The 'Secret'

[Ariella]

Originally Posted by PxlFree

It is hard to see this stuff at the time you are going through it, but hindsight is 20/20 so if it doesn't make sense now, trust that it soon will. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

This reminds me of that Lord of the Rings movie quote:

So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

I think the "hindsight is twenty-twenty" term should be changed to "hindsight is gratuity opportunity."

There's also a chinese proverb that goes:

To view one's past with gratuity, is to live twice.

Live twice indeed! Once in adversity, and again in wisdom!

[LCrawford67]

Ok, Darcy...you quoted LOTR, don't you dare quote Star Wars!

Yes, my husband does this all the time....

[Ariella]

Originally Posted by Izzykat

Those four sentences contain more wisdom than the five or six hundred you've previously posted.

I find that over time I can say the same thing in fewer words the more I practice. It's as if I keep unpeeling the droning numbing prattle of the ego and replace it with succinct nuggets of "I know". I really hope that's wisdom showing itself. Or at least, a sign that I'm willing to say less, and listen more.

Thanks for your VERY warm regard!

[Ariella]

Originally Posted by ihatezaps

This is rather insulting to me. I chose to express that I didn't totally agree with the video "The Secret" and you make these generalizations that I am a 100% negative person who looks for magic bullets and spends $4 on cups of coffee and US Weekly. I am not a 100% negative person AT ALL. This experience with Paxil withdrawal has taken a lot out of me but I continue to stay positive and look for the good in it. I just happen to disagree with something and I am in the minority. Everyone is unique and has a unique interpretation of things and that is ok. Please refrain from the personal insults.

I support you in this view. There's nothing wrong with noticing The Secret is in some part declaring who you are not. We all look at different parts of the universal body for answers, and none are missed opportunities. Thanks for making sure we don't forget.

[Ariella]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

Ok, Darcy...you quoted LOTR, don't you dare quote Star Wars!

So what I have told you was true . . . from a certain point of view. -Obiwan

[Ariella]

I find that over time I can say the same thing in fewer words the more I practice. It's as if I keep unpeeling the droning numbing prattle of the ego and replace it with succinct nuggets of "I know". I really hope that's wisdom showing itself. Or at least, a sign that I'm willing to say less, and listen more.

Actually, what I think is happening is that I'm getting less nervous and less concerned about what others may think, and therefore, save my breath. LOL!

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by darcyb

So what I have told you was true . . . from a certain point of view. -Obiwan

Don't make me come to Iowa....

[Ariella]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

Don't make me come to Iowa....

I WANT you to. Dinner at a nice restaurant is on me, and you'll be welcomed by every person I know here that is connected to paxilprogress in some way.

[Ariella]

Originally Posted by darcyb

I WANT you to. Dinner at a nice restaurant is on me, and you'll be welcomed by every person I know here that is connected to paxilprogress in some way.

I think that's 4 at this point heh.

[LCrawford67]

Thank you, Darcy!! It's a date! I'm thisclose to planning a get together with members in this neck of the US and Canada. I know I can't go too much longer without meeting Laurie, Rita, Homer, Cally etc.

And somehow, I'll make it to the Texas area to meet Kim and Lisa too!

[Katesmom]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

And somehow, I'll make it to the Texas area to meet Kim and Lisa too!

"Texas area!" ROFLMAO! Lisa and I live about 12 hours apart! I probably live as close or closer to Darcy! LOL!

[Ariella]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

I know I can't go too much longer without meeting Laurie, Rita, Homer, Cally etc.

Me neither. Once Rita has some coin, her, myself, and Kathryn are hoping to go land on Laurie's doorstep.

[rdjanis]

This thread brings up an old thought Darcy. You remember ions ago you were going to put together a paxilprogress reunion?... Plan ahead, start thinking how, when, where... I would so love to get together with people from here.

[Ariella]

Well, NJ is becoming an interesting destination isn't it?

But yeah, that would be amazing! I'll have to think about how to poll people for their location. Maybe create a "gimme your Google map URL" thread.

[More2MeThanOCD]

Originally Posted by ihatezaps

This is rather insulting to me. I chose to express that I didn't totally agree with the video "The Secret" and you make these generalizations that I am a 100% negative person who looks for magic bullets and spends $4 on cups of coffee and US Weekly. I am not a 100% negative person AT ALL. This experience with Paxil withdrawal has taken a lot out of me but I continue to stay positive and look for the good in it. I just happen to disagree with something and I am in the minority. Everyone is unique and has a unique interpretation of things and that is ok. Please refrain from the personal insults.

I don't believe I quoted you??? Which leads me to believe you do think negatively if you can read my post and assume it was directed at you, which it was certainly not. I am sorry if you thought that. I wrote this in response to some quotes Darcy had in the post prior to mine that had no names associated with them at all. I was making a generalized observation that even something as "feel good" as this film can STILL have people to find the bad in it, or glass half empty as they say.

[More2MeThanOCD]

Originally Posted by angels

I know that it wasn't personal (toward anyone in particular)

It wasn't. Matter-o-fact this thread was 4 pages long when I joined it and I didn't have time to read it all. I didn't even read ihatezaps post(s). My post was in response to the quotes Darcy had highlighted...and those had no names attached. My point is that we cannot continue to look for the bad in stuff and ever hope to truly get better. The whole basis of this condition is chronic negative thinking that manifests itself in anxiety and depression. NO ONE in the secret set out to upset ANYONE! I can't find a moment in that film that should have anyone thinking anything but good thoughts...and I believe that is why we come to this site...to be surrounded with good people and good thoughts and hope. Not to play the constant devils advocate and argue and rip everything apart. Especially when the thing we are discussing is supposed to make us feel GOOD!

