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Chicagoist has a new fun game. It’s called “get people all riled up”. All we do is sit down over a beer, coffee or fifteen Jamison shots and say the two most electrified words in the English language, “The Secret”. It's way fun to watch proponents of “The Secret” battle it out with the militant disbelievers and just sit back and let ‘er rip.
Say what you will about "The Secret", its success is something that cannot be denied. After the Oprah show that launched it worldwide, Simon & Schuster has placed the biggest re-order in its history for an additional two million copies. The latest news is that both Warner Brothers and CBS are in talks to create a new daytime talk show related to “The Secret”. Oprah, watch your back; you might not be the only one making us feel badly because we can’t reach the level of success that you claim is so easy.
Now, we’ll be honest. We watched “The Secret”. We watched because we wanted to know what everyone was talking about, and we wanted to watch it first before we started spouting off. We also happen to believe in some if it. Our mother has told us our whole life that “life rewards action” and we have found that to be true. We like to think that karma is real and know in our hearts that good begets good and bad begets bad. We were looking for more from “The Secret” however. We’re not sure what we were expecting but what we got was a really well produced infomercial. Some of it was inspiring if you let yourself get caught up in it, but that inspiration ends when the very heavy materialistic side sets in. All of these people-in-the-know are literally telling you that you can have that diamond necklace, that bike or that new car if you believe strongly enough. We were shocked by how focused the video was on getting material things rather than personal acceptance. Also, the video is way too long. There came a point about an hour in when we were visualizing the ending of this damn thing and wishing with all our heart that it was over. The heart of “The Secret” is to do what “feels good”. Well…great, what if we think taking meth while sitting naked in Daley Plaza feels good? And also, that advice is just way too simple for people battling with very real depression and very real health problems.
On the other side of the issue are the people that are so angry, so mad, so infuriated that they’re yelling chants of “CULT!” and “RELIGION” and “SCIENTOLOGY!” We can’t help but wonder if some of these people’s indignation is rooted in jealousy. To credit “The Secret”, religion is not discussed in this video, not even under the guise of “whatever you want to call your God” like Oprah does. The video is not about spirituality or God or religion. So what if this woman is making hand over fist utilizing some of the biggest names in self-help? So what if there are lonely housewives all over the land envisioning themselves as thin and beautiful wearing diamond tennis bracelets? It’s no different than making yourself thin by eating only meat or believing men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Chicagoist can’t remember the last time people were so angry over a self-help book.
So in the name of experimentation, Chicagoist is going to give it a try. We’ve never tried the way of “The Secret”, maybe it works? And this whole time we’ve been sitting here working our butts off to make it till next week, maybe all we had to do was imagine our wealth and happiness; believe it and it will arrive. We’ll never know till we try. Now, who wants to give us a million dollars? Anyone?
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...annnnnnnd this is where I get off the chicagoist's trolley.
I've tried to explain before here that western ideas of karma are usually wrong, and then got mocked. Anyway, this one is way off kilter.
I mean, they're essentially telling you everything you want to hear, and you'll get everything you want, provided you buy this book. And watch this video. And now our TV show. And be sure to keep an eye out for "The Secret: For Teens" and "The Secret: for Couples" coming soon.
Have we learned nothing from the Simpsons episode where Brad Goodman tells everyone to start acting like Bart Simpson?
But are you a bonafide Buddhist in the Karma Kaygu lineage?
If so I have a secret for you!
Proof once again that there's a sucker born every minute.
cubs-y: funny, that's exactly what i thought of when i read the post.. hey, would it be possible to sue the author if i *don't* get everything i hope for?
slow news day in chicago or something.
did you know that they NYTimes has a front page story on how much the CTA sucks?
This post couldn't be much more condescending.
"We can’t help but wonder if some of these people’s indignation is rooted in jealousy."
It's not. Some of it has to do with watching people we know and care about get recruited into Landmark and taken for thousands of dollars they could ill afford to spend. I encourage Chicagoist to go attend a few meetings and report back before you dismiss our skepticism.
The Secret is insulting. Why doesn't Oprah tell her cute little impoverished school children in South Africa that the reason they're poor is because they don't want to be rich or they can't visualize it enough.
Ludicrous. People are poor or rich, successful or struggling for a multitude of reasons. It's a sad commentary on the spiritual (broadly, not talking religious here) vacuum in our materialistic contemporary American society that this is the biggest book re-order in history.
Uhhh...I have absolutely no idea what this post is about?!?!?
"We like Roy! We like Roy!"
i hardly think that $20 for a book is the same as all the money people spend on landmark (which doesn't really trip my trigger, truth be told ... i've never done it, but i know people who have, and something about it doesn't really sit right with me).
the other thing is, i've never heard anyone say that you 'have to buy this book.' i have many friends who have been passing around one DVD for months. it's not like they're all rushing out to buy their own copy.
i've always found that when something stirs up mega animosity within me, there's usually a reason that has to do more with me than the thing i'm pissed at.
