I’ve started a book club and we’re beginning with The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. This won't be for everyone, but this is also about helping me in my own journey and keeping myself accountable, if other people can benefit from that along the way then please feel free to join us, read along and share your thoughts.
So far I have only read the foreword (though I have read this book hundreds of times before!), and because I know not everybody in here will have the book or have read it yet, I wanted to include more of the actual text and the key ideas from this section before opening up the discussion.
The book begins with Rhonda Byrne explaining that a year earlier, her life had completely fallen apart. She writes:
“A year ago, my life had collapsed around me, I’d worked myself into exhaustion, a family member passed away suddenly, and my relationships with work colleagues and loved ones were in turmoil. Little did I know at the time, that out of my greatest despair was to come the greatest gift.”
She then says that during this painful time, she was given “a glimpse of a Great Secret - the secret to life.” She explains that this glimpse came through “a hundred year old book, given to me by my daughter.”
I think this is a powerful way to start the book, particularly as so many of us here are experiencing that rock bottom feeling. To know that this book is about a really good thing that came from the darkest time in the authors life, gives us hope, as many of us are also in that dark place.
What follows is the beginning of her journey into trying to understand this secret. She says:
“I began tracing the secret back through history. I couldn't believe all the people who knew this. They were the greatest people in history; Plato, Shakespeare, Newton, Hugo, Beethoven, Lincoln, Emerson, Edison, Einstein”.
That is such a huge statement right at the start of the book, because it immediately sets the tone that this is not being presented as just a self-help idea, but as something timeless, powerful and known by some of the most influential people in history.
The foreword then explains that once she discovered this, she felt driven to share it with the world, which is what led to the creation of The Secret film. She describes how, after the film was released, people began contacting them with what she calls miracle stories. She writes:
“As the film swept the world, stories of miracles began to flood in. People wrote about healing from pain, depression and disease, walking for the first time following an accident. We have received thousands of accounts of the secret being used to bring about large sums of money and unexpected checks in the mail. People have used the secret to manifest their perfect homes, life partners, cars, jobs and promotions. There have been heart warming stories of stressed relationships being restored to harmony”.
So even in the foreword, before we have really started the main book, Byrne is already making it clear that she believes this secret can affect every area of life, health, money, relationships, career and happiness. I'm personally less interested in the large sums of money and unexpected checks, but more interesting in healing, feeling at peace, working on my relationships; those things just resonated with me more, despite the financial mess I find myself in as a result of gambling! I guess it shows you what's important.
She then goes on to say that this book is here to teach the secret and to show examples of it in action. She explains that she has shared everything she has learned, including what she calls the easy paths, tips and shortcuts, so that readers can start creating the life they truly want.
She writes:
“As you travel through it’s pages and you learn the secret, you will come to know how you can have, be or do anything you want. You will come to know who you really are. You will come to know the true magnificence that awaits you”.
That is such a bold and exciting promise at the beginning of a book. It is written in a way that feels full of hope, possibility and transformation.
For me personally, this book holds a special place in my heart because, similar to the author, I was given this book by my mum during a time when I myself was struggling. It really did impact me, and I have learnt first hand the transformational effect it can have on your life. At the same time, I have also learnt that you do have to be open to accepting the journey and the learning from the book, otherwise it can just feel like text on a page.
I would love to know everyone’s thoughts on the foreword:
What were your first impressions of the way the author introduces the book?
What do you think about the idea that this “secret” has been known throughout history by some of the world’s greatest thinkers?
How did you feel reading the examples of healing, money, relationships and life changes people claimed to experience?
Do you find the introduction inspiring, overwhelming, unbelievable, exciting, or a mix of all of those?
And do you think being open-minded changes how a book like this is received?
Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts
I had a look at this book today. Still considering whether to buy it or not. The joy of book clubs is that sometimes a book is for you, sometimes it’s not. For me, I prefer to be immersed in a make believe world. I’ll read anything that’s fiction. Self help books etc, never floated my boat. I see they made quite a successful movie out of this book though, so I may watch that!
When I quit gambling I read so many books. I probably read something for 50% of my waking time. If I wasn’t reading posts in here, I was reading any book I could get my hands on. I read all the classics (20,000 leagues under the sea, and count of monte christo my faves), and highly recommend it.
Do you read fiction also? I tried listening to podcasts about boosting personal feelings and making myself feel better but for me, quitting was a personal thing and I felt a little aggrieved by someone telling me to be better!
Currently reading Bill Bryson. Love his books (possibly not fiction though 😂). Great escapism. And some are educational too.
Anyway, don’t want hijack your book clubs. Will let you know if I do go ahead with the secret.
Stay strong and reading! 💪
Just searched this book their a used copy on musicmagpie website for £3.80 i have few other books i bought including An Evil eye by Jason Goodwin & Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir to get through
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne — Chapter 1: The Secret Revealed
It's taken me a few days to pull this together because this is a long chapter with a lot in it. I've included all the key quotes so you get the full picture even if you haven't read it.
The chapter opens with a few quotes to set the tone:
"The Secret gives you anything you want: happiness, health, and wealth."
"You can have, or be, anything you want."
