"The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne Revealed - Part 3 of 3

Special Note: If the previews for Pirate Master, the new reality show on CBS, make you sit up a say “Wow, I really want to watch Pirate Master!” please don’t read my blog… ever… I am serious… and please don’t breed or engage in activities that may result in breeding. Oh wait, if you are a Pirate Master fanatic you probably don’t understand words like “breed.” Let me use terms you might understand: Don’t do what boy dogs do to my leg when they are feeling funky… ever… and now the blog…

Judging from the lack of bulge in my wallet, I’m thinking I didn’t win the Powerball this past weekend. (Speaking of lacking bulges… oh, never mind... my wife has suffered enough.)

Anyways, slap me upside the head and call me “Sally.” I asked, I believed, and yet, I did not receive… OK, so I didn’t do all that much believing. Well then, you scoff, how can you doubt the power of “The Secret?” if you admit not believing?

Simple. I’ve tried to apply that “Genie-in-a-bottle” view of the Universe many times in the past. Did I mention that I am diagnosed Bipolar I with psychotic episodes and delusions of grandeur? My wiring, sans a daily does of Geodon, is like the wiring on Albanian electric treadmill… (“No dad, it wasn’t a bargain! That treadmill you bought me for Christmas launched me though the bedroom wall!”)

Seriously, with faulty circuits like mine do you think maybe, just maybe, I over thought Matthew 21:22 when I first read it? (Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.) I was on that passage of scripture like a fat kid on deep-fried, State Fair Oreos.

I am so vehement in discrediting “The Secret” not because I can’t open my mind to it. At several points in my life I insanely pursued the very same ask, believe, receive formula the film/book outlines. Mix a little scripture reading with a manic episode and my “believe” vibrations were more powerful than the bowels of that fat kid after a day long, grease-laden eating binge at said State Fair.

I chased the Genie-in-a-bottle Universe into the gates of madness. Positive thinking? Yes, it works. I land almost every job/contract I pursue because of it. But does the Universe grant your every wish as you sofa surf and chant? Of course not.

“The Secret” purports that men like Winston Churchill and Henry Ford were practitioners. But were they? Consider their actual words:

Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.
Winston Churchill

Sounds like Churchill favored a little elbow grease.

There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something.
Henry Ford

Ditto for Ford. Maybe the “believers” of “The Secret” actually believed in backing up your dreams with a little action.

But Rick, you say, what about the Bible?  “The Secret” is clearly laid out in the Bible. Yeah, well that Bible also says “faith without works is dead.” Hmmm.

Or consider an alternative take on Matthew 21:22 from those womanizing Mormons. The Mormon’s claim that Christ visited the America’s centuries ago and left a more accurately translated account of his teachings. In the American-ized version Christ said: “And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it will be given unto you.” If I had read that version maybe my religious episodes wouldn’t have been so memorable (and amusing to my children… they think “crazy dad” was pretty funny.)

So am I just a hater or do I offer an alternative? I have found my personal secret to a happier life… though I forget it often. Consider the actual words of another supposed keeper of “The Secret.”

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.
Albert Einstein

Service and love are far more powerful than any secret. Remember my claim in part one that I finally found the key to selling my house in the stagnant Arizona housing market. Well it was a complete accident. For months that house sat and drew nary an offer. I was at the end of my very short wit. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to drop everything I was doing and fly out to Arizona to help a friend in need.

As I, for a change, stopped thinking about myself and helped another, my world brightened in many ways. For a moment I was not the self-absorbed turd that I usually am. I cared about another human being instead of worrying about poor little greedy me. There were many small miracles. Not the least of which was that on the same day a woman visited my house and made an offer. Hmmm.

But Rick! Oprah and Ellen and all my favorite daytime hosts love hosting the “teachers” of “The Secret.” True enough. But they also love ratings. Do you think the promise of a wish granting Genie of a Universe might capture a few eyeballs?

But Rick! “The Secret” is spreading like a gymnast on an oiled mat. True enough. But since the “teachers” of “The Secret” relish in quoting the famous dead (and conveniently un-interviewable) let me dig up another actual quote from Sir Winston:

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.
Winston Churchill

Comments

[Jules]

Did we watch the SAME movie? Everyone who disses the Secret IGNORE the two vitally important parts.