[Ariella]

Originally Posted by PxlFree

I don't believe I quoted you??? Which leads me to believe you do think negatively if you can read my post and assume it was directed at you, which it was certainly not.

This happens a lot in message forums. I'd like to remind everyone: it's not about you. Don't let your ego fool you into thinking you're sooooo important that the probability that an offense is meant for you is high. It's the opposite. Most of the time, you're not getting any attention.

If somebody needs to address someone, I hope they have the courtesy of using their name.

[Ariella]

Originally Posted by PxlFree

It wasn't. Matter-o-fact this thread was 4 pages long when I joined it and I didn't have time to read it all.

I've made that mistake many times. It helps a great deal to make sure all pages are read before jumping into a discussion.

[eileen]

Originally Posted by rdjanis

This thread brings up an old thought Darcy. You remember ions ago you were going to put together a paxilprogress reunion?... Plan ahead, start thinking how, when, where... I would so love to get together with people from here.

Me too, but I'm trying to get them all here, so I won't have to travel. LOL I know I'm going to meet Rita.
Can you imagine this crowd together. What fun we will have.
eileen

[Cayte]

How strange. I've been out to town today and was actually looking for a particular cookery book. I don't even know how I managed to be in the section where this book was, but my eyes were drawn to a book that was further off the shelf...I looked at it, and thought ..I've heard of that before somewhere????
So yes came and looked here. Didn't buy the book today..but is it trying to "say" something??????
I might give it a try.....strange this link...us all on this site i mean...or is this just random chance???? I wonder.

[imokay]

Originally Posted by LCrawford67

Thank you, Darcy!! It's a date! I'm thisclose to planning a get together with members in this neck of the US and Canada. I know I can't go too much longer without meeting Laurie, Rita, Homer, Cally etc.

And somehow, I'll make it to the Texas area to meet Kim and Lisa too!

YAY!!! you mentioned me!! I think we should plan it so you and Lisa are here at the same time!!

[LCrawford67]

Originally Posted by Katesmom

"Texas area!" ROFLMAO! Lisa and I live about 12 hours apart! I probably live as close or closer to Darcy! LOL!

Alright, alright....I realize Texas is a whole other continent! We'll have to pick a middle ground.

[Ariella]

Iowa's in the middle but sorta north.

Anyway, we'll have a different thread for that sort of thing. Back to The Secret?

[colours]

I have a question about the secret and good thoughts. I hope you don't mind. So you live your life work hard and you know from a past experience how precious life is because you almost lose a child to an illness and then your husband goes and pops a pill goes manic destroys everything. So how are my negative thoughts bringing that on? I didn't even think my daughter would ever get sick, how many 3 year olds get toxic shock with congestive heart failure. 10 years later husbands young sister has a stroke and he puts himself on zoloft and goes nuts. So how can I apply the secret to my life. I didn't cause it, I can't control it and I can't cure it, but it is my life. Would love to hear so words of wisdom. Clearly had I been a fortune teller, my thought process would be to put a gun to my head and pull the trigger it would have been a lot less painful.
I just believe sometimes bad things happen and no matter what personality type you have, some things are out of your controll. As the old saying goes sh*t happens.

[Ariella]

Nothing has any meaning except the meaning you give it. If you think life is something that you should kill yourself for when you discover how difficult it can feel when it's not understood, then you will experience life as being life threatening.

Nothing has any meaning except the meaning you give it. If you think you are a body with a soul, and not a soul with a body, you will find greater pain in matters related to physical challenges (illness, physical death, withdrawal symptoms etc.)

Nothing has any meaning except the meaning you give it. If you think a loved one having a hard time with himself and his medication is a personal loss of control of yours, then you will experience a loss of control any time someone else has an experience.

Given these modes of thinking, I understand how you came to believe you don't play a role in attracting any of it.

And when you mix all those together, you train yourself to think that life is meant to hurt you. And in that mindset, as a creative energy, you will attract more of it. Just as focus produces a result like focusing on shoe laces to tie them, focusing on loss of control and negativity will cause you to tie yourself up!

Now, here's the brain buster. Since you have the freedom to give any event a meaning, why are you so actively giving things a negative meaning? When will you take the time to put a positive spin on things? The Secret is that you can, and then that will attract more of it. You can change your life in a thought, but that doesn't mean it's noticeable right away. So you have to promise yourself to choose to see differently with enough consistency until the millions of iterations of change that have occurred unnoticed individually, coalesce to become this big symphony that you will then notice.

The Secret is about affecting change, through changing yourself first. The outside world will echo over time. It's a good thing. If the world were setup to give everybody their every whimsical thought, of false understandings, brothers and sisters would never reach adulthood, and people wouldn't have anybody to work with. There'd be no CEOs that's for sure hehe. There would be car accidents happening all the time as drivers suddenly died in their seats from the rage of the person in behind etc. Every thought does bend reality to it, but by the good graces of a patient and forgiving universe, it lets us take the time to make sure, become consistent and then to notice.