"We can have whatever it is we choose. I don't care how big it is."
"I've seen many miracles take place in people's lives — financial miracles, physical healing, mental healing, healing of relationships — all because of knowing how to apply The Secret."
So what actually is The Secret?
In short: The Secret is the Law of Attraction. If you've never heard of it, don't worry — the book explains it fully. At its core, the idea is that everything coming into your life, you are attracting through your thoughts. Byrne puts it like this:
"Everything that's coming into your life, you are attracting into your life. It's attracted to you by virtue of the images you're holding in your mind. Whatever is going on in your mind, you are attracting to you."
Some people call this power "the universe", others call it "God", others something else. The label doesn't matter. The point is the idea that there is something bigger than us, and our thoughts interact with it constantly.
Byrne is keen to point out that the Law of Attraction is not a modern invention. It has been known and taught throughout human history:
"Recorded throughout the ages in all its forms, the law can be found in ancient writings through all the centuries. It was recorded in stone in 3000 BC."
"The law began at the beginning of time. It has always been and will always be. The law of attraction is forming your entire life experience through your thoughts. You are the one who calls the law of attraction into action, and you do it through your thoughts."
The magnet and the TV frequency
Byrne offers two simple ways to understand how this works. First, think of yourself as a magnet — like attracts like. Second, think of your thoughts like a TV frequency. Whatever channel you're broadcasting on is what you pull back into your life.
"The simplest way for me to look at the Law of Attraction is if I think of myself as a magnet — and I know that a magnet will attract to it. Like attracts like."
"Your thoughts create the frequency, they attract like things on that frequency, and then they are broadcast back to you as your life. If you want to change anything in your life, change the channel and change the frequency by changing your thoughts."
A little activity to try at home
I always do this with people when I'm explaining the Law of Attraction. I can't do it with you all because you will read the outcome before you do the activity so I was wondering how I can get the point across - so please humour this activity!! Tell someone in your family that you're going to count down from ten, and while you do, they need to silently count as many things as possible that are shades of blue in the room. Once you've counted down, ask them: how many pink things did you see? The answer will be zero — because they weren't looking for them.
This is the Law of Attraction at its most basic level. We see what we are looking for. We all know what it's like to have a bad day where everything feels wrong and stressful — that's because we're on that low frequency, we can't see anything else. We're only noticing the blue things in the room.
Why isn't everyone living the life of their dreams then?
Byrne asks this question directly. Her answer: most people are thinking about what they don't want, all the time, and wondering why it keeps showing up. She explains that the Law of Attraction is impersonal — it doesn't judge good or bad, it simply reflects back whatever you are focusing on. And crucially, it doesn't process the words "don't" or "not." So "I don't want money problems" is received as "I want money problems." "I don't want to argue" becomes "I want more arguing." We live in a world where we are constantly fed negative thoughts - the news, the radio - everything is so expensive, so many wars going on, this crime that crime, we have created a world where bad news sells, good news doesn't. So we have grown to get used to this way of living!
We've all been there with money worries. When things are tight, your mind is constantly running worst-case scenarios, 2 days before payday is usually when your car breaks down, your washing machine breaks, the dog needs to go to the vets unexpectedly.
"Whatever you sow, you reap. Your thoughts are seeds, and the harvest you reap will depend on the seeds you plant. If you are complaining, the Law of Attraction will bring more things into your life to complain about."
But should I be worried about negative thoughts?
I know some of you will be thinking — does this mean every negative thought is going to ruin my life? Byrne addresses this, and I found it really reassuring:
"It has been scientifically proven that an affirmative thought is hundreds of times more powerful than a negative thought. That eliminates a great deal of worry right there."
She also points out there is a time delay between thinking something and it showing up in your life — and that gap is actually a gift. It gives you the opportunity to catch yourself and shift your thoughts. I'm not into toxic positivity — I think we need to feel sad sometimes, worried sometimes. You're allowed to have a hard day. But the key is picking yourself back up, and Byrne is essentially saying the same thing. One bad day isn't going to derail you.
The power of a quiet mind
Byrne says that without exception, every great teacher and influential mind referenced in the book uses daily meditation. It quietens the mind, helps you control your thoughts, and revitalises the body. And you don't need to set aside hours — even three to ten minutes a day to start with can have incredible effects.
Chapter summary — straight from the book
The great secret of life is the Law of Attraction.
Like attracts like — when you think a thought, you attract more like thoughts to you.
Thoughts are magnetic and have a frequency; as you think them, they are sent out into the universe and magnetically attract all like things on the same frequency, and everything sent out returns to you.
You are like a human transmission tower. To change anything in your life, change the frequency by changing your thoughts. Your current thoughts are creating your future life — what you think about most will appear as your life.
Your thoughts become things.
I've practiced the law of attraction for a long time, but sometimes I lose my way with it because life takes over and I get back into the bad habits. I can tell you that I have experienced good things since practicing this again just since starting this book club!!
Would love to hear your thoughts below — does this resonate with you, or does it feel too far-fetched? Has anyone already been practising the Law of Attraction in some form? I've practiced it for years and had some absolutely WILD outcomes 👇
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