the secret

A columnist wrote the following about her life coach training, and I could so relate to it:

But here’s the thing: it took me a looooooong time to complete the core curriculum, for one simple reason. Most, not all, but most coaches are very bouncy, outgoing, emotionally expressive types. And I am not. (I don’t like to kiss or hug hello either. Is this the Caper in me? My attitude is, why hug me when you can shake my hand, Mr. I-met-you-10-minutes-ago?)

I believe nothing hurts the personal development movement more than sharks in our midst who don't care so much about people as they care about their own pocketbooks.

Consider David Schirmer, a spokesperson for The Secret, who is under investigation in Australia for allegedly cheating investors out of tens of thousands of dollars. To see the news reports, follow this link:

http://www.feelgoodgirl.com/node/126

Consider also Landmark Education (aka Landmark Forum), which was practically chased out of France after a damning investigative report:

http://www.cultnews.com/?p=2176

A man who is a fan of The Secret and has received some attention for his personal testimonial cautions people against taking it too literally...in particular, a woman with cancer who is refusing medical treatment to focus on positive thinking as her "cure."