah had her two shows about this, I did watch, and some very enlightening and interesting discussion happened. At one point, she says in reference to a point about "The Secret" ..."How can I serve?"

How can I serve? is an integral part of using "The Secret" in my life, and, I hope, is becoming so in many others. As I see for myself how changing my attitude is helping me to become not only more materially secure, but more secure in my relationships with my husband and my son; my friends and my extended family; with the concept of the world and the collective conciousness (my fellow human beings); I become even more motivated to serve, to help, to try to do what I can. I want to set a good example for my son.

It is a shame that these people at the house party were using the movie only as a selling motivator, and, it seems, to insiduously move attendees to invest in their little enterprise. But that is not really "The Secret"'s fault. Again, we are being challenged, one by one, to think and evaluate everything for OURSELVES. Blindly following a 'religion'' 'belief system'; or 'cult' of ANY kind is something we all need to put behind us, for the good of the country and probably the world.

The Secret is not supposed to be a belief system or a religion; just a different way of looking at life and yourself. The point is to CHOOSE, and make an autonomous choice, and if it does not seem to feel right to you, that's ok too. I do believe that part was lost in translation, or maybe it was assumed that everyone already knew that...I dunno.

ANYway, I've soapboxed enough for you to deal with, I am sure. I hope that I've been clear. I also do want to state that I don't totally agree with the way the movie comes across.."If you don't get that NEW CAR you've been visualizing, you only have yourself to blame!" is a bit much to swallow. I admit it is possible that if I had tried harder, I'd be driving an 08 now, instead of an 03, but my brain just did not accept that as a realistic possibility. I don't really know if that kind of visualization can work. I can say, however, that our general, overall goals are being reached; and an overall positive trend has ensued. Whether that is due solely to hard work or partially to "The Secret"; is not provable in any scientific way. But it sure did change my (and husband's)attitude - and I do think that made a difference.

Moderation in everything has always worked for me - bottom line. Even in beliefs and practices. I don't fully condemn something like this, but I don't fully believe it is the be-all end-all either. And I can definitely get on board with the idea that like attracts like. It's never done me a bit of good to be negative all the time. It's not fun, either!

It has made my journey to this point, happier. I think that is enough to make it worthwhile, for me.


I EDIT TO ADD: As I perused DU, this jumped out at me in relation:

"What kind of Church teaches despair and anger? One designed to keep the working class divided against itself, so that it will not unite to challenge the ruling class."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...