Lately there has been a lot of talk about magical thinking. Movies like “The Secret” and “What the Bleep do We Know?” Have people buzzing about the possibilities of secret energy and mystical realities.
While I understand why these things seem so appealing I also have to point out that these movies are fairy tales and not science. We all like a good fairy tale. It gives us hope. It makes us believe that there are possibilities we have not imagined. If we believe that we also can be part of that fairy tale we also get to feel special and powerful.
In today’s world it is very hard to get a feeling of being in control. Any glimmer of hope that we can get that feeling of control is very enticing. That is exactly what these movies play on.
I would like to point out 3 things. One, that the science behind the movies is flawed. Two, that there is a lot of proof to the contrary. Three, that there are other explanations for the ‘magic’.
The first problem with these films is that they take theoretical science and make large leaps to connect them to magical thinking. Using Quantum Physics theory they state that all things are connected. They present a law of attraction that is not only flawed but can be damaging. The idea is simple and that is what makes it so harmful. That idea is that you attract your own reality. The ‘Universe will give you what you ask for’. That seems so harmless but inside of it is a mind trap that you might never be able to get out of.
The first step in this is a truism that is obvious. If you have a positive attitude then you will see the world in a positive way. That is a very hopeful message. Who could possibly be offended by that idea? It feels good and actually opens up avenues to creativity inside your mind.
The second suggestion would seem obvious and logical. When you align your desires and positive thoughts with the universe then you will get everything you want in life. WOW!!! That feels really good. The universe will deliver what I want! The universe will approve of me and love me.
The third thing connects just as well. Negative thoughts are the reason for bad things. If we focus on problems them we will attract them into our lives. It seems so obvious! Of course it must be right.
Fourth, they layer in some quantum theory about thoughts and matter all vibrating in ways that attract things into our lives. All matter in the universe vibrates so we are all the same. We are all connected to everything and hence we can attract everything. So it must be mystical.
Then the fairy tale thickens and the magic begins to slip. A string of experiments are presented as proof. Frozen bottles of water with magically changed ice crystals is just one. Just label one with positive feelings and the other with negative and you can make water freeze in accordance with the emotion. Unfortunately the guy looking for the crystals knew what emotions he was looking for. So the experiment was a bust.
But it seems so logical! Of course it does when you start with something that makes sense and very slowly present the links in a manner that makes them all seem connected. If you remove the steps in the middle it is much more disconnected.
“Positive thoughts help you see the world in a positive way so you can make water crystals form in beautiful ways by thinking positive thoughts.”
The above statement makes no sense because I left out the things you have to believe in the middle that lead you into believability.
House of cards
It all falls apart with one simple question. How did that baby attract being molested?
If we truly control the universe with our thoughts then bad things should never happen to babies. When I have mentioned this in the past I have had those who believe in these films suggest that somehow the bad things were attracted. Even that they babies were paying for the sins of the family.
The mind trap in that is that now you have to figure out how you attract bad things in your life. Which thought did this? You now deserve every bad thing. Women attract rape. Murder victims attract death. Children attract molestation?
What is the ‘real’ explanation?
It is simple. It is the ‘Law of Attention” You simply notice more of what you focus on. We have all done this. We get a new car and suddenly the same car as your are everywhere. I am currently looking for a jeep. Now I see jeeps everywhere. Did the universe suddenly CREATE all these jeeps? Of course not. I just changed my focus. I began notice what I focused on.
I could easily wrap that one observation up in mystical beliefs and suggest that the jeeps all just showed up one area because I willed it. Wow, that would make me feel powerful. That would make me feel like I had control of my world. It would be delusional.
I think you do have control but not in the mystical ways that are being sold to people. You have control of what you think. You have control of how you look at the world. You have control of how you interact and present yourself. Doing these things will indeed supply a better life. It is not magic. It is common sense.
The power in your life is inside of you. You don’t need the universe to supply it. You just have to release it. Removing the blocks that suppress your power is what our mission is all about.
Re: Magical Thinking?
Posted On Mar 28, 2007 at 12:28 PM
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caputmartem
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Joined: Apr 1, 2006 Last Visit: Nov 23, 2008 Posts: 43 e-Points: 52 Location: The Netherlands View All Posts By caputmartem
Hmm I was wondering how did they manage to do the trick with the water. I've read some articles by people who use that water story as proof for their story.
I don't like their vibe to be honest, it's too brittle it's the same as do meditation or affirmations every day or else your reality/life will fall apart.
I however did like one application of their ideas. They said reality is your mirror which is kinda bullshit but the application was that if you were pissed at someone. That the other person wasn't the problem but your own internal game.
So if your angry with a collegue because he got a raise then you would really be angry because you wanted the raise yourself. Now as a logical understanding it doesn't do shit even if you believe this compassion & love is all bullshit. But it however did give me a nice hook to use some 3D mind on a problem which was really driving me crazy so it wasn't all bad.
Etienne
Re: Magical Thinking?
Posted On Mar 28, 2007 at 4:35 PM
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karnautrahl
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Joined: Jun 5, 2006 Last Visit: Aug 29, 2008 Posts: 7 e-Points: 4
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