Interesting. When I read The Secret a decade and a half ago, I concluded that what was working was visualization. I think visualization can affect outcomes.
I have many amusing rituals, falsely associated events, and unrelated dispositions of ordinary, household objects (e.g., the number and colors of plastic hangers in my closet not in use will somehow have an impact on my day or whether I win money from lotto tickets) which are my private illusions of causality. These are games I play without much seriousness or attention rationally but to good effect emotionally.
These work for me similar to fortune cookie fortunes and daily horoscope posts: An opportunity for me to focus a moment on actual matters and rational decision-making. I might not spend any time thinking at all about something unless I read in my horoscope, for example, "Careful today while in motion." The horoscope post has no information, let alone anything specific to my day or my movements, but when I read it, I do have an opportunity to reflect usefully whether it could apply and how, and in what way I might be careful in motion or at rest.
Another aspect of this that I am particularly fond of is how it can apply to sleep preparation and dreaming. I tell myself all kinds of things as I am going to sleep, or when I have trouble sleeping, and also as I waking up or awake but still in bed before I actually get out of bed. In some cases, I choose my messaging in order to change my state of mind. I fantasize about something positive that is not actually true, pretending it is and allowing myself to pose the question of how I would feel if it were my condition or something that was going to happen.
Other times I remind myself of what is not actually happening, a fear or worry of hypothetical outcomes, and then take stock of what is actually the situation. I can work more calmly then on plans and actions to avoid or achieve things in waking life.
The intention of all these practices is to manipulate my mood and emotions, in order lead me to more effective decision-making and actions. And it works surprisingly well. Having done these things from an early age, I can say it does not impair me at all. I never substitute the mood manipulation for practical action and, actually, it has interesting, practical stabilizing effects for emotions. Ironic wry humor if nothing else comes in handy more often than one might expect.
As a final note, I often think of the story from The Arabian Nights, of Sinbad the Porter by day, and Sinbad the Sailor by night. The person whose waking life is a torturous grind can always take solace and sanctuary in dreams of leisure and wealth after having lived a life of fantastic adventures. I know for many it isn't easy getting there, into the right dreams, those nights of fabulous tales. I can say this is the one thing I have accomplished successfully and with consistency.
Maybe that's something I should offer lessons for. Thanks for this piece. It has already worked wonders in my day.
Interesting. When I read The Secret a decade and a half ago, I concluded that what was working was visualization. I think visualization can affect outcomes.
I have many amusing rituals, falsely associated events, and unrelated dispositions of ordinary, household objects (e.g., the number and colors of plastic hangers in my closet not in use will somehow have an impact on my day or whether I win money from lotto tickets) which are my private illusions of causality. These are games I play without much seriousness or attention rationally but to good effect emotionally.
These work for me similar to fortune cookie fortunes and daily horoscope posts: An opportunity for me to focus a moment on actual matters and rational decision-making. I might not spend any time thinking at all about something unless I read in my horoscope, for example, "Careful today while in motion." The horoscope post has no information, let alone anything specific to my day or my movements, but when I read it, I do have an opportunity to reflect usefully whether it could apply and how, and in what way I might be careful in motion or at rest.
Another aspect of this that I am particularly fond of is how it can apply to sleep preparation and dreaming. I tell myself all kinds of things as I am going to sleep, or when I have trouble sleeping, and also as I waking up or awake but still in bed before I actually get out of bed. In some cases, I choose my messaging in order to change my state of mind. I fantasize about something positive that is not actually true, pretending it is and allowing myself to pose the question of how I would feel if it were my condition or something that was going to happen.
Other times I remind myself of what is not actually happening, a fear or worry of hypothetical outcomes, and then take stock of what is actually the situation. I can work more calmly then on plans and actions to avoid or achieve things in waking life.
The intention of all these practices is to manipulate my mood and emotions, in order lead me to more effective decision-making and actions. And it works surprisingly well. Having done these things from an early age, I can say it does not impair me at all. I never substitute the mood manipulation for practical action and, actually, it has interesting, practical stabilizing effects for emotions. Ironic wry humor if nothing else comes in handy more often than one might expect.
As a final note, I often think of the story from The Arabian Nights, of Sinbad the Porter by day, and Sinbad the Sailor by night. The person whose waking life is a torturous grind can always take solace and sanctuary in dreams of leisure and wealth after having lived a life of fantastic adventures. I know for many it isn't easy getting there, into the right dreams, those nights of fabulous tales. I can say this is the one thing I have accomplished successfully and with consistency.
Maybe that's something I should offer lessons for. Thanks for this piece. It has already worked wonders in my day.