I have friends from all over the world, and I was having a conversation about 7 months ago with one in Australia about negativity and the consequences. She mentioned that I should read THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne. Has anyone else read it or saw the movie?

In my opinion, The Secret is all about positive thinking, and the power of yourself. We have so much brain power that we are not using, and we tend (as a society) to blame everyone else for our misfortunes.
Imagine then, if you were in control of everything you think, feel, and experience!

I have seen critics say that:
This is not a secret, thus the book must be hogwash. Reply: A secret is something that not everyone knows.

My take on it is, (short and sweet) you can use what you believe and drop the rest by the wayside.
Think on this though. If it helps you to stay positive, that in itself is a huge change in your outlook, life, and experiences. Negativity is a lonely, sad state of affairs which builds on fear. Once we step outside of that fear, life becomes more powerful, we enjoy like minded friends, and better experiences come our way. We do attract to us what we give out, you see it everyday. If you give a smile, usually you get one in return. If you are grumpy or angry, that is what is usually returned to you.
You are what you think.

I have read it and seen the movie. I enjoyed both. It's only a secret because people refuse to believe something thats right in their face.
As a Pagan, the "secret" is very close to my beliefs. It makes you take responsibilty for your own actions. You have to own up to what's wrong and right in your life. It's really up to you.

I agree! The secret is not a cult or a bible, it is a philosophy of life that anyone can adapt to their own beliefs. Well said Jill.

The "basic" message I see from this, is the same as several others, including the Bible.
"Reap what you sow"
Power of Positive Thinking.
All of this goes that direction.

It all has merit & as another said, Take what works for you & let the rest go.

My thoughts.

I truly believe when you put out negative, you get negative. You put out positive, you get positive.
People don't like this idea or the secret, or this way of life simply because they refuse to believe they caused what's wrong in their life. It's much easier to accept your failures when you blame on things that aren't in your control...

Well put!

Yes, I have seen it and I use it everyday. Actually, we all do whether we know it or not.

I feel the same way. That is, if we are positive and believe good things come in life.

In works in the opposite way as well. If we are negative and do not believe that good thing will come...they won't. Thoughts are things so if you are dwelling on what you don't have you will only attract more of the same.

It's hard not to dwell on the bad... I know all to well. That's something I'm really working on.

It's incredibly hard. Sometimes too hard.

I so agree! That is why we need to interact with positive people. We also need to fake ourselves out sometimes. If we smile even tho we do not feel like it, then that smile becomes a real thing after a while. It all depends on what you really want out of life. Do you want to be unhappy and angry and be around people that reflect that, or do you want better for you? In the long run, we only have ourselves and what we have made of ourselves. I personally want to enjoy being with me.

I truly believe that some people are only happy when they are unhappy. If that makes any sense.

The secret really opened my eyes. I had never even heard about anything like that until the book came out. I learned that we do have the ability to create our own destiny and the life that we want. I try to think positively every day. It can be a challenge if I am having a particularly difficult day. I do use the idea and apply it to my life. I will graduate with MSW in May and I attribute most of this to positive thinking.

That is so awesome!

I love hearing stories like that as it helps me to remember to focus and work it!

While it's great for many to improve their self-esteem and think more positively all the time and yes being always on the positive side does make life a lot better, I can't take the book as some do, literally, that as I saw in the movie and read that the person wanted a bicycle really bad and it just magically appeared front of his door "gift from the universe".

Somebody wanted to "prove me" how this "secret" works by her getting a new computer, and when it came to the explanation how she received it, she went to buy it in a store, blowing away her 3 week paycheck.

Sure it makes her happier, buy the thing, but don't claim that the reason she got it was because she used the secret.

Positive thinking is a beautiful thing.

Tony Robbins is more believable though.

I guess I will have to check into Tony Robbins.

Tony Robbins is the guru on the power of positive thinking. He is a phenomenal speaker who does not add the mystical content into his message.

The guy with the HUGE smile...

He is a fantastic motivational speaker.

I have Tony Robbins book "Unlimited Power" and it was hard for me to get through. I keep thinking I will try reading it again someday. It's a little complicated.

But one of the interesting things about what he says is that deep breathing is so important in loosing weight and in gaining energy and for over all health.

I think that is true.

My new theory involving the law of attraction and the "secret" has actually become less mystical and more about the subconscious mind and its incredible capacity for observation and information storage.

It is my new theory for that thing we call GOD and that thing responsible for "miracles."

It does not mean I think it is a physical part of the brain though, I think the subconscious mind is the key to connecting with all information in the local universe.