The Secret, and other thoughts

Jojo dropped off her DVD of The Secret last night, as promised. I’d been hearing a lot about it, and I was curious in a skeptical sort of way. I had mostly dismissed it until some reasonably credible people in my life started singing its praises, and then I heard that the mentoring and coaching program at work was also advocating it.

Beloved and I watched it together, and I have to admit that there were no dramatic epiphanies on either of our parts. The Secret is basically a repackaging of the power of positive thinking mixed in with a bit of theosophy and a little bit of The Force thrown in for good measure… conveniently, the three tenents upon which I’ve already built my own rather esoteric faith system.

The premise is that your thoughts and feelings have a physical power, and that there is a universal “law of attraction” that draws what you think and feel to you. In short, if you send good energy out into the universe, the universe sends good things back to you. I’m completely on board with that philosophy, and have tried to live my life that way for years. Where I am still a little skeptical is the extrapolation from that, where The Secret claims that whatever you want, as minor as a parking spot close to the door at the mall or as major as a multi-million dollar mansion by the beach, you can draw to yourself through three simple steps. First, tell the universe what you want. Second, visualize not only that you actually have what you covet, but allow yourself to experience the positive emotions that you will feel when you have the thing you covet. Third, believe in the power of your thoughts.

Hmmm.

I remember back in the early 1980s when we were growing up, we used to play a lot of cards as a family. My dad, who was in sales at the time, was a hugely strong believer in the power of positive thinking, and he’d slap his hand on the deck of cards and ‘demand’ which card he wanted to pick up. I can’t remember how frequently it would work as a ratio of the number of times he tried it, but damn if it didn’t work at least often enough to leave an impression with me all these years later.

So maybe there is something to this. I mean, I do agree with Shakespeare, who says through Hamlet, “There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”( I,v, 175) And I can’t argue with the underlying premise. I just have trouble with the covetous aspect of this particular philosophy, that you can attract stuff to you by simple virtue of your desire.

I also have a bit of a problem with the idea that you attract everything to yourself, including the bad stuff. You attract cancer and AIDS and poverty through negativity? And the idea that you can cure yourself of something – again, cancer comes to mind, but I’m also thinking of infertility here – by simply willing it away? What really bothers me about this is the implication that if you can’t will it away, you simply aren’t trying hard enough.

Anyway, it was very interesting, and the timing was certainly right. I’ve been making a conscious effort to lead a calmer, less obsessive, more “zen” life since last Wednesday. I’m giving myself over to the universe, placing my faith in fate, and I have to tell you it’s been incredibly liberating.

I’ve decided, for example, not to go for a beta blood test to find out the actual hCG count. This is a huge departure from the girl who kept obsessive results of hormone levels and follicle counts in an excel spreadsheet through four infertility treatments. Those of you who were around last September when I found myself pregnant will remember the great gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands that occurred when the blood test came back at the high end of normal, possibly indicating twins. The great irony, of course, is that high hCG is at least ordinarily an indicator of a strong pregnancy. So, I’ve decided this time to simply be grateful for the positive pregnancy test this time around, and wait patiently for the first ultrasound in two weeks.

Same with the nanny that we interviewed the other day – the same day, in fact, that we found out about the pregnancy. She’s great and I really like her, but I’m not sure we can pay what she needs. So I made our best offer, and she’s been considering it. I could have obsessed and been anxious and fretted for days, but none of that would have made any difference whatsoever. Instead, I’ve given it over to the universe, and know that whatever was meant to be will happen. I’ve done what I can, the rest is up to her.

I’m not sure if I can keep this up, but I’d like to try. I think this is what people who have true faith in God can do – simply turn over their hopes and fears to God, with the faith that God knows best and the Will of God will prevail.

But on the off chance it might help, I think I’ll take a few quiet minutes over the next little while to visualize the new caregiver frolicking happily in the park with my boys, and my round-bellied self waddling up the street to meet them with my heart spilling over with joy. I mean, it can’t hurt, right?

Whaddya think? You buy it?

Author: DaniGirl

Canadian. storyteller, photographer, mom to 3. Professional dilettante.

96 thoughts on “The Secret, and other thoughts”

  1. I always have trouble buying into only a part of something. I usually either have to take all of it or reject all of it.
    I like the positive aspects of The Secret but I can’t buy into the negative (I have EXACTLY the same problem as you with the notion that people who can’t cure themselves are just not trying hard enough). But I wonder if seeing as I can’t buy into the negative, will the positive even work for me?
    That being said, I do believe that visualizing what you want helps you to create a good atmosphere for getting something positive, even if it is not exactly as you expected it.
    I’ll help you out by visualizing your scene as well, perhaps working together will increase the chances of it coming true?
    I prefer ‘Think and Grow Rich’ to ‘The Secret’ because TGR says you have to use both your subconscious AND hard work. I can buy into that more easily.
    I have TGR summarized into about 12-15 pages of notes, I can send them to you if you like.
    Sorry for taking over your comments here. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. I always have trouble buying into only a part of something. I usually either have to take all of it or reject all of it.
    I like the positive aspects of The Secret but I can’t buy into the negative (I have EXACTLY the same problem as you with the notion that people who can’t cure themselves are just not trying hard enough). But I wonder if seeing as I can’t buy into the negative, will the positive even work for me?
    That being said, I do believe that visualizing what you want helps you to create a good atmosphere for getting something positive, even if it is not exactly as you expected it.
    I’ll help you out by visualizing your scene as well, perhaps working together will increase the chances of it coming true?
    I prefer ‘Think and Grow Rich’ to ‘The Secret’ because TGR says you have to use both your subconscious AND hard work. I can buy into that more easily.
    I have TGR summarized into about 12-15 pages of notes, I can send them to you if you like.
    Sorry for taking over your comments here. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. I always have trouble buying into only a part of something. I usually either have to take all of it or reject all of it.
    I like the positive aspects of The Secret but I can’t buy into the negative (I have EXACTLY the same problem as you with the notion that people who can’t cure themselves are just not trying hard enough). But I wonder if seeing as I can’t buy into the negative, will the positive even work for me?
    That being said, I do believe that visualizing what you want helps you to create a good atmosphere for getting something positive, even if it is not exactly as you expected it.
    I’ll help you out by visualizing your scene as well, perhaps working together will increase the chances of it coming true?
    I prefer ‘Think and Grow Rich’ to ‘The Secret’ because TGR says you have to use both your subconscious AND hard work. I can buy into that more easily.
    I have TGR summarized into about 12-15 pages of notes, I can send them to you if you like.
    Sorry for taking over your comments here. ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. I always have trouble buying into only a part of something. I usually either have to take all of it or reject all of it.
    I like the positive aspects of The Secret but I can’t buy into the negative (I have EXACTLY the same problem as you with the notion that people who can’t cure themselves are just not trying hard enough). But I wonder if seeing as I can’t buy into the negative, will the positive even work for me?
    That being said, I do believe that visualizing what you want helps you to create a good atmosphere for getting something positive, even if it is not exactly as you expected it.
    I’ll help you out by visualizing your scene as well, perhaps working together will increase the chances of it coming true?
    I prefer ‘Think and Grow Rich’ to ‘The Secret’ because TGR says you have to use both your subconscious AND hard work. I can buy into that more easily.
    I have TGR summarized into about 12-15 pages of notes, I can send them to you if you like.
    Sorry for taking over your comments here. ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Although I do believe in the power of positive thinking, I also believe that there are just somethings that are not within our reach. There are just a few things that need to be left to pure faith. Otherwise, there would be peace in the world and I would have five kids. So yes, positive thinking is great, but don’t spend too much money on their stuff, because you will just be feeding their ‘secret’ and not yours.

