The
Controversial "Secret"Some say it's hogwash, some call it dangerous, others proclaim it is
ageless wisdom that will transform your life. What's up with the Secret?
The stunning popularity of the movie "The Secret" (best selling DVD and
book), featured on Oprah, Newsweek and even in our Deseret News) has
attracted an enormous number of both fans and critics. Some claim the movie
is nothing more than new age packaging of centuries-old snake oil. Others
say it's wishful thinking that only benefits the handful of people making
money from selling it. Other critics go so far as to say the ideas the movie
promotes are downright dangerous if people actually believe them.
The controversy isn't limited to the 2006 movie produced by Australian
Rhonda Byrn. Certain authorities in the fields of theology and psychology
say the Law of Attraction itself only offers false hope to the desperate and
disadvantaged.
What's the truth? Is the Law of Attraction real or hype? How do you know if
you're wasting your time and money studying this supposed universal law?
Here's how to know the truth, once and for all.
Panties in a twist
First a quick review of the swirl of activity around this topic.
Some take issue that "The Secret" promotes using the
Law of Attraction
primarily to gain material wealth. They feel this universal principle should
be used toward more spiritual undertakings - like becoming a better person,
creating world peace and such.
Some (including contributors to the original version of the film) say the
movie wasn't complete. Joe Vitale, James Ray and Esther Hicks are quoted as
saying the movie didn't tell the whole story about how deliberate creation
works.
Still other critics say the whole concept of creating reality according to
your thoughts is delirium, and that people who peddle this stuff are preying
on the desperation of others who want a quick easy fix to life's inevitable
challenges.
A handful of Law of Attraction experts responded publicly to these
arguments, which just seems to fuel a bigger fire rather than extinguish it.
"Secret" contributor Michael Beckwith says "mediocrity attacks excellence,"
and that's why so many supporters take heat about today's hottest topic.
Although this may be a hot topic today, it certainly isn't a new one. These
manifesting principles have been around for eons, tracing back to roughly
300 B.C. in the mysterious Emerald Tablet. That in itself incites some
factions who take issue with the movie producers presenting
Law of
Attraction as a "secret."
This way to the truth
Some individuals who were followers, practitioners or just generally
intrigued by the principles of deliberate creation felt the wind taken out
of their sails with the public controversies aired about "The Secret." Where
once they felt optimism and excitement about the possibility of deliberate
manifesting, some found themselves muttering "I knew it was too good to be
true" after reading negative press about the movie.
Regardless of what you did or didn't feel previously about this subject, if
you haven't already found your way to the truth, here's a tip. It's not
outside of you.
You won't find the answer in a Larry King interview or an online blog. The
truth doesn't have anything to do with your husband's opinion, your
neighbor's experience, or your coach's two cents' worth.
The only way we can ever know "what's so" is to check in with ourselves. The
truth isn't "out there"; rather it's built in. We each have an internal
guidance system designed to ensure we have continual access to what's right
for each of us. Whether you call it your higher self, God self, intuition or
something else, it's in all of us.
You can hear that truth when you listen for it. The beauty of it is that
when you recognize that nothing outside of you knows what's best for you,
you're no longer subject to the whims, fancies, complaints, ramblings and
rantings of others.
Most of us, however, learned early on to ignore our internal guidance in
favor of being accepted, making peace, getting along or just plain
surviving. We became experts at discounting and even rejecting what our gut
tells us, and became reliant on looking outside ourselves for the facts.
Sometimes you'll hear your authentic guidance through signals of your
emotions; others feel it more strongly in physical body reactions-like
"chill of truth" goose bumps or a sinking stomach. Once you are practiced at
hearing (or experiencing) your internal guidance, you're never again left
wondering what's valid and what's not.
Says who?
Could I be wrong? Absolutely. Don't take my word for it; test it out
yourself.
Our private truth is speaking to us all the time, pointing "this way" or
"that way." All we need to do is hear it and we've got the best experts on
board for life.
Listen for it. Play with it. Practice hearing it. See where it takes you.
Don't rely on someone else to tell you what's so. You know what's so.
When other people come up with different answers, more power to them. It
doesn't mean you're wrong or should question yourself. Your truth doesn't
change, no matter how many others hold contrary opinions.
Sometimes outside triggers are great opportunities for us to recognize or
confirm what's true for us. For example, when a tarot card reader told me my
rocky marriage would stand the test of time, my stomach dropped and I knew
in that moment I wanted a divorce. But it was an outside trigger that helped
me hear that truth within myself.
The moment my real estate agent showed me into a cute little Rose Park brick
house, my heart soared and inner being shouted "Yes!" Even while my
girlfriend stood next to me saying "I can't believe we're even looking at
this place."
When my coach, who for three months tried to get me to make peace with my
lucrative corporate job, finally threw her hands in the air and said "You
just have to quit if you hate it so much" - again went the soaring heart and
all internal arrows pointing to "yes!" It was the external trigger that
helped me hear that internal signal loud and clear.
Choose for yourself
As far as complaints about "The Secret" movie having too materialistic a
focus, everyone's entitled to their opinion. I personally believe the movie
hits a good access point to the population at large. Many may very well
apply the knowledge gained from "The Secret" to eventually achieve their
highest purpose.
The movie may begin with bikes, jewelry and sports cars, but if you stick
with it, you see it does move on to happy relationships, physical health and
world peace. The technology is the same. You choose how you will apply it.
Regarding whether the Law of Attraction works, I think even the biggest
skeptic would agree that thoughts at least affect the way we experience
reality; that attitude does make a difference. My personal experience is
that thoughts are much more powerful than just that, though. Again, check it
out for yourself.
As to those who argue manifesting doesn't work, I think they themselves
prove it does. Because when we say "this stuff doesn't work," we can
actually manifest that to appear true as well.
Bottom line: Trust yourself to know the truth. You know more than you think
you do.
(This article was originally published in Catalyst Magazine)
If you're so inclined, please feel free to reproduce this article in full with proper author credit (that would be me, Jeannette Maw) and link back to Good Vibe Coaching. Thanks!
