Why 'The Secret' is Bad for Your Health

In 'The Secret', Rhonda Byrne describes the 'Law of attraction' and suggests that the way to achieve what you want is to: 'Ask' the Universe; truly 'Believe' that you deserve it and will get it, and then, 'Receive'.  This seems like a harmless new age idea, so why does it bother me so much?


Others have written about the victim blaming and guilt around illness that this belief system tends to encourage.  Rhonda Byrne apparently 'once claimed that disasters like the 2006 tsunami can only happen to people who are “on the same frequency as the event,” which appears to suggest that the victims brought catastrophe on themselves.' There is also a good discussion here questioning both the validity of the ideas and the sources that Byrne claim support her.


What I want to raise is how 'The Secret' can actually harm mental well being. Following the strategies suggested by 'The Secret' can potentially decrease two important healthy behaviours: psychological flexibility and mindfulness.  


Psychological flexibility is 'the process of contacting the present moment fully as a conscious human being and persisting or changing behavior in the service of chosen values' (Hayes SC, Luoma JB, Bond FW, Masuda A, Lillis J (2006)).  Which means being in touch with the present moment and making flexible choices based on who you want to be in the world and what is really important to you.  Numerous studies have found that psychological flexibility is associated with emotional well being and better quality of life. 
One of my concerns about 'The Secret' is that it encourages people to focus energy on controlling their thoughts and feelings and also on avoiding situations that may trigger painful feelings.  These are both markers of psychological inflexibility.  In terms of emotional well being, this is a disaster. 

If you want to test how psychologically flexible you are, take the AAQ (Note - the AAQ II on pg 4 of the document is simpler).  There is a great article on the dangers of avoiding painful emotions here.


My other major concern is that I don't think it is possible to practice both mindfulness and 'The Secret' and, like psychological flexibility, mindfulness is associated with emotional well being. 
Mindfulness has two components

1. self-regulation of attention so that it is maintained on immediate experience, thereby allowing for increased recognition of mental events in the present moment.  
2. adopting a particular orientation toward one’s experiences in the present moment, an orientation that is characterized by curiosity, openness and acceptance. (Bishop et al. (2004:232)

I think 'The Secret' encourages too much focus on an imagined future and also discourages an open, accepting approach to the present moment (especially to thoughts and feelings). I can't find a way to see this as healthy.

In my post on Science and The Secret I suggest some alternative approaches to creating success.