  6. Although I do believe in the power of positive thinking, I also believe that there are just somethings that are not within our reach. There are just a few things that need to be left to pure faith. Otherwise, there would be peace in the world and I would have five kids. So yes, positive thinking is great, but don’t spend too much money on their stuff, because you will just be feeding their ‘secret’ and not yours.

  7. Although I do believe in the power of positive thinking, I also believe that there are just somethings that are not within our reach. There are just a few things that need to be left to pure faith. Otherwise, there would be peace in the world and I would have five kids. So yes, positive thinking is great, but don’t spend too much money on their stuff, because you will just be feeding their ‘secret’ and not yours.

  8. Although I do believe in the power of positive thinking, I also believe that there are just somethings that are not within our reach. There are just a few things that need to be left to pure faith. Otherwise, there would be peace in the world and I would have five kids. So yes, positive thinking is great, but don’t spend too much money on their stuff, because you will just be feeding their ‘secret’ and not yours.

  9. MY manager is a big believer in the power of postiive thinking. I have told her that although some of this may be true that some of it is just plain hard work. If you want to get better work at it…don’t sit there and think I deserve this and becasue I think this I will get it. She tells me my sales willnot go up if I keep thinking this way. BUT my sales are UP and I don’t think this way.
    GEE…Wonder why?
    Guess I’m just not a believer in the secert which is not SUCH a secert after all.
    HOGWASH.
    ๐Ÿ˜‰

  10. MY manager is a big believer in the power of postiive thinking. I have told her that although some of this may be true that some of it is just plain hard work. If you want to get better work at it…don’t sit there and think I deserve this and becasue I think this I will get it. She tells me my sales willnot go up if I keep thinking this way. BUT my sales are UP and I don’t think this way.
    GEE…Wonder why?
    Guess I’m just not a believer in the secert which is not SUCH a secert after all.
    HOGWASH.
    ๐Ÿ˜‰

  11. MY manager is a big believer in the power of postiive thinking. I have told her that although some of this may be true that some of it is just plain hard work. If you want to get better work at it…don’t sit there and think I deserve this and becasue I think this I will get it. She tells me my sales willnot go up if I keep thinking this way. BUT my sales are UP and I don’t think this way.
    GEE…Wonder why?
    Guess I’m just not a believer in the secert which is not SUCH a secert after all.
    HOGWASH.
    ๐Ÿ˜‰

  12. MY manager is a big believer in the power of postiive thinking. I have told her that although some of this may be true that some of it is just plain hard work. If you want to get better work at it…don’t sit there and think I deserve this and becasue I think this I will get it. She tells me my sales willnot go up if I keep thinking this way. BUT my sales are UP and I don’t think this way.
    GEE…Wonder why?
    Guess I’m just not a believer in the secert which is not SUCH a secert after all.
    HOGWASH.
    ๐Ÿ˜‰

  13. My issues with what I’ve heard of The Secret (I’ve not read the book nor seen the DVD) are the same as yours. That we attract everything to us, either positive or negative. Postitive thinking has a wonderful effect on our outlook, which I think opens us up to opportunities to bring us to what we want that we might not have seen otherwise, but I don’t believe negative thinking brings us diseases like Cancer, and I think it’s harmful to tell someone they can cure themselves of Cancer if only they believe it strongly enough…
    However, there is a wonderful freedom in giving worry and stress over to the universe and living just in the now…It’s something I’m trying to do more of.

  14. My issues with what I’ve heard of The Secret (I’ve not read the book nor seen the DVD) are the same as yours. That we attract everything to us, either positive or negative. Postitive thinking has a wonderful effect on our outlook, which I think opens us up to opportunities to bring us to what we want that we might not have seen otherwise, but I don’t believe negative thinking brings us diseases like Cancer, and I think it’s harmful to tell someone they can cure themselves of Cancer if only they believe it strongly enough…
    However, there is a wonderful freedom in giving worry and stress over to the universe and living just in the now…It’s something I’m trying to do more of.

  15. My issues with what I’ve heard of The Secret (I’ve not read the book nor seen the DVD) are the same as yours. That we attract everything to us, either positive or negative. Postitive thinking has a wonderful effect on our outlook, which I think opens us up to opportunities to bring us to what we want that we might not have seen otherwise, but I don’t believe negative thinking brings us diseases like Cancer, and I think it’s harmful to tell someone they can cure themselves of Cancer if only they believe it strongly enough…
    However, there is a wonderful freedom in giving worry and stress over to the universe and living just in the now…It’s something I’m trying to do more of.

  16. My issues with what I’ve heard of The Secret (I’ve not read the book nor seen the DVD) are the same as yours. That we attract everything to us, either positive or negative. Postitive thinking has a wonderful effect on our outlook, which I think opens us up to opportunities to bring us to what we want that we might not have seen otherwise, but I don’t believe negative thinking brings us diseases like Cancer, and I think it’s harmful to tell someone they can cure themselves of Cancer if only they believe it strongly enough…
    However, there is a wonderful freedom in giving worry and stress over to the universe and living just in the now…It’s something I’m trying to do more of.

  17. The Secret drives me absolutely up the freaking wall. I hate it. I’ve been sitting on a post about it for a month or two, and might post it soon, since I’m absolutely brain dead on new stuff right now.

  18. The Secret drives me absolutely up the freaking wall. I hate it. I’ve been sitting on a post about it for a month or two, and might post it soon, since I’m absolutely brain dead on new stuff right now.

  19. The Secret drives me absolutely up the freaking wall. I hate it. I’ve been sitting on a post about it for a month or two, and might post it soon, since I’m absolutely brain dead on new stuff right now.

  20. The Secret drives me absolutely up the freaking wall. I hate it. I’ve been sitting on a post about it for a month or two, and might post it soon, since I’m absolutely brain dead on new stuff right now.

  21. I’m with Andrea. You know, it’s amazing what the Western world can convince itself of. Does this mean that the third world just doesn’t think enough happy thoughts. If only they could visualize better they’d find a way out of the extreme poverty that is in part imposed on them by the West. NOPE, I don’t buy it for a second.

  22. I’m with Andrea. You know, it’s amazing what the Western world can convince itself of. Does this mean that the third world just doesn’t think enough happy thoughts. If only they could visualize better they’d find a way out of the extreme poverty that is in part imposed on them by the West. NOPE, I don’t buy it for a second.

  23. I’m with Andrea. You know, it’s amazing what the Western world can convince itself of. Does this mean that the third world just doesn’t think enough happy thoughts. If only they could visualize better they’d find a way out of the extreme poverty that is in part imposed on them by the West. NOPE, I don’t buy it for a second.

  24. I’m with Andrea. You know, it’s amazing what the Western world can convince itself of. Does this mean that the third world just doesn’t think enough happy thoughts. If only they could visualize better they’d find a way out of the extreme poverty that is in part imposed on them by the West. NOPE, I don’t buy it for a second.

  25. I’m with Andrea, too. Reminds me of those preachers you see on TV, like Benny Hinn, that multi-billionaire praising the Lord and claiming he can cure all… there is a special place in hell for people like him, that is for sure.
    I am all for positive thinking and thought stopping and all that stuff… it is a great thing to do, to think positively, and to try to live life the best you can, with positive thoughts and happy thoughts but that will not prevent sickness or the sad state of the world, no matter what. So I think the book is a bit loopy.

  26. I’m with Andrea, too. Reminds me of those preachers you see on TV, like Benny Hinn, that multi-billionaire praising the Lord and claiming he can cure all… there is a special place in hell for people like him, that is for sure.
    I am all for positive thinking and thought stopping and all that stuff… it is a great thing to do, to think positively, and to try to live life the best you can, with positive thoughts and happy thoughts but that will not prevent sickness or the sad state of the world, no matter what. So I think the book is a bit loopy.

