I was prompted to write this article upon the arrival of “The Secret,” the best-selling book, dvd, movie, that claims you can have anything you want if you follow their formula.
I really cannot believe that we were put on this earth to feed the ego, however, that is precisely what “The Secret” is proposing. I certainly believe in the law of attraction but, of course, not their version of it. It has been my observation that you attract people and experiences that help you with unresolved problems that have been inhibiting you to reach your “higher self.” To me, “like attracts like” means you are attracted to “familiarity,” even though it might not be good for you. Conversely, you can also be attracted to positive experiences if you were fortunate enough to be brought up with an uplifting script. Therefore, you can learn a lot about yourself by observing what you are attracting in your life. I certainly do not believe that we, as individuals, create our own
diseases, misfortunes, etc. There is such a thing as negativity in this universe and we are all part of this race consciousness. My theory is that unless you are directly connected to God, your Divine Spirit, you will be vulnerable to the negativity that permeates the earth. Since most of us are operating on a lower frequency of energy or vibration, which is, of course, the ego, this vulnerability to these outer forces can cause illness, murder, despair, violence, etc. I truly suspect that “The Secret’s” philosophy that dictates you can have anything you desire is just not “THAT SIMPLE.” The experts tell us that if you do not receive what you desire, you are resisting; you are doubting, therefore, you are not allowing it to happen! They do not elaborate on this. However, unless one feels totally entitled and narcissistic, most people have self-esteem issues. You can pronounce positive affirmations from here to eternity, but if you have a poor image of yourself you can be sure you are not going to attract what you desire. This can produce a lot of guilt by blaming oneself, especially the people who are having a difficult time with their self-image. Some people do not even feel that they deserve anything positive. This is precisely the reason I find fault with “The Secret.” Their formula does not take into consideration that there is such a thing as a subconscious and one’s behavior is determined by your “belief system” you have stored in your subconscious. Because of my background in psychology and my personal experience with psychotherapy, I am very aware of the important role our subconscious plays in our lives. Until you are able to unlock the contents of your subconscious and allow them to emerge into your conscious mind you will block your goals and aspirations from happening. I believe their philosophy is putting the cart before the horse. As I stated before, I strongly believe in
the law of attraction, but there are many variables to consider. Be very observant what is entering your life--what you are attracting. You will find there is a pattern that repeats itself. This is the universe trying to tell you that this is an area that needs to be dealt with. You must first confront these issues, acknowledge them and allow them to enter your conscious mind so you are able to deal with them appropriately.
Another aspect of the philosophy expressed in the “The Secret” that I am uncomfortable with is that it feeds the ego by focusing on materialism, such as big homes, big cars, money, etc. The ego is an obstacle that prevents you from reaching your “intuition,” your higher self. We live in a very narcissistic society and we all seem to need instant gratification. This type of philosophy, therefore, is very well-received by the ego--it wants, wants, and wants more!
There are so many self-help books that tell you how to find happiness, success, money, power, prestige, etc. However, it’s up to you to find “your way” --- “To Thine ownself be true.” Follow your own path and not another’s. Our individual journey is different than others, and there is no “expert” who truly “knows.” The only expert is God--the divine spirit within. Allow His message to come through to you and do not block it by following another’s path.
The ideas that I have expressed regarding “The Secret” philosophy are, of course, my opinion. However, I cannot emphasize enough that there has been a lot of creative
marketing of this book, etc. and unless we are perfect human beings in a perfect world I cannot fathom this philosophy. I repeat it again, it is not THAT SIMPLE.
What stunned me was that it was immediately accepted by the public. I guess it was the “genie” in the bottle, make three wishes fairy tale that made it so palatable. Again, I was prompted to write my views to give another perspective about it, and after talking to others they agreed with my assessment. So, if any of you out there is not getting the “goodies” you have asked for, don’t despair--you are not alone!
Remember, Law of Attraction just “happens” and it lets you know if your state of mind is on the right track; it enables you to confront yourself and the issues you are having difficulty with.
Go with the flow--go where your heart is and you will get closer to your destination!!
©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED OCTOBER 7, 2007
background in psychology
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