The Secret (book and movie)

[JLV]

Has anyone ever read the book or seen the movie?

My therapist suggested that I do both and I was wondering what some of your opinions were. I read a brief synopsis and I kind of feel indifferent about the premise.

[bonquiqui]

A friend let me borrow the movie, and you just reminded me that I need to watch it.  

[Dumbledork]

I only know that the girls that robbed all those celebrities were homeschooled using a curriculum built around the movie. So I'll echo PPs, and maybe find a new therapist?

[JLV]

Yeah, after reading about the book and the whole premise I definitely side-eyed my therapist's thought process.

I am all for positivity and I know I could afford more in my life but I kind of don't believe the universe gives back what you put out. What about the people who have been abused or murdered?

Maybe I'm just missing the actual premise.

[pantsparty]

I think if you just pretend you've read The Secret, it will have the same effect.

[bonquiqui]

Sept 11, 2013 9:07:36 GMT -5 Dumbledork said:

I only know that the girls that robbed all those celebrities were homeschooled using a curriculum built around the movie. So I'll echo PPs, and maybe find a new therapist?

How did I miss what this was about?  lol My friend said I should watch it, and I knew it was on Oprah, but didn't know specifics.  This was back in May, and it's been sitting on my desk since.  lol  

[karmasabiotch]

I watched the movie because I wanted to see what the hype was about. Minutes wasted.

[heliocentric]

My friend gave me a copy and it made me really angry. If you are looking for a more balanced and reasonable book I'd suggest "The Antidote: Happiness for people who can't stand positive thinking." It's not exactly a self-help book, but explores many popular self-help programs and their pros/cons.

[sunshineluv]

I read it, and at the time got something from it. I used to buy into that type of thing more that now. (The influence of an ex bf)

Looking back, it can be very negative. As in, well if only I could control my thoughts more and be more optimistic then good things would happen. I am the reason my life isn't perfect, all because I didn't think the right things.

I do believe having a good attitude helps your overall demeanor, a lot. It just isn't so easy to snap your fingers and have a good attitude.

[JLV]

So it's a couple's therapist that my fiancé and I are seeing because of issues and yesterday during our appointment it really felt a "we need to work on Jessica" session.

I am definitely too hard on myself about a lot of things but I was very put off by the whole thing.

[pantsparty]

Sept 11, 2013 10:11:10 GMT -5 Que? said:

Your therapist isn't doing their job.

The best therapists outsource their therapy.

[JLV]

Her whole reasoning behind wanting me to watch the movie and read the book is she can't force me to change, I have to want to do it for myself. She said she can only guide me to the resources.

[fryjack2]

Never read it mostly because Oprah was obsessed with it for awhile.

From what I can gather, its all about finding the silver lining in shit like making yourself breakfast and realizing that someone left 4 drops of milk in the container. Its fine, you will just have toast. How AMAZING is it that someone else got to have a full bowl of milk and cereal!!!!!!Oh happy day!!!!!

[shostakovich]

Sept 11, 2013 10:30:49 GMT -5 JLV said:

Her whole reasoning behind wanting me to watch the movie and read the book is she can't force me to change, I have to want to do it for myself. She said she can only guide me to the resources.

If her best suggestion for resources is The Secret, she has an empty cranium where a brain should be.

Time for a new therapist.

Edit: Also, Scientific American has done a series of articles debunking the "science" of The Secret.  This one is the most humorous and brief: www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-other-secret

[emptygee]

Sept 11, 2013 10:37:16 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

Never read it mostly because Oprah was obsessed with it for awhile.

From what I can gather, its all about finding the silver lining in shit like making yourself breakfast and realizing that someone left 4 drops of milk in the container. Its fine, you will just have toast. How AMAZING is it that someone else got to have a full bowl of milk and cereal!!!!!!Oh happy day!!!!!

I'm not saying I believe in The Secret, but no, this is not what it's about. It's more about visualizing what you want, believing you already have it, feeling grateful for it before you have it, and then you will attract it.