  27. I’m with Andrea, too. Reminds me of those preachers you see on TV, like Benny Hinn, that multi-billionaire praising the Lord and claiming he can cure all… there is a special place in hell for people like him, that is for sure.
    I am all for positive thinking and thought stopping and all that stuff… it is a great thing to do, to think positively, and to try to live life the best you can, with positive thoughts and happy thoughts but that will not prevent sickness or the sad state of the world, no matter what. So I think the book is a bit loopy.

  28. I’m with Andrea, too. Reminds me of those preachers you see on TV, like Benny Hinn, that multi-billionaire praising the Lord and claiming he can cure all… there is a special place in hell for people like him, that is for sure.
    I am all for positive thinking and thought stopping and all that stuff… it is a great thing to do, to think positively, and to try to live life the best you can, with positive thoughts and happy thoughts but that will not prevent sickness or the sad state of the world, no matter what. So I think the book is a bit loopy.

  29. I thought about leaving this comment:
    Barf.
    But then I decided that would be very rude!
    So here’s the long version:
    Whatever is useful from The Secret/positive thinking movement is the stuff that has to do with manipulating yourself. Visualizing what you want and how you will feel when you get it can certainly help build determination and stick-to-it-iveness, but it has no effect, physical or otherwise, on the outside world – at best it affects your behaviour, which then affects the outside world.
    God is not a cosmic vending machine, and neither is the universe.
    (Okay, so the long version isn’t very polite either. No offense, Dani – if anyone can turn this stuff into an appealing and workable philosophy, it’s you.)

  30. I thought about leaving this comment:
    Barf.
    But then I decided that would be very rude!
    So here’s the long version:
    Whatever is useful from The Secret/positive thinking movement is the stuff that has to do with manipulating yourself. Visualizing what you want and how you will feel when you get it can certainly help build determination and stick-to-it-iveness, but it has no effect, physical or otherwise, on the outside world – at best it affects your behaviour, which then affects the outside world.
    God is not a cosmic vending machine, and neither is the universe.
    (Okay, so the long version isn’t very polite either. No offense, Dani – if anyone can turn this stuff into an appealing and workable philosophy, it’s you.)

  31. I thought about leaving this comment:
    Barf.
    But then I decided that would be very rude!
    So here’s the long version:
    Whatever is useful from The Secret/positive thinking movement is the stuff that has to do with manipulating yourself. Visualizing what you want and how you will feel when you get it can certainly help build determination and stick-to-it-iveness, but it has no effect, physical or otherwise, on the outside world – at best it affects your behaviour, which then affects the outside world.
    God is not a cosmic vending machine, and neither is the universe.
    (Okay, so the long version isn’t very polite either. No offense, Dani – if anyone can turn this stuff into an appealing and workable philosophy, it’s you.)

  32. I thought about leaving this comment:
    Barf.
    But then I decided that would be very rude!
    So here’s the long version:
    Whatever is useful from The Secret/positive thinking movement is the stuff that has to do with manipulating yourself. Visualizing what you want and how you will feel when you get it can certainly help build determination and stick-to-it-iveness, but it has no effect, physical or otherwise, on the outside world – at best it affects your behaviour, which then affects the outside world.
    God is not a cosmic vending machine, and neither is the universe.
    (Okay, so the long version isn’t very polite either. No offense, Dani – if anyone can turn this stuff into an appealing and workable philosophy, it’s you.)

  33. I pretty much agree that there is something to positive thinking, if only that your improved attitude makes you more open to the possibilities, but I can’t stomache it stretching to blame the victim.
    If visualizing can help calm the nerves, then great. Never works for me, butnevertheless I’m hoping Dani’s visualization will bring her the perfect nanny. And maybe a little more positive attitude from me will budge my glum mood.
    Like every other trip to the spiritual banquet, I seem to always end up with just a bit of everything.

  34. I pretty much agree that there is something to positive thinking, if only that your improved attitude makes you more open to the possibilities, but I can’t stomache it stretching to blame the victim.
    If visualizing can help calm the nerves, then great. Never works for me, butnevertheless I’m hoping Dani’s visualization will bring her the perfect nanny. And maybe a little more positive attitude from me will budge my glum mood.
    Like every other trip to the spiritual banquet, I seem to always end up with just a bit of everything.

  35. I pretty much agree that there is something to positive thinking, if only that your improved attitude makes you more open to the possibilities, but I can’t stomache it stretching to blame the victim.
    If visualizing can help calm the nerves, then great. Never works for me, butnevertheless I’m hoping Dani’s visualization will bring her the perfect nanny. And maybe a little more positive attitude from me will budge my glum mood.
    Like every other trip to the spiritual banquet, I seem to always end up with just a bit of everything.

  36. I pretty much agree that there is something to positive thinking, if only that your improved attitude makes you more open to the possibilities, but I can’t stomache it stretching to blame the victim.
    If visualizing can help calm the nerves, then great. Never works for me, butnevertheless I’m hoping Dani’s visualization will bring her the perfect nanny. And maybe a little more positive attitude from me will budge my glum mood.
    Like every other trip to the spiritual banquet, I seem to always end up with just a bit of everything.

  37. I think that judging people who find help in a movie or book like The Secret is wrong. Everyone isn’t born confident, and sometimes life socks you in the gut and kicks you in the knees and you need to reconnect with that which you did as a kid, which was to assume that if you wanted something cool, it would come to you.
    I’m a big fan of giving people the tools they need to improve their life. If they find that tool in The Secret, so be it. If they find it in Anthony Robbins, so be it. If they find it in the church, I’m down with that too. Go ahead and proseltyze, Secret-lovers. I’m there for you. Whatever makes you stronger and able to seize the day works for me.
    And, I’m a little surprised by the negativity of the commenters here today. Haven’t you ever met anyone who needed something positive in their life? Haven’t you ever needed something to help you turn your life around? Before you get all judgey, I’d hope you think about the hundreds of people who read Dani’s blog and the comments every day who might have been helped by this book, in whatever way. They might now feel too intimidated to comment about their positive interactions with this book, or disinclined to learn from its examples.
    I’m disappointed.

  38. I think that judging people who find help in a movie or book like The Secret is wrong. Everyone isn’t born confident, and sometimes life socks you in the gut and kicks you in the knees and you need to reconnect with that which you did as a kid, which was to assume that if you wanted something cool, it would come to you.
    I’m a big fan of giving people the tools they need to improve their life. If they find that tool in The Secret, so be it. If they find it in Anthony Robbins, so be it. If they find it in the church, I’m down with that too. Go ahead and proseltyze, Secret-lovers. I’m there for you. Whatever makes you stronger and able to seize the day works for me.
    And, I’m a little surprised by the negativity of the commenters here today. Haven’t you ever met anyone who needed something positive in their life? Haven’t you ever needed something to help you turn your life around? Before you get all judgey, I’d hope you think about the hundreds of people who read Dani’s blog and the comments every day who might have been helped by this book, in whatever way. They might now feel too intimidated to comment about their positive interactions with this book, or disinclined to learn from its examples.
    I’m disappointed.

