Archive for month: August, 2015
Help yourself to some well-aged advice. . . and share YOUR secret . .
Who’s old enough to remember “The Secret?” It was THE Self-help mega-hit back in 2006-2007. . . Here’s some Wikifact material:
The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne was released in DVD format in March 2006. The tenet of the film and book is that the universe is governed by a natural “law” called the law of attraction which is said to work by attracting into a person’s life the experiences, situations, events, and people that “match the frequency” of the person’s thoughts and feelings. From this, the book argues that thinking positively can create life-changing results such as increased wealth, health, and happiness.
The book is very much influenced by Wallace Wattles‘ 1910 book The Science of Getting Rich,[2] which Byrne received from her daughter during a time of personal trauma in 2004.[3][4] Byrne read and synthesized several classic books and the words of modern-day teachers who spoke about ancient wisdom and the ways for people to attract what they desire into their lives.[citation needed] The book includes many quotes from these people.
After being featured in two episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the book reached the top of the New York Times bestseller list, where it remained for 146 consecutive weeks. The book has been translated into 44 languages,[5] and has over 21 million copies in print.[6] Thanks in big part to the appearance in the Oprah TV show, the book and film have grossed $300 million in sales, according to a January 15, 2009 article by Forbes.[7]
The Secret posits that the law of attraction is a natural law which determines the complete order of the universe and of our personal lives through the process of “like attracts like”. The author claims that as we think and feel, a corresponding frequency is sent out into the universe that attracts back to us events and circumstances on that same frequency. For example, if you think angry thoughts and feel angry, it is claimed that you will attract back events and circumstances that cause you to feel more anger. Conversely, if you think and feel positively, you will attract back positive events and circumstances. Proponents of the law claim that desirable outcomes such as health, wealth, and happiness can be attracted simply by changing one’s thoughts and feelings.
The book begins by introducing and explaining the mechanisms of the law of attraction, then goes on to describe its historical applications and the great men and women in history who are claimed to have harnessed its power. The book describes the law as a magnetic power emitted through one’s thoughts. The power of thoughts is likened to a transmission tower that sends out a frequency to the universe and then returns the same frequency in a physical or elemental form.
Next, a three-step creative process for manifesting dreams is introduced: Ask (visualize in the film), Believe, and Receive. This creative process is based on a quote from the Bible:[10] “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”. (Matthew 21:22
The Secret highlights gratitude and visualization as the two most powerful processes to help manifest one’s desires. It asserts that being grateful both lifts your frequency higher and affirms that you believe you will receive your desire. Visualization is said to help focus the mind to send out the clearest message to the universe. Several techniques are given for the visualization process, as well as examples of people claimed to have used it successfully to manifest their dreams. Wikepedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_%28book%29
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So. . . this is the big Secret? Conceptually, it’s spot on. . . why was it so successful? Great marketing. You see, these concepts aren’t anything new. If you read through the description above, you’ll remember that Byrne reintroduced many concepts she derived from Wallace Wattles’ 1910 book The Science of Getting Rich. An even older influence is the quote above from the Bible, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”. (Matthew 21:22). . . Ask, believe and receive. . . ask in prayer or meditation, visualize by living in the positive energy of gratitude and receive, the manifestation of your dreams. Old stuff, repackaged, but still great material to study.
Now, what’s the big Secret I want you to take away from this reading? . . Recycle. Reuse. Repurpose.
There’s SO much great material out there that’s “old,” aka tried and true. I’ve found amazing books and self-help CD’s in the swap shack, at yard sales, on eBay. There’s really no need to go out and pay hundreds of dollars for the “hot new program.” If a book from 1910 energized Rhonda Byrne, it can certainly energize you. Example: Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich,” first published in 1937 gave motivation and guidance to Jim Rohn, who mentored Anthony Robbins who. . . well, all three have been an inspiration to me. I’ve purchased $1,000 programs on eBay for $29. I bought a copy of “Think and Grow Rich” for $2.98 NEW at Barnes and Noble. Almost all of the best self-help material in the world can be borrowed for $0 from your Public Library. I even found myself re-reading Susan Powter’s “Stop the Insanity” last week, and you know what? . . . it’s still relevant, inspiring and vibrant! It just needs repackaging for a new market. Still great advice: Stop the insanity. . . find the old stuff and take it in. . . “Seat of The Soul,” by Gary Zukov, “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior,” by Dan Millman, “Season’s of Life” by Jim Rohn. . .
What old treasure chest of wealth, knowledge and inspiration would you recommend? What book, DVD , CD or movie changed your life? Share your thoughts here or on our Facebook page where we have the forum for awesome, life-changing discussion. Or, you could just e-mail us. . . Just don’t keep “it” a “secret.”
Here’s a re-packaged video of Jim Rohn lecturing on the seasons. . . hip new music, visuals. . . slightly annoying echo element. . .
Green Resolutions- Bugs & Buds
It’s a good time to check in on our New Year’s Resolutions. . . if we made any. I stopped making resolutions years ago and began setting goals instead. There’s so much “greening” I want to do this year- and getting the Green House back online was goal #1.
Goal #2 was cleaning my basement. . . subject for a month’s worth of blogs at another time. . . Back to Goal #1. . .
