Lilly Snow’s Reviews > The Secret > Status Update

Don’t think I like it much, apart from what I’ve already said, all of this could really be condensed into a shorter booklet. I have seen the same phrases repeated over and over, it was motivational for a few moments yesterday, but not anymore.

I guess this also links to gratitude, “celebrate the good feelings”, which I do find to be effective to some extent. Should do it more

I don’t like the coldness in these pages, implying that all of the tragedies and cruelties that people suffered in the past were all the result of their own doing. It’s like the saying: “Pitiful people must have hateful qualities”. It’s an entitled separation from your humanity, it’s victim blaming.

This may be true for the small things in life, but definitely not for these historical events.

Like many books of its kind, this one talks about the “common sense” ideas that people should know, but only know and don’t act on. So far the ideas of “your actions now have consequences on your life in the future”, “become aware of your subconscious actions and thoughts”, and “be clear about what your goal is, in order to effectively act on it and become it” were mentioned, in their own words.

Much like the concept of identity shaping your habits and actions in ‘Atomic Habits’, if you think “what would a healthy person do?” in every moment of your life, you will do these healthy people actions which eventually mean you will become the healthy person.

I guess it’s just a way to guide people into beginning to think the right thoughts which will eventually manifest (in a cause and consequence way rather than by some magic) as the results that you desire, from the right actions that emerge from these right thoughts.

It is becoming motivational. I think it’s worded weirdly but it makes sense what they’re saying:
It’s the idea you focus on that’s important in determining the result. When I think “I DON’T want to be late”, I aim to catch the last possible bus that gets me there on time. But when I think “I want to be EARLY”, I aim to get on a few buses early, that way the result is that I would never be late.

Up until here, these are my thoughts:
It seems to use the language and style of a marketing pamphlet or propaganda, that initially deters me from reading further, but I know the concept behind it is actually of value. It poses the central concept as a mysterious, magical thing, and gives examples of famous people who have succeeded but never goes further to explain how or when. I try to put away my doubt.