  39. I think that judging people who find help in a movie or book like The Secret is wrong. Everyone isn’t born confident, and sometimes life socks you in the gut and kicks you in the knees and you need to reconnect with that which you did as a kid, which was to assume that if you wanted something cool, it would come to you.
    I’m a big fan of giving people the tools they need to improve their life. If they find that tool in The Secret, so be it. If they find it in Anthony Robbins, so be it. If they find it in the church, I’m down with that too. Go ahead and proseltyze, Secret-lovers. I’m there for you. Whatever makes you stronger and able to seize the day works for me.
    And, I’m a little surprised by the negativity of the commenters here today. Haven’t you ever met anyone who needed something positive in their life? Haven’t you ever needed something to help you turn your life around? Before you get all judgey, I’d hope you think about the hundreds of people who read Dani’s blog and the comments every day who might have been helped by this book, in whatever way. They might now feel too intimidated to comment about their positive interactions with this book, or disinclined to learn from its examples.
    I’m disappointed.

  40. I think that judging people who find help in a movie or book like The Secret is wrong. Everyone isn’t born confident, and sometimes life socks you in the gut and kicks you in the knees and you need to reconnect with that which you did as a kid, which was to assume that if you wanted something cool, it would come to you.
    I’m a big fan of giving people the tools they need to improve their life. If they find that tool in The Secret, so be it. If they find it in Anthony Robbins, so be it. If they find it in the church, I’m down with that too. Go ahead and proseltyze, Secret-lovers. I’m there for you. Whatever makes you stronger and able to seize the day works for me.
    And, I’m a little surprised by the negativity of the commenters here today. Haven’t you ever met anyone who needed something positive in their life? Haven’t you ever needed something to help you turn your life around? Before you get all judgey, I’d hope you think about the hundreds of people who read Dani’s blog and the comments every day who might have been helped by this book, in whatever way. They might now feel too intimidated to comment about their positive interactions with this book, or disinclined to learn from its examples.
    I’m disappointed.

  41. So, I’m sitting here, all positve and all that, but so far every time I check for the HUGE bag of cash that is supposed to be at my front door, it ain’t there….did it say how long this takes????

  42. So, I’m sitting here, all positve and all that, but so far every time I check for the HUGE bag of cash that is supposed to be at my front door, it ain’t there….did it say how long this takes????

  43. So, I’m sitting here, all positve and all that, but so far every time I check for the HUGE bag of cash that is supposed to be at my front door, it ain’t there….did it say how long this takes????

  44. So, I’m sitting here, all positve and all that, but so far every time I check for the HUGE bag of cash that is supposed to be at my front door, it ain’t there….did it say how long this takes????

  45. Kerry I could kiss you right all over your face!!!
    Ya, for me, the Secret is about opening myself up to all this world has to offer. I am a HUGE believer in spirals. Negative and positive. When you are in a positive one, everything you see is positive. The bad pales and is hardly noticeable. When you are in a negative one, everything you see is negative and you have to be practically beaten over the head to see the positive.
    Do I think that people attract cancer? I have a hard time with that one. So before I start, let me preface this with big and huge “FOR ME”, “IN MY EXPERIENCE” and “I AM ONLY TALKING ABOUT ME AND MY PARENTSรƒโ€šร‚โ€, “I HAVE NO JUDGEMENT OR OPINION OF ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE”.
    I watched my mom swallow bitter feelings her whole life. When she first got cancer she rallied with her friends and kicked out the source of bitterness (my dad) and started to live her life. She was cancer free in 6 months. She stayed that way for 7 years. Then she retired and left her hands idle and resentful. She began to harp on the bad side of things. Life became bitter for her again. Guess what? It came back. Yeah, re-occurrence rate is high and I could chalk it up to that. But she rallied again and that cancer stopped growing for 6 years. Then all the bitterness she pushed down came up again and it ripped through her body like fire. The whole time she kept saying to us that if she died after her 70th birthday then she would have no life insurance. She would leave us nothing and it was more than she could bear. I argued with her till I was blue in the face that no amount of money she could leave us would ever, ever compare to what she had given us as a mother. You know what? She died right before her 70th birthday. The money we got? Paid for her funeral.
    My dad lived his whole life convinced he would die before he was 60 because his dad died before he was 60. My dad died 1 month before his 60th birthday.
    I only offer this as, in my experience I have seen a direct mind-body connection. My parents were convinced that they would not live past certain ages. The more they thought it, the more they convinced themselves of it. The more they convinced themselves of it the more they made it happen. My dad became an alcoholic who smoked and drank himself to death. My mom became a work-aholic stress ball who ate horrible food and never exercised. The mind bore the thought first and set the stage for their body to fall right in line.
    Seeing this more whole life, I know itรƒโ€šร‚โ€™s true. So, thatรƒโ€šร‚โ€™s why I know that the reverse has merit for me. I know life is not all crap. If you can do what my parents did with their minds resulting in their behaviour resulting in their body, then you can do it the other way too!
    Whatever floats your boat keeps you from drowning! ๐Ÿ™‚

  46. Kerry I could kiss you right all over your face!!!
    Ya, for me, the Secret is about opening myself up to all this world has to offer. I am a HUGE believer in spirals. Negative and positive. When you are in a positive one, everything you see is positive. The bad pales and is hardly noticeable. When you are in a negative one, everything you see is negative and you have to be practically beaten over the head to see the positive.
    Do I think that people attract cancer? I have a hard time with that one. So before I start, let me preface this with big and huge “FOR ME”, “IN MY EXPERIENCE” and “I AM ONLY TALKING ABOUT ME AND MY PARENTSรƒโ€šร‚โ€, “I HAVE NO JUDGEMENT OR OPINION OF ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE”.
    I watched my mom swallow bitter feelings her whole life. When she first got cancer she rallied with her friends and kicked out the source of bitterness (my dad) and started to live her life. She was cancer free in 6 months. She stayed that way for 7 years. Then she retired and left her hands idle and resentful. She began to harp on the bad side of things. Life became bitter for her again. Guess what? It came back. Yeah, re-occurrence rate is high and I could chalk it up to that. But she rallied again and that cancer stopped growing for 6 years. Then all the bitterness she pushed down came up again and it ripped through her body like fire. The whole time she kept saying to us that if she died after her 70th birthday then she would have no life insurance. She would leave us nothing and it was more than she could bear. I argued with her till I was blue in the face that no amount of money she could leave us would ever, ever compare to what she had given us as a mother. You know what? She died right before her 70th birthday. The money we got? Paid for her funeral.
    My dad lived his whole life convinced he would die before he was 60 because his dad died before he was 60. My dad died 1 month before his 60th birthday.
    I only offer this as, in my experience I have seen a direct mind-body connection. My parents were convinced that they would not live past certain ages. The more they thought it, the more they convinced themselves of it. The more they convinced themselves of it the more they made it happen. My dad became an alcoholic who smoked and drank himself to death. My mom became a work-aholic stress ball who ate horrible food and never exercised. The mind bore the thought first and set the stage for their body to fall right in line.
    Seeing this more whole life, I know itรƒโ€šร‚โ€™s true. So, thatรƒโ€šร‚โ€™s why I know that the reverse has merit for me. I know life is not all crap. If you can do what my parents did with their minds resulting in their behaviour resulting in their body, then you can do it the other way too!
    Whatever floats your boat keeps you from drowning! ๐Ÿ™‚