1.) Remember the list of feelings that determine your vibration. Remember the #1 feeling and most important thing to exude into the Universe? Apparently you DO because you just used it as an example in this post. LOVE
The more love you exude the more people, things, situations to love will return to you.
Go back and watch the movie. Pause it if you have to... LOVE is right there at the top of the list. If you listen to the movie's commentary, Rhonda Burns even says the "Law of Attraction" used to be called the "Law of Love" way back in the day.
Now for number two...
This one's even more obvious and yet EVERYONE skips over it. Fast forward to the volleyball scene. Listen to what they're saying. Inspired ACTION is necessary. In fact, the faster you react to INSPIRED ACTION the better because the Universe likes speed. Go back...watch again. I'm not making this up. See! Right there in the middle of the movie. ACTION.
And throughout the movie, positive emotions, the most important one being love.
Of course, you don't have to believe me. After all, who am I? And what have I manifested. (A job I loved in the worst economy ever actually. And I did it in 30 days after I decided to leave my old job.)
Sorry, I don't have anything to sell.
I will add there IS one thing the Secret left out. Trying to cram positive thoughts and emotions into your head before getting rid of the crappy negative ones is like fighting a battle. Clear out the crap first and replace it with love and voila... a new job.
Just my two cents. You can believe what you want. All your actions are based on your beliefs. And then you will get what you believe. Common sense really.

[david simons]

Love your blog. Here's a terminally ill cancer patient (me) sharing another take on the Secret -- http://davidsimons.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/thats-not-faith-thats-desperation/

[sonia]

Anyone who wants to understand why these people do what they do should read this book:

http://www.shekinahtherapy.com.au/first.html

It is the book that inspired the secret and is nothing like the secret. It is the most amazing book I have ever read and I can assure you that its worth every cent. Go and buy one and see for yourself.

[ANI [eternal]]

So I'm very late on this and strangely enough, I FOUND the copy I used to read, "The Secret" for free in my 3 year old cousin's room...less than 3 hours after randomly wishing I had a copy of it...

I am glad to say that it saved me a lot of money rather than purchasing it.

I believed and still do believe in the power of the Secret, the idea of the vision wall and the affirmations, but moreso do I believe in the points you make. For an idea is just that, until it is put into action.

Perhaps, however, one day you will realize that the law of attraction does in fact work and does in fact clear pathways for you and shows you the steps to take to get to where you dream to be.

All of this comes with patience. If you view it as a paradox, so long as you feel like, "This is so unbelievable that it might be true..." then your deepest, inner thoughts will be what the universe hears... I feel like it can tell when people are being fake.

Not to say that you are, but I think that in the back of your mind you chose not to believe a long, long time ago.

I have found that life is abundant for me in every shape and form, regardless of my past. Everything continues to improve and progress and I am patient, for I realize life is meant to be lived in moderation.

Things will come when need be. Perhaps, you did have winning lottery numbers... they were just meant for a different time.

Actions taken with HONEST faith and belief are much stronger than those actions taken without either or just faith and belief alone.

Try those numbers next week, eh? If you win at least $1, then you can honestly say that perhaps the universe did something for you.

After all, it's alive. =]

Best of luck to you.

[Anon]

I believe THE SECRET is a paradox of deluded greed and senseless emotional ruin. People like David Schirmer NEED and are desperate for recognition. They try to multiply their possessions but have absolutely no values. They have learned how to make a living, but don't have a life. They add years to life not life to years. They have narrow viewpoints and do larger things but not better things. They think they are big men but have very small character. They talk more, but learn less. They plan more, but accomplish less. They rush, but not wait. They focus on steep profits and have shallow relationships. They seek fancier houses but have broken homes. They make quick trips, have throwaway morality, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything. They have much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom....

How postively TRUE!

[Penny]

David Schirmer is a liar and has been caught out stealing from people and misappropriating the money apparently. I can't believe they sleep at night. Unbelievable that a secret teacher can be so underhanded and dishonest.

[Laveena]

Nothing works without putting an effort. The Secret does sell you a dream, but it useful for all those who constantly think in the negative vein. If all this film does is just remind you to change your mindset, then half the work is done. The other half is the efforts (work) you put in to get something you want and desire.

[kim]

Wife: Bulge?

If one more of my friends invites me over to view "The Secret" I am going to scream. It like a bunch of cultists

[David]

Wow. A nice blend of deep-fried Oreos, mormons and a few well-placed thought provokers. Enjoyed this series. Interested to see what the blog looks like next week.

well said!