My Mom made me watch the secret. She put the DVD in and I was thinking, "Oh great...what kind of sappy crap is this going to be". But I have to admit...I was inspired! During the time I watched this self-help movie, I was pretty depressed. My relationship of 3 years came to an end, I was working a job I couldn't stand (still am), whenever I drank I got shit canned, and I wasn't doing anything to change my life. Additionally, I was interviewing for a Sales Job with my current company. So my Mom threw "The Secret" in the DVD player, pressed play, and I let it sweep me away. I thought I'd be able to save my relationship, be rich, be happy, get a great job...all that good stuff! And in the heat of the momemt I called the Sales Manager's cell phone on a Saturday afternoon and told him, "I want that Sales Job more than anything". My Mom was shocked by the results of "The Secret". So what happened? I got over the "The Secret" the next day. I was back to my normal depressed self. I didn't get the sales job. I'm stalking my ex on myspace. And I drank enough booze yesterday to kill a small horse. At least the weather is nice.
@Mike
Mike, I understand your disdain for The Landmark, but we're not talking about The Landmark. We're talking about The Secret, which at this point in time is not asking anyone for thousands of dollars. Right now all they're asking for is money to buy the book or dvd, which mostly seems to pass from person to person anyway.
BUT! I would not be surprised if Completely Useless is right and there's a ton more of The Secret to come, including it's own facilities or what not.
And don't get me wrong, I'm not a big fan of cults either, but I'm fascinated why everyone thinks this is one, when it's not...yet.
I've only seen the Oprah where they talked about The Secret, but it seriously has to be more than just wish it to happen, right? There have to be steps that one is to take. Kind of like the diet pills that promise you will lose weight as long as you take their pills and diet and exercise. The key being diet and exercise.
Actually, it is almost that easy. But they do make the distinction that The Secret is not just "positive thoughts", you have to believe it. You can't just say "I wish I had a million dollars", you have to believe that you can, you have to believe that you will, you have to visualize very strongly that it will happen to you.
Which is not that far off to some degree, if you say "I want a million dollars" and then internally think "I'll never have a million dollars, I don't deserve it, I'm not worth it" well then, it ain't going to happen. But if you truly believe it could happen, that you are worthy and that you have the ability to go out and get what you want, you'll have a better chance of achieving your goal.
My problem with the whole thing is that they kept telling me to wish for tangible objects, bracelets and bicycles, and I just have a hard time with the materialism of the thing.
My girlfriend gave me the Secret, so I thought I'd give it a shot by reading it with an open mind. My conclusion is that I think it's bullshit. It's one thing to think positive, but you can't tell me my debts are going to disappear because I hope they will. Believe me, if that were the case, I'd be a much a happier human.
Margaret, I was addressing your specific characterization of people who are critical of "The Secret." The movie is commonly used as a recruiting device by Landmark so yes, it is relevant when speculating on why people might be critical of it.
Now excuse me as this strawman goes back outside to "(yell) chants of 'CULT!' and 'RELIGION' and 'SCIENTOLOGY!'" It's the only outlet I have for my jealousy of whatever it is I'm jealous of.
Mike,
Fair enough my friend, after a bit of searching I see that yes indeed, you are correct sir. They do seem to be using it to promote their ways.
I still have to say though, that using The Secret does not mean that it is a part of Landmark, nowhere have I seen anyone associated with The Secret asking for any money besides what it takes to purchase the book or DVD.
So I see your point, but I also did not say that EVERYONE has misplaced anger about the Secret, but that SOME did. And I still think thats true.
I do appreciate your info however, I did not know Landmark was using this as a tool.
what the f are you all talking about?
Secret? Landmark?
Somehow, I have a feeling I don't want to know. The further isolated from pop culture I get, the happier I am.
WILLY LOMAN: "Ben, How'd you do it? What's your secret?"
BEN LOMAN: "Doesn't take long if you know what you're doing... I went into the jungle when I was 17. I came out when I was 21. And by God, I was rich!"
So what's so new about this "new sensation"?
If I watch it, do I have to start wearing an odd colored robe with my Chuck Taylors?
I do like Kool-Aid, though.
I think the odd colored robe with Chuck Taylors is only mandatory if you join the Polyphonic Spree (which is an entirely different cult).
Didn't they used to call this "Secret" NLP? At least NLP (neuro-linguistic programming, yo) was ostensibly focused on personal growth (with a heavy emphasis on business) as opposed to strictly material gain.
I do find it interesting that Landmark has come up in this conversation. I didn't realize that they were using The Secret as a recruiting tool, but my opinion towards Landmark seems to hold for The Secret as well.
The ideas being put forth seem common-sensical to me (set a goal, channel your mental and physical activity into achieving it) but sometimes it takes an outside stimulus to get people to realize that. The thousands of dollars spent by people in Landmark leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but I can hardly complain about The Secret when I have a copy of Robert Anton Wilson's Prometheus Rising on my bookshelf.
This is one of those wordy posts that need to be folded over into a "Jump to the rest" link - folded over and then stuffed in a colostomy bag, which will then be launched into the river by the ghost of a native homeless man that raps and plays Casio keyboards, preferably Wesley Willis.
Who needs "The Secret"?
JESUS IS THE ANSWER!!