  47. Kerry I could kiss you right all over your face!!!
    Ya, for me, the Secret is about opening myself up to all this world has to offer. I am a HUGE believer in spirals. Negative and positive. When you are in a positive one, everything you see is positive. The bad pales and is hardly noticeable. When you are in a negative one, everything you see is negative and you have to be practically beaten over the head to see the positive.
    Do I think that people attract cancer? I have a hard time with that one. So before I start, let me preface this with big and huge “FOR ME”, “IN MY EXPERIENCE” and “I AM ONLY TALKING ABOUT ME AND MY PARENTSรƒโ€šร‚โ€, “I HAVE NO JUDGEMENT OR OPINION OF ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE”.
    I watched my mom swallow bitter feelings her whole life. When she first got cancer she rallied with her friends and kicked out the source of bitterness (my dad) and started to live her life. She was cancer free in 6 months. She stayed that way for 7 years. Then she retired and left her hands idle and resentful. She began to harp on the bad side of things. Life became bitter for her again. Guess what? It came back. Yeah, re-occurrence rate is high and I could chalk it up to that. But she rallied again and that cancer stopped growing for 6 years. Then all the bitterness she pushed down came up again and it ripped through her body like fire. The whole time she kept saying to us that if she died after her 70th birthday then she would have no life insurance. She would leave us nothing and it was more than she could bear. I argued with her till I was blue in the face that no amount of money she could leave us would ever, ever compare to what she had given us as a mother. You know what? She died right before her 70th birthday. The money we got? Paid for her funeral.
    My dad lived his whole life convinced he would die before he was 60 because his dad died before he was 60. My dad died 1 month before his 60th birthday.
    I only offer this as, in my experience I have seen a direct mind-body connection. My parents were convinced that they would not live past certain ages. The more they thought it, the more they convinced themselves of it. The more they convinced themselves of it the more they made it happen. My dad became an alcoholic who smoked and drank himself to death. My mom became a work-aholic stress ball who ate horrible food and never exercised. The mind bore the thought first and set the stage for their body to fall right in line.
    Seeing this more whole life, I know itรƒโ€šร‚โ€™s true. So, thatรƒโ€šร‚โ€™s why I know that the reverse has merit for me. I know life is not all crap. If you can do what my parents did with their minds resulting in their behaviour resulting in their body, then you can do it the other way too!
    Whatever floats your boat keeps you from drowning! ๐Ÿ™‚

  48. Kerry I could kiss you right all over your face!!!
    Ya, for me, the Secret is about opening myself up to all this world has to offer. I am a HUGE believer in spirals. Negative and positive. When you are in a positive one, everything you see is positive. The bad pales and is hardly noticeable. When you are in a negative one, everything you see is negative and you have to be practically beaten over the head to see the positive.
    Do I think that people attract cancer? I have a hard time with that one. So before I start, let me preface this with big and huge “FOR ME”, “IN MY EXPERIENCE” and “I AM ONLY TALKING ABOUT ME AND MY PARENTSรƒโ€šร‚โ€, “I HAVE NO JUDGEMENT OR OPINION OF ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE”.
    I watched my mom swallow bitter feelings her whole life. When she first got cancer she rallied with her friends and kicked out the source of bitterness (my dad) and started to live her life. She was cancer free in 6 months. She stayed that way for 7 years. Then she retired and left her hands idle and resentful. She began to harp on the bad side of things. Life became bitter for her again. Guess what? It came back. Yeah, re-occurrence rate is high and I could chalk it up to that. But she rallied again and that cancer stopped growing for 6 years. Then all the bitterness she pushed down came up again and it ripped through her body like fire. The whole time she kept saying to us that if she died after her 70th birthday then she would have no life insurance. She would leave us nothing and it was more than she could bear. I argued with her till I was blue in the face that no amount of money she could leave us would ever, ever compare to what she had given us as a mother. You know what? She died right before her 70th birthday. The money we got? Paid for her funeral.
    My dad lived his whole life convinced he would die before he was 60 because his dad died before he was 60. My dad died 1 month before his 60th birthday.
    I only offer this as, in my experience I have seen a direct mind-body connection. My parents were convinced that they would not live past certain ages. The more they thought it, the more they convinced themselves of it. The more they convinced themselves of it the more they made it happen. My dad became an alcoholic who smoked and drank himself to death. My mom became a work-aholic stress ball who ate horrible food and never exercised. The mind bore the thought first and set the stage for their body to fall right in line.
    Seeing this more whole life, I know itรƒโ€šร‚โ€™s true. So, thatรƒโ€šร‚โ€™s why I know that the reverse has merit for me. I know life is not all crap. If you can do what my parents did with their minds resulting in their behaviour resulting in their body, then you can do it the other way too!
    Whatever floats your boat keeps you from drowning! ๐Ÿ™‚

  49. Wow!
    I have to admit, like Kerry I was surprised by the level of vitriol in some of the comments. (No offense taken whatsoever, as I didn’t write the book, I only said I agree with some of the ideas. I expected a certain level of criticism – just not quite that harsh. And B&P, I’m glad you did expand as I think I might have taken the short version of your comment a little too personally!)
    I really have to agree with both Kerry and Jojo, that while there may be a certain amount of hucksterism at play here, the underpining ideas (send out goodness and good will come to you; you have the power to change your life) are hard to argue with. There are a few people in my life that I wish would or could read the book or watch the movie just to internalize these messages, because they’re trapped in a bog of their own bitterness and resentment – and those things DO have physical manifestations, I agree with that, too.
    Do I think that sometimes bad things happen to good people? Hell yes. Do I think people can will away cancer or infertility – a qualified no. The qualifier is that even facing a life-altering illness, I believe your attitude makes all the difference in how you handle it and how it affects your life and those around you.
    I suppose you can take from this discussion just about anything. It’s deeply ingrained in me to focus on the positive, so what I see in this book (and the others of the self-help genre) is the nuggets of truth and morsels that I can take away and find useful. Hmmm, come to think of it, that’s the same way I’ve responded to Christianity – and that’s working so far for me, too.
    Very interesting discussion – I’m glad I brought it up! Please do feel free to carry on…

  50. Wow!
    I have to admit, like Kerry I was surprised by the level of vitriol in some of the comments. (No offense taken whatsoever, as I didn’t write the book, I only said I agree with some of the ideas. I expected a certain level of criticism – just not quite that harsh. And B&P, I’m glad you did expand as I think I might have taken the short version of your comment a little too personally!)
    I really have to agree with both Kerry and Jojo, that while there may be a certain amount of hucksterism at play here, the underpining ideas (send out goodness and good will come to you; you have the power to change your life) are hard to argue with. There are a few people in my life that I wish would or could read the book or watch the movie just to internalize these messages, because they’re trapped in a bog of their own bitterness and resentment – and those things DO have physical manifestations, I agree with that, too.
    Do I think that sometimes bad things happen to good people? Hell yes. Do I think people can will away cancer or infertility – a qualified no. The qualifier is that even facing a life-altering illness, I believe your attitude makes all the difference in how you handle it and how it affects your life and those around you.
    I suppose you can take from this discussion just about anything. It’s deeply ingrained in me to focus on the positive, so what I see in this book (and the others of the self-help genre) is the nuggets of truth and morsels that I can take away and find useful. Hmmm, come to think of it, that’s the same way I’ve responded to Christianity – and that’s working so far for me, too.
    Very interesting discussion – I’m glad I brought it up! Please do feel free to carry on…

  51. Wow!
    I have to admit, like Kerry I was surprised by the level of vitriol in some of the comments. (No offense taken whatsoever, as I didn’t write the book, I only said I agree with some of the ideas. I expected a certain level of criticism – just not quite that harsh. And B&P, I’m glad you did expand as I think I might have taken the short version of your comment a little too personally!)
    I really have to agree with both Kerry and Jojo, that while there may be a certain amount of hucksterism at play here, the underpining ideas (send out goodness and good will come to you; you have the power to change your life) are hard to argue with. There are a few people in my life that I wish would or could read the book or watch the movie just to internalize these messages, because they’re trapped in a bog of their own bitterness and resentment – and those things DO have physical manifestations, I agree with that, too.
    Do I think that sometimes bad things happen to good people? Hell yes. Do I think people can will away cancer or infertility – a qualified no. The qualifier is that even facing a life-altering illness, I believe your attitude makes all the difference in how you handle it and how it affects your life and those around you.
    I suppose you can take from this discussion just about anything. It’s deeply ingrained in me to focus on the positive, so what I see in this book (and the others of the self-help genre) is the nuggets of truth and morsels that I can take away and find useful. Hmmm, come to think of it, that’s the same way I’ve responded to Christianity – and that’s working so far for me, too.
    Very interesting discussion – I’m glad I brought it up! Please do feel free to carry on…

