<p>I frankly think its kinda ********. But I’ve seen it, and I want to try it for some reason. What do you think? Is it any different than belief in religion, etc? I know many staunch/strong Christians who are really successful, what do you think?</p>
<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_(film)[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_(film)</a></p>
<p>I’ll give you my adage to follow and I won’t charge you anything. :-)</p>
<p>**Success stops when you do. **</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with the work, but I am a very, very strong believer of consistent positive thinking. I believe we limit ourselves by negative or non productive thinking, and we can even make ourselves sick…and that the success we achieve is a direct reflection, an exact mirror of how we interact with the world. </p>
<p>Obviously, it’s pretty important to remain well grounded in reality. If one’s starting place is an incomplete high school education and the day care closes every day at 6:00 p.m., it’s obviously that one is going to be hard pressed to compete for that senior vice president position, when the other participants are MBAs in two-wage earner families with flexible options. But that does NOT mean giving up, refusing to try, or, seeking alternatives and operating from one’s strengths, and being very, very opportunistic about parallel paths to success. </p>
<p>I’m also a strong believer in “never tolerate” - bad relationships, unacceptable business conditions, or poor circumstances. Either accept a situation and choose to be happy in it - or - reject it entirely, and change it. But never, ever tolerate unacceptable circumstances. Doing so just mires one in a very negative world, which in turn results in poisoned relationships, physical and mental illness, etc. </p>
<p>I’m curious enough to buy the book, see what’s up with it…</p>
<p>I am not familiar with it until I just watched a clip on youtube of the Oprah show. It reminds me of the old standby “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale.</p>
<p>It’s like bottled water.</p>
<p>Water is available to everyone everywhere who desires to get it. But people start marketing water in an extravagant fashion, and suddenly everybody starts thinking it’s something hot, new, and unavailable unless bought in a pretty package.</p>
<p>I am very much concerned for our society if there are people who cannot realize for themselves the benefit and power of being positive. My mom, who is a die-hard Oprah fan, thinks it’s just ridiculous that Oprah would waste two days’ worth of shows to talk about the not-very-secretive “Secret.”</p>
<p>I agree, but I think that the book/DVD are advocating more than just positive thinking–they essentially say that when you clearly visualize/imagine something happening, it will occur. And if it did not occur, it is your fault. I can see why the DVD is a bestseller by the way they market it (they literally say that doing this correctly, one will solve all his/her problems and will get very rich/satisfied). </p>
<p>It’s essentially Intention/Manifestation, but somehow I think the way it is presented makes it seem like a scam. But who knows, maybe there are more “academic” versions of the theory out there.</p>
<p>Paco: That’s certainly a money-back guarantee! “If it did not occur, it is your fault.” LOL all the way to the bank.</p>
<p>I haven’t seen or read the book yet. I missed the Oprah show. I have a friend whose spouse is involved with the DVD and book and swears by it. What is amazing to me is the power of Oprah. The book shot up to number 2 on the Amazon bestseller list after appearing on her show.
From what I heard that show had the most feedback of any Oprah show so she was doing a repeat.</p>
<p>I’ve seen the DVD (borrowed it from a friend).</p>
<p>It’s the same principles as virtually every goal setting self help book since time immemorial. They imbue it with a mystical quality with spooky music and new age images. You can learn the same thing by reading James Allen “As a Man Thinketh”, available for $3.50 on Amazon. If you want to listen to a recording, Earl Nightengale’s "The Strangest Secret (recorded in the 1950s) is great if you can get past his gravelly voice. The principles definitely do work and both of these sources (and many others) have helped me in achieving my goals.</p>
<p>Off topic, I must be the only one - and by the way no offense intended - but I honestly do not get why anyone would be even slightly interested in Oprah, Dr. Phil, or any of the other persons in her genre. </p>
<p>What’s the attraction? Something about Oprah makes me want to run screaming from the room, if I happen into such a room and she’s on the television…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Make that two…</p>
<p>Make that 3.
I never watch but wanted to catch that episode since my friend’s spouse was on the show.</p>
<p>[This is the best book I have read on the subject](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Visualization-Imagination-Create-Bantam/dp/0553270443”>http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Visualization-Imagination-Create-Bantam/dp/0553270443</a>)</p>
<p>I think it has been out for 25+ years.</p>