Magical Thinking?
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.