  52. Wow!
    I have to admit, like Kerry I was surprised by the level of vitriol in some of the comments. (No offense taken whatsoever, as I didn’t write the book, I only said I agree with some of the ideas. I expected a certain level of criticism – just not quite that harsh. And B&P, I’m glad you did expand as I think I might have taken the short version of your comment a little too personally!)
    I really have to agree with both Kerry and Jojo, that while there may be a certain amount of hucksterism at play here, the underpining ideas (send out goodness and good will come to you; you have the power to change your life) are hard to argue with. There are a few people in my life that I wish would or could read the book or watch the movie just to internalize these messages, because they’re trapped in a bog of their own bitterness and resentment – and those things DO have physical manifestations, I agree with that, too.
    Do I think that sometimes bad things happen to good people? Hell yes. Do I think people can will away cancer or infertility – a qualified no. The qualifier is that even facing a life-altering illness, I believe your attitude makes all the difference in how you handle it and how it affects your life and those around you.
    I suppose you can take from this discussion just about anything. It’s deeply ingrained in me to focus on the positive, so what I see in this book (and the others of the self-help genre) is the nuggets of truth and morsels that I can take away and find useful. Hmmm, come to think of it, that’s the same way I’ve responded to Christianity – and that’s working so far for me, too.
    Very interesting discussion – I’m glad I brought it up! Please do feel free to carry on…

  53. Dani it is a good discussion and as in all good discussions there are the pro’s and the cons. I’m SURE Jo jo & Kerry knows that just becasue we don’t agree on this doesn’t mean we are personally shooting down someone we don’t know or what they believe. Please just take the following as what I HAVE experienced and not a critisim. I’m the last person to judge anyone. Dani (I think) can attest to that. Plus I usually don’t share my opinion for fear of hurting some ones feelings.
    I going to throw out example of what I have experienced out there of postsitive and negative thinking.
    My Grandfather Died of Cancer when my Dad was 8 yrs old. My Dad said his whole life that he would die of the same cancer. I remember hearing this alot. MY Dad has a had a hard life, due to poor choices and buiness decsisions He also siad he would die the same age. And my Dad is not the most positive person I know and he can take offense to things very easliy. He is an anrgy person most of the time. His sister and Brother both Died of some sort of cancer but his mother lived to a ripe old age. He has now surpassed his Dad by 20 years and is still looking for that cancer to come and take him. (Just had a check up last week and he’s still cancer free) He also smoked for over 45 yrs.
    Now a friend of mine the most positvie girl I knew and such a wonderful human being died at 18. She said till the day she died that she would beat this cancer and live a full life. If positive thinking would have send the cancer into remission she should have had it in spades but she didn’t.
    Now no one knows what is in the hearts of men. Or what the person is really thinking when left alone with ones thoughts. I do believe that being positive makes life a whole lot easier than looking for the bad in everything. So in that I believe there is a truth. I know I have to watch myself and those negative thoughts. BUT I do believe life is a ongoing process to which you make choices and change and live the best life you can. AND if the SECERT is the way to do it…then so be it MORE POWER TO YOU! I just won’t be buying a copy.
    Hugs to all the participartans.

  54. Dani it is a good discussion and as in all good discussions there are the pro’s and the cons. I’m SURE Jo jo & Kerry knows that just becasue we don’t agree on this doesn’t mean we are personally shooting down someone we don’t know or what they believe. Please just take the following as what I HAVE experienced and not a critisim. I’m the last person to judge anyone. Dani (I think) can attest to that. Plus I usually don’t share my opinion for fear of hurting some ones feelings.
    I going to throw out example of what I have experienced out there of postsitive and negative thinking.
    My Grandfather Died of Cancer when my Dad was 8 yrs old. My Dad said his whole life that he would die of the same cancer. I remember hearing this alot. MY Dad has a had a hard life, due to poor choices and buiness decsisions He also siad he would die the same age. And my Dad is not the most positive person I know and he can take offense to things very easliy. He is an anrgy person most of the time. His sister and Brother both Died of some sort of cancer but his mother lived to a ripe old age. He has now surpassed his Dad by 20 years and is still looking for that cancer to come and take him. (Just had a check up last week and he’s still cancer free) He also smoked for over 45 yrs.
    Now a friend of mine the most positvie girl I knew and such a wonderful human being died at 18. She said till the day she died that she would beat this cancer and live a full life. If positive thinking would have send the cancer into remission she should have had it in spades but she didn’t.
    Now no one knows what is in the hearts of men. Or what the person is really thinking when left alone with ones thoughts. I do believe that being positive makes life a whole lot easier than looking for the bad in everything. So in that I believe there is a truth. I know I have to watch myself and those negative thoughts. BUT I do believe life is a ongoing process to which you make choices and change and live the best life you can. AND if the SECERT is the way to do it…then so be it MORE POWER TO YOU! I just won’t be buying a copy.
    Hugs to all the participartans.

  55. Dani it is a good discussion and as in all good discussions there are the pro’s and the cons. I’m SURE Jo jo & Kerry knows that just becasue we don’t agree on this doesn’t mean we are personally shooting down someone we don’t know or what they believe. Please just take the following as what I HAVE experienced and not a critisim. I’m the last person to judge anyone. Dani (I think) can attest to that. Plus I usually don’t share my opinion for fear of hurting some ones feelings.
    I going to throw out example of what I have experienced out there of postsitive and negative thinking.
    My Grandfather Died of Cancer when my Dad was 8 yrs old. My Dad said his whole life that he would die of the same cancer. I remember hearing this alot. MY Dad has a had a hard life, due to poor choices and buiness decsisions He also siad he would die the same age. And my Dad is not the most positive person I know and he can take offense to things very easliy. He is an anrgy person most of the time. His sister and Brother both Died of some sort of cancer but his mother lived to a ripe old age. He has now surpassed his Dad by 20 years and is still looking for that cancer to come and take him. (Just had a check up last week and he’s still cancer free) He also smoked for over 45 yrs.
    Now a friend of mine the most positvie girl I knew and such a wonderful human being died at 18. She said till the day she died that she would beat this cancer and live a full life. If positive thinking would have send the cancer into remission she should have had it in spades but she didn’t.
    Now no one knows what is in the hearts of men. Or what the person is really thinking when left alone with ones thoughts. I do believe that being positive makes life a whole lot easier than looking for the bad in everything. So in that I believe there is a truth. I know I have to watch myself and those negative thoughts. BUT I do believe life is a ongoing process to which you make choices and change and live the best life you can. AND if the SECERT is the way to do it…then so be it MORE POWER TO YOU! I just won’t be buying a copy.
    Hugs to all the participartans.