The Green House came to life around 2006-7 and was shown to all the Comic Syndicates at a time when Newspapers were having a really rough time. We had no luck getting syndicated, and decided to invest in ourselves and try self-syndication. We gathered a group of about 30 newspapers who ran the comic for their “Free 6 Month Trial” and after that, they still wanted the strip, but weren’t able to pay or just weren’t paying for it. We found the Editors were getting reassigned, or let go- or they didn’t want to make permanent changes to their lineups. . . and as Elaine would say, “Yada, yada, yada.” Financially, Peter and I found we couldn’t maintain the schedules of creating a comic, marketing a comic and at the same time- making a living. So, we tried just selling the feature to Weekly publications and posting on green websites- and we gained a fantastic following. . . yet still, with minimal financial support. Remember, this was pre- Facebook being a huge sharing space. . . blogs were just starting and the internet was just starting to figure out how to make money for content.
Long story short- Peter and his wife, Danielle had just had their 3rd child, Lily, I was getting ready to leave writing tasks on the comic, “Nancy,” and we both needed to find “jobs” and help keep our “houses” happy. . . So, we “put a tarp over the Green House,” and hoped with all hope that we’d get back to it soon. Well, Peter and I stayed in touch like brothers over the next 7 years and through that time, we discovered that The Green House wasn’t just a comic strip idea- it was us. . . it was our passion, it was what we really wanted to create to share with the world.
There was a lot of composting going on under that tarp and new ideas were growing. . . friends were asking about it. . . we were aching to have it be “WHAT WE DO.”
That’s really a fantastic moment, when you have that realization . . . “this is what I want to do, what I need to do.”
The people we’ve met throughout our first time doing the comic, were/are the kind of people we want to be surrounded by. Amazing people doing amazing things. Caring people. Loving people. People who help each other and our planet- and work at making it better. So, our reality, beyond wanting to do it, and needing to do it, was clearly. . . that The Green House and it’s characters were going to be our contributions to this amazing sphere of people- a daily dose of humor with a green tint. . . tiny green steps taken by people and “critters” that we can all share the journey with.
So, as Pam sprays her house plants with an organic pest solution and turns over a few leaves, she may find some bugs. . . she may find some buds sprouting out from underneath. Some solutions will work, Some won’t. But we are back with new resolve– alive and growing and doing what we need to do. We so appreciate you joining us, supporting us and being part of our journey. Please share your comments here and on Facebook to help us develop and grow our Green House community. There’s plenty of room, soil, water and sunshine on the shelves for all of us- if we work to keep it so!
We’re back working!
Brad (for Brad & Peter)
Mr. Breeze. . .
I love this throw back strip from 2007 as it shows our liberal blogger being honest about another liberal’s potential.
If you can’t win an election, at least do something positive and create a different kind of power for the party.
Concepts for collection of power from wind turbines have certainly grown in eight years . . . check out the wind trees in this video- slated for mass production in early 2016 . . .
Perfect Form Friday
I’m showing you all this Sunday strip from 2007 for two reasons. . .
1. How bad my writing can be. . . and 2. How tremendous Peter’s drawing can be.
This is not the worst strip I’ve ever “approved” and finished, but it represents perfectly those times as a writer when you’re “real close, but still far away.” The basic idea that Todd’s physicality is badly lagging behind Pam’s get’s across, but there’s something not quite right about how it’s presented IMHO. I liked it well enough back when it was composed and sketched out- but it hasn’t stood the test of time for me. I know it’s hard for you all to believe, but I’m not always brilliantly funny and clever. Not so hard to believe?
Seriously, what I LOVE about this strip is how Peter drew it. . . drew Pam in the background and then interwove her perfect yoga poses into Todd’s slow-paced sit up. He saved the strip with the depth of his caring about the art and connection to character.
Below is a larger version of the strip if you want to click on it and study it more closely. I love doing that with Peter’s stuff. . .
Have a great weekend and see you back on Monday at the Green House!
“I am the. . . inspiration.”
What gets you into the groove, the writing mood, the working space, , , the I am the walrus and I CAN Imagine vibe?
I have several affirmations posted on my walls to remind me of my purpose. . . to affirm my intention. . . but there seem to be creative triggers I sometimes need to set my mind into a creative mood. When writing comic strips, I used to pick up a paperback of one of my favorite comic strip collections, BC, Hagar, Hi & Lois, Shoe, Calvin & Hobbes. . . my favorite for getting into the writing rhythm was Hagar. My former editor at King Features (from the Muppets days) Bill Yates, always said that Dik Browne and Hagar was the perfect blend of writing complimenting art and art complimenting writing. There’s a magical pace, paired with a delightful looseness that you get reading Hagar. That’s what I tried to do with the Muppets- keep that pace, find that rhythm of words, conversation, connection of the characters and connection to the reader.
Writing these blog posts is a totally different discipline. . . it’s more like writing music and finding a mood to let the words flow.
Writing the Green House is again, something completely different. It’s more of a Calvin & Hobbes scenario, where I have to move into a mood of recalling experience and all the thoughts, conversation and tone of that moment and then find the moments that the characters would share in that space. I’m making it all sound kind of “magical” and it’s really not- it’s just thinking about who the characters are and what they’d think about or say in that moment. . . and imagine their physical presence too. . . what they’d be doing or how they’d be standing. . .the expressions, the gestures. Just like a director, you take it all in, and hit the pause button to jot down the best moments. The tricky part is finding the things that get you to that place, the creative triggers. What are your creative triggers? A walk? A run? The right music? A nap? A cup of coffee? . . .
Ah, the magical cup of coffee. . . It’s more than just the stimulation . . . it’s the process of creating that coffee, being conscious of the process, mindfully preparing and enjoying the coffee, the warmth of the mug in your hand. . . that’s kind of the same as creating a comic or blog. Maybe that’s why coffee seems to be a staple in most creativity. Plus, it wakes us up a little and says. . . “Yeah. . . goo goo g’ joob!”
That would make a great name for a coffee company. . . “Goo Goo G’ Joob Organic Jamaican Roasters.