Hey, namaste. I'm Kay. This is Ecstatic Self. Um, earlier this week, I was encountering people talking about *The Secret*, the favorite book of a lot of people about manifestation. Um, and I have complex feelings about *The Secret*. Um, yes, I definitely believe that you can manifest

things in your life. Yes, I definitely believe in the power of positivity and the power of words and the power of intentions, that you should make a wish and let it go, absolutely. But I do struggle with this idea of 'you can have everything you want,' because sometimes that's just not true.

Sometimes you have, or all times I should say, you have karma to *wrestle* with, the effects of your past actions, the lessons you have to learn to come into balance, balance, and to come into wholeness in this lifetime. So that means sometimes the things you want

are diametrically opposed to your karma, which means either a) you won't get it, or b) you will get it, but then you're going to suffer tremendously. So instead of trying to will yourself into the life that you desire, instead, what if we take a different

approach? What if instead of trying to mold and use our will and force things to happen, or, you know, gently release into letting them happen, what if instead we just take a moment, we feel gratitude for all of the blessings that we already have, because

all of us are each uniquely blessed and we all have wonderful things that we could be celebrating. And then what if you just invite, or set an intention for your best well-being, your personal growth, and then don't get caught up on the

specifics of what that looks like because I know for myself, I for a long time tried to manifest a life as a successful actor and I worked constantly, but in my career, it never really took off. But the thing I learned as I struggled with this and kept wondering why is this

not manifesting? I'm really good at manifesting things. Why is this not working out? Is that this wasn't in my best interest? This wasn't what I needed to learn this lifetime. I needed to let that stuff go because what I really needed was to

learn that I'm beautiful and worthy and lovable and and fantastic without getting awards or praise or fame. I needed to learn that the thing that matters most isn't being celebrated, achieving celebrity, but yes, I may have just made up a word, but that's a word I

like to make up. Celebrity, but it's about having meaningful connections with other people, sharing love, giving love, getting love, having friendships and partnerships. It was about loving where you live, being humble, being grounded. Those were the things I needed to learn, and me pursuing a career as an actor was

diametrically opposed to those things. And there actually reached a point in my career when I had a big agent sit me down, and he's like, "You know, you could have all this, but you're going to have to give everything else up. This is going to have to be your

life." And in that moment, I realized I don't want this life. But had I successfully manifested it, I probably would have been miserable, suicidal, because that's what happens for a lot of people. They get that thing that they've worked for for years. They think that they

thought would make them happy they won the Oscar they flew to Mars whatever and they realized they're still miserable and now that there's not that thing to work towards depression sinks in anxiety mental health issues it's called the arrival fallacy this idea that one day

you'll make it and everything will be fine so yeah there are other elements of the Secret that I appreciate absolutely is there truth in it absolutely there is but please please please open to this idea that you're already having the universe orchestrate for you to have the perfect life

that already you're given the lessons you need you don't need to try and make things happen you are already experiencing the karma that you need to grow and if you can see that and you can work on that and you can appreciate that your life is going to be so much better

so sure try to manifest the Bentley or the million dollars or the life partner but realize if that's not in your best interest and that's not in your karma then you may not find it and you're not doing anything wrong you're not a bad

person you're not a failure it just means you have some other lessons to learn and those lessons are ultimately going to serve you more so be grateful for them I'm sure I'll be talking about this more later on um but I thought my these ideas might be

worth sharing I hope you appreciate and yes I know my tan is horrible sorry about that okay have a great day guys Namaste okay

“The Secret” is Bullshit!

Kaelan + Ecstatic Self

Initial thoughts on manifestation and The Secret

Introduction and acknowledgment of mixed feelings about "The Secret".

Belief in manifestation, positivity, and intention, but questioning the claim of achieving everything desired.

The concept of karma influencing the attainment of desires.

Contrasting the forceful approach of manifestation with a gentler, gratitude-based alternative.

Alternative approach to manifestation: Gratitude and well-being

Focusing on gratitude for existing blessings.

Setting intentions for personal growth rather than specific outcomes.

Personal anecdote about pursuing a career as an actor, and the realization that it wasn't aligned with personal growth.

Realization of self-worth and lovability independent of external validation.

Prioritizing meaningful connections, love, and groundedness over fame and celebrity.

An agent's advice to sacrifice everything for career success, leading to the speaker's realization that this path would lead to unhappiness.

Discussion of the arrival fallacy: achieving a goal doesn't automatically equate to happiness.

Potential for depression and mental health issues after achieving a long-sought goal.

Affirmation that the universe is already orchestrating a perfect life, providing necessary lessons.

Encouragement to focus on personal growth and appreciate life's lessons.

Addressing potential failure to manifest desires as a sign of needing different lessons.