  56. Dani it is a good discussion and as in all good discussions there are the pro’s and the cons. I’m SURE Jo jo & Kerry knows that just becasue we don’t agree on this doesn’t mean we are personally shooting down someone we don’t know or what they believe. Please just take the following as what I HAVE experienced and not a critisim. I’m the last person to judge anyone. Dani (I think) can attest to that. Plus I usually don’t share my opinion for fear of hurting some ones feelings.
    I going to throw out example of what I have experienced out there of postsitive and negative thinking.
    My Grandfather Died of Cancer when my Dad was 8 yrs old. My Dad said his whole life that he would die of the same cancer. I remember hearing this alot. MY Dad has a had a hard life, due to poor choices and buiness decsisions He also siad he would die the same age. And my Dad is not the most positive person I know and he can take offense to things very easliy. He is an anrgy person most of the time. His sister and Brother both Died of some sort of cancer but his mother lived to a ripe old age. He has now surpassed his Dad by 20 years and is still looking for that cancer to come and take him. (Just had a check up last week and he’s still cancer free) He also smoked for over 45 yrs.
    Now a friend of mine the most positvie girl I knew and such a wonderful human being died at 18. She said till the day she died that she would beat this cancer and live a full life. If positive thinking would have send the cancer into remission she should have had it in spades but she didn’t.
    Now no one knows what is in the hearts of men. Or what the person is really thinking when left alone with ones thoughts. I do believe that being positive makes life a whole lot easier than looking for the bad in everything. So in that I believe there is a truth. I know I have to watch myself and those negative thoughts. BUT I do believe life is a ongoing process to which you make choices and change and live the best life you can. AND if the SECERT is the way to do it…then so be it MORE POWER TO YOU! I just won’t be buying a copy.
    Hugs to all the participartans.

  57. “The Secret” makes me want to hurl.
    I’ve sat by the bedsides of too many people as they died to believe this load of crap. These good and compassionate people apparently didn’t send out enough “good energy” – so they died of horrible diseases.
    The fatal error of the Secret is the same one made by fundamentalist Christians – both claim that if you get sick it is your own damn fault.
    Nonsense.
    *** I’ve been away and had not heard about your pregnancy. congratulations!!

  58. “The Secret” makes me want to hurl.
    I’ve sat by the bedsides of too many people as they died to believe this load of crap. These good and compassionate people apparently didn’t send out enough “good energy” – so they died of horrible diseases.
    The fatal error of the Secret is the same one made by fundamentalist Christians – both claim that if you get sick it is your own damn fault.
    Nonsense.
    *** I’ve been away and had not heard about your pregnancy. congratulations!!

  59. “The Secret” makes me want to hurl.
    I’ve sat by the bedsides of too many people as they died to believe this load of crap. These good and compassionate people apparently didn’t send out enough “good energy” – so they died of horrible diseases.
    The fatal error of the Secret is the same one made by fundamentalist Christians – both claim that if you get sick it is your own damn fault.
    Nonsense.
    *** I’ve been away and had not heard about your pregnancy. congratulations!!

  60. “The Secret” makes me want to hurl.
    I’ve sat by the bedsides of too many people as they died to believe this load of crap. These good and compassionate people apparently didn’t send out enough “good energy” – so they died of horrible diseases.
    The fatal error of the Secret is the same one made by fundamentalist Christians – both claim that if you get sick it is your own damn fault.
    Nonsense.
    *** I’ve been away and had not heard about your pregnancy. congratulations!!

  61. DH picked up a copy of the book at Costco. I’d heard it was a compilation of most other self-help books; sort of a “positive thinking for dummies” concept.
    He’s started it, but hasn’t picked it up again. I’ll get to it eventually, just out of curiosity.

  62. DH picked up a copy of the book at Costco. I’d heard it was a compilation of most other self-help books; sort of a “positive thinking for dummies” concept.
    He’s started it, but hasn’t picked it up again. I’ll get to it eventually, just out of curiosity.

  63. DH picked up a copy of the book at Costco. I’d heard it was a compilation of most other self-help books; sort of a “positive thinking for dummies” concept.
    He’s started it, but hasn’t picked it up again. I’ll get to it eventually, just out of curiosity.

  64. DH picked up a copy of the book at Costco. I’d heard it was a compilation of most other self-help books; sort of a “positive thinking for dummies” concept.
    He’s started it, but hasn’t picked it up again. I’ll get to it eventually, just out of curiosity.

  65. Sorry Dani – I didn’t intend for my comment to sound so crabby. I’m carrying some (ok, lots) of grief around the many funerals I’ve done recently.
    My apologies. If the positive side of this approach is helpful to you or anyone else, that’s great.

  66. Sorry Dani – I didn’t intend for my comment to sound so crabby. I’m carrying some (ok, lots) of grief around the many funerals I’ve done recently.
    My apologies. If the positive side of this approach is helpful to you or anyone else, that’s great.

  67. Sorry Dani – I didn’t intend for my comment to sound so crabby. I’m carrying some (ok, lots) of grief around the many funerals I’ve done recently.
    My apologies. If the positive side of this approach is helpful to you or anyone else, that’s great.

  68. Sorry Dani – I didn’t intend for my comment to sound so crabby. I’m carrying some (ok, lots) of grief around the many funerals I’ve done recently.
    My apologies. If the positive side of this approach is helpful to you or anyone else, that’s great.

  69. I haven’t read it.
    I do believe in the power of positive thought, and in some degree, how it (as well as anger and stress) affects our bodies.
    If someone needs to hold onto The Secret to keep themselves from drowning (as someone put it) I don’t begrudge them. They’re welcome to it, but overall I think that the marketing machine behind the Secret is hoping for exactly that … another Celestine Prophesy (which was on the best seller list for MONTHS!) for a generation of people who are desperately looking for something to hold onto. The Secret is a religion for a new age.

  70. I haven’t read it.
    I do believe in the power of positive thought, and in some degree, how it (as well as anger and stress) affects our bodies.
    If someone needs to hold onto The Secret to keep themselves from drowning (as someone put it) I don’t begrudge them. They’re welcome to it, but overall I think that the marketing machine behind the Secret is hoping for exactly that … another Celestine Prophesy (which was on the best seller list for MONTHS!) for a generation of people who are desperately looking for something to hold onto. The Secret is a religion for a new age.

  71. I haven’t read it.
    I do believe in the power of positive thought, and in some degree, how it (as well as anger and stress) affects our bodies.
    If someone needs to hold onto The Secret to keep themselves from drowning (as someone put it) I don’t begrudge them. They’re welcome to it, but overall I think that the marketing machine behind the Secret is hoping for exactly that … another Celestine Prophesy (which was on the best seller list for MONTHS!) for a generation of people who are desperately looking for something to hold onto. The Secret is a religion for a new age.

  72. I haven’t read it.
    I do believe in the power of positive thought, and in some degree, how it (as well as anger and stress) affects our bodies.
    If someone needs to hold onto The Secret to keep themselves from drowning (as someone put it) I don’t begrudge them. They’re welcome to it, but overall I think that the marketing machine behind the Secret is hoping for exactly that … another Celestine Prophesy (which was on the best seller list for MONTHS!) for a generation of people who are desperately looking for something to hold onto. The Secret is a religion for a new age.

  73. I realize that my comment sounded more negative than I intended. I apologize if my sentiments rubbed people the wrong way. It’s just that I get frustrated by how much importance we in the West place on the individual person. In the West almost everything we read is about personal transformation. I do realize that there is power in positive thinking BUT I think it time we put the empahsis on societal rather than individual transformation.

  74. I realize that my comment sounded more negative than I intended. I apologize if my sentiments rubbed people the wrong way. It’s just that I get frustrated by how much importance we in the West place on the individual person. In the West almost everything we read is about personal transformation. I do realize that there is power in positive thinking BUT I think it time we put the empahsis on societal rather than individual transformation.

  75. I realize that my comment sounded more negative than I intended. I apologize if my sentiments rubbed people the wrong way. It’s just that I get frustrated by how much importance we in the West place on the individual person. In the West almost everything we read is about personal transformation. I do realize that there is power in positive thinking BUT I think it time we put the empahsis on societal rather than individual transformation.

