Thu 15 Mar 2007
I have never had so many people ask me if I’d seen a movie, until The Secret came along. I finally saw it. I’ve run across this material before and The Secret packages it in a very mainstream way for a TV audience. (Aside - it was produced for Australian television).
I thought a lot of it was very materially focused. Where were the people trying to get their cholestrol counts down so they don’t succumb to heart disease like the rest of their family? Or people wanting to heal relationships. It was very focused on getting things like the new red bike.
But I know - it’s TV. Stuff is easier to show visually. And probably easier to relate to. And I’m sure their goal was to just help people *get it* and then they can darn well decide what they want themselves.
So I’m a pretty cynical or shall we say *questioning* person. But there’s two things that came to mind after watching The Secret:
1. What do you want? So often, we trip through life hoping things don’t suck and wishing they would suck less when they do. But really, figuring out what you want, where you’re headed and what it would look like is a really important step to moving ahead on anything. And it’s one we forget about when we’re slogging through the trenches of life. Anytime is a good time to look up and peer at the big picture.
What’s that quote? “If you don’t know where you’re going any path will take you there”. If you *do* know where you’re going - identifying it, seeing it, believing you just might get there can only help you stay on course. It’s just gotta help.
2. What’s the downside? I just don’t see any. I don’t see any downside to being positive and believing you’re going to get what you really want. At the very least it’ll make you nicer to be around, so there, it’s already made you a better person.
Maybe one with a new red bike.
March 16th, 2007 at 2:52 am
I finally watched “The Secret” and felt dirty. I can’t believe how materialistic it was. My partner had to walk out of the room and I had to throw it in the bin. I think the downside (for me) was that the whole concept and the way it was presented was so selfish. I am more inclined to think that what I “need” rather than “want” is enough.
Gosh, a new read bike hey. I wonder what the children in third world countries would “want” because they sure don’t get what they really “need” to survive.
Can you tell I hated it!
March 16th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Yup, I totally hear your reaction, my toes curled in a few spots too. I’m doing my best to take it with a grain of salt though because it’s the most accessible packaging of these ideas I’ve seen so far - even if it is light on depth. I like your need vs. want idea, I started a post on that very thing - stay tuned
So let me ask you HB - do you do practice the ideas in your own way?
March 17th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Love the post. Positive thoughts. That’s gotta help. The Secret really is just live life. Its just what it is. To be alive is a pretty good thing in and of itself. But a shiny red bike is a nice thing too!