[fryjack2]

Sept 11, 2013 10:47:36 GMT -5 emptygee said:

Sept 11, 2013 10:37:16 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

Never read it mostly because Oprah was obsessed with it for awhile.

From what I can gather, its all about finding the silver lining in shit like making yourself breakfast and realizing that someone left 4 drops of milk in the container. Its fine, you will just have toast. How AMAZING is it that someone else got to have a full bowl of milk and cereal!!!!!!Oh happy day!!!!!

I'm not saying I believe in The Secret, but no, this is not what it's about. It's more about visualizing what you want, believing you already have it, feeling grateful for it before you have it, and then you will attract it.

I stand corrected. 

Maybe I'm a pessimist, but that sounds lame.  But if it helps people find happiness, more power to them.

[zelda25]

Sept 11, 2013 10:47:36 GMT -5 emptygee said:

Sept 11, 2013 10:37:16 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

Never read it mostly because Oprah was obsessed with it for awhile.

From what I can gather, its all about finding the silver lining in shit like making yourself breakfast and realizing that someone left 4 drops of milk in the container. Its fine, you will just have toast. How AMAZING is it that someone else got to have a full bowl of milk and cereal!!!!!!Oh happy day!!!!!

I'm not saying I believe in The Secret, but no, this is not what it's about. It's more about visualizing what you want, believing you already have it, feeling grateful for it before you have it, and then you will attract it.

So, magical thinking. Yes, I'm sure that's an excellent life strategy.

[Deleted]

The movie is awesome because it is hilarious and not because it seems like a good life strategy.

[emptygee]

Sept 11, 2013 10:55:41 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

Sept 11, 2013 10:47:36 GMT -5 emptygee said:

I'm not saying I believe in The Secret, but no, this is not what it's about. It's more about visualizing what you want, believing you already have it, feeling grateful for it before you have it, and then you will attract it.

So, magical thinking. Yes, I'm sure that's an excellent life strategy.

Um, yeah, I didn't say it was.

[zelda25]

Sept 11, 2013 10:57:48 GMT -5 emptygee said:

Sept 11, 2013 10:55:41 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

So, magical thinking. Yes, I'm sure that's an excellent life strategy.

Um, yeah, I didn't say it was.

LOL. And I didn't say you did, did I?

[emptygee]

Sept 11, 2013 10:58:56 GMT -5 zelda25 said:

Sept 11, 2013 10:57:48 GMT -5 emptygee said:

Um, yeah, I didn't say it was.

LOL. And I didn't say you did, did I?

Lol no. I'm just defensive because I have been known to use the secret by visualizing an open parking spot near my office. It rarely works.

[JLV]

Sept 11, 2013 10:43:55 GMT -5 Que? said:

Sept 11, 2013 10:30:49 GMT -5 JLV said:

Her whole reasoning behind wanting me to watch the movie and read the book is she can't force me to change, I have to want to do it for myself. She said she can only guide me to the resources.

Ok, fair enough. Read it and decide for yourself, but there are far better resources for working through this. (In my humble opinion).

Do you think your therapist was saying that she feels like you are resistant to help?

I would love to know some other resources because I am completely lost and the more knowledge the better. I'm definitely going to check out The Secret but from what I've read I don't think it is for me.

I think she believes that I know I am sad, depressed and hard on myself but I am not taking the steps to change those things.

[JLV]

I think I am going to read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

I had an ex who wanted me to read the teen version years ago and I refused.

[marshmallowmars]

DH and I got into an argument once about this dumb book (he always plays devil's advocate). So now whenever he wants something I always tell him it's the Secret, he just doesn't want it hard enough, etc., so I basically just win the argument over and over for eternity. 

OP if you want to check out the opposite version of the Secret, try reading "Bright-Sided" by Ehrenreich

[Deleted]

Read this instead.

www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-The-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378923543&sr=8-1&keywords=feeling+good