  76. I realize that my comment sounded more negative than I intended. I apologize if my sentiments rubbed people the wrong way. It’s just that I get frustrated by how much importance we in the West place on the individual person. In the West almost everything we read is about personal transformation. I do realize that there is power in positive thinking BUT I think it time we put the empahsis on societal rather than individual transformation.

  77. No matter what anyone says, positive thinking can not prevent disease from happening. Why do children get sick everyday? Why are they suffering, why are they parents suffering so? No amount of happy thoughts will cure some of these children, you know.

  78. No matter what anyone says, positive thinking can not prevent disease from happening. Why do children get sick everyday? Why are they suffering, why are they parents suffering so? No amount of happy thoughts will cure some of these children, you know.

  79. No matter what anyone says, positive thinking can not prevent disease from happening. Why do children get sick everyday? Why are they suffering, why are they parents suffering so? No amount of happy thoughts will cure some of these children, you know.

  80. No matter what anyone says, positive thinking can not prevent disease from happening. Why do children get sick everyday? Why are they suffering, why are they parents suffering so? No amount of happy thoughts will cure some of these children, you know.

  81. Hey Dani, great post (and great comments!). As you know, I have been moved by The Secret, contrary to my cynical nature. I know that a lot of the tape is hokum — the platinum blonde author wears a silver dot pasted to her forehead with eyelash glue for the love of Pete! And the kernal of the message — that love is the answer and that gratitude is the path — is an ancient one. I have read a lot of what these “gurus” have said when given more that their ten minutes of total tape time and with the exception of Joe Vitale (he of the ‘catalogue of the universe’ idea, and the ‘you bring bad stuff on yourself’ and who used to be an Amway guy (it shows)) explain how it all takes a lot of hard work, that the visualization stuff is simply your map.
    Unfortunately, there is a lot of hucksterism surrounding this because it’s big business. But I hate to think of people throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Just as in almost all world religions and philosophies, there is a good message at the core: love, be generous, forgive, be grateful, give people the benefit of the doubt, see the world as a place of abundance (there is after all enough food to feed everyone – it is the wars and a failure to find creative ways to distribute said food because so many of us feel there is not enough for everyone which has led to such extreme poverty). While I do not at all believe that people will bad things upon themselves, I do believe that if we all embraced these values, the world would be a much better place.

  82. Hey Dani, great post (and great comments!). As you know, I have been moved by The Secret, contrary to my cynical nature. I know that a lot of the tape is hokum — the platinum blonde author wears a silver dot pasted to her forehead with eyelash glue for the love of Pete! And the kernal of the message — that love is the answer and that gratitude is the path — is an ancient one. I have read a lot of what these “gurus” have said when given more that their ten minutes of total tape time and with the exception of Joe Vitale (he of the ‘catalogue of the universe’ idea, and the ‘you bring bad stuff on yourself’ and who used to be an Amway guy (it shows)) explain how it all takes a lot of hard work, that the visualization stuff is simply your map.
    Unfortunately, there is a lot of hucksterism surrounding this because it’s big business. But I hate to think of people throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Just as in almost all world religions and philosophies, there is a good message at the core: love, be generous, forgive, be grateful, give people the benefit of the doubt, see the world as a place of abundance (there is after all enough food to feed everyone – it is the wars and a failure to find creative ways to distribute said food because so many of us feel there is not enough for everyone which has led to such extreme poverty). While I do not at all believe that people will bad things upon themselves, I do believe that if we all embraced these values, the world would be a much better place.

  83. Hey Dani, great post (and great comments!). As you know, I have been moved by The Secret, contrary to my cynical nature. I know that a lot of the tape is hokum — the platinum blonde author wears a silver dot pasted to her forehead with eyelash glue for the love of Pete! And the kernal of the message — that love is the answer and that gratitude is the path — is an ancient one. I have read a lot of what these “gurus” have said when given more that their ten minutes of total tape time and with the exception of Joe Vitale (he of the ‘catalogue of the universe’ idea, and the ‘you bring bad stuff on yourself’ and who used to be an Amway guy (it shows)) explain how it all takes a lot of hard work, that the visualization stuff is simply your map.
    Unfortunately, there is a lot of hucksterism surrounding this because it’s big business. But I hate to think of people throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Just as in almost all world religions and philosophies, there is a good message at the core: love, be generous, forgive, be grateful, give people the benefit of the doubt, see the world as a place of abundance (there is after all enough food to feed everyone – it is the wars and a failure to find creative ways to distribute said food because so many of us feel there is not enough for everyone which has led to such extreme poverty). While I do not at all believe that people will bad things upon themselves, I do believe that if we all embraced these values, the world would be a much better place.

  84. Hey Dani, great post (and great comments!). As you know, I have been moved by The Secret, contrary to my cynical nature. I know that a lot of the tape is hokum — the platinum blonde author wears a silver dot pasted to her forehead with eyelash glue for the love of Pete! And the kernal of the message — that love is the answer and that gratitude is the path — is an ancient one. I have read a lot of what these “gurus” have said when given more that their ten minutes of total tape time and with the exception of Joe Vitale (he of the ‘catalogue of the universe’ idea, and the ‘you bring bad stuff on yourself’ and who used to be an Amway guy (it shows)) explain how it all takes a lot of hard work, that the visualization stuff is simply your map.
    Unfortunately, there is a lot of hucksterism surrounding this because it’s big business. But I hate to think of people throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Just as in almost all world religions and philosophies, there is a good message at the core: love, be generous, forgive, be grateful, give people the benefit of the doubt, see the world as a place of abundance (there is after all enough food to feed everyone – it is the wars and a failure to find creative ways to distribute said food because so many of us feel there is not enough for everyone which has led to such extreme poverty). While I do not at all believe that people will bad things upon themselves, I do believe that if we all embraced these values, the world would be a much better place.

  85. Jen wrote:
    love, be generous, forgive, be grateful, give people the benefit of the doubt, see the world as a place of abundance (there is after all enough food to feed everyone – it is the wars and a failure to find creative ways to distribute said food because so many of us feel there is not enough for everyone which has led to such extreme poverty)
    It’s also not coincidental that in this list of ideas you will find key principles of social justice as well as an interweaving of ideas pulled from world religion, cooperative movements, political philosophies, etc. — ideals and ideas worth striving for.

  86. Jen wrote:
    love, be generous, forgive, be grateful, give people the benefit of the doubt, see the world as a place of abundance (there is after all enough food to feed everyone – it is the wars and a failure to find creative ways to distribute said food because so many of us feel there is not enough for everyone which has led to such extreme poverty)
    It’s also not coincidental that in this list of ideas you will find key principles of social justice as well as an interweaving of ideas pulled from world religion, cooperative movements, political philosophies, etc. — ideals and ideas worth striving for.

  87. Jen wrote:
    love, be generous, forgive, be grateful, give people the benefit of the doubt, see the world as a place of abundance (there is after all enough food to feed everyone – it is the wars and a failure to find creative ways to distribute said food because so many of us feel there is not enough for everyone which has led to such extreme poverty)
    It’s also not coincidental that in this list of ideas you will find key principles of social justice as well as an interweaving of ideas pulled from world religion, cooperative movements, political philosophies, etc. — ideals and ideas worth striving for.

  88. Jen wrote:
    love, be generous, forgive, be grateful, give people the benefit of the doubt, see the world as a place of abundance (there is after all enough food to feed everyone – it is the wars and a failure to find creative ways to distribute said food because so many of us feel there is not enough for everyone which has led to such extreme poverty)
    It’s also not coincidental that in this list of ideas you will find key principles of social justice as well as an interweaving of ideas pulled from world religion, cooperative movements, political philosophies, etc. — ideals and ideas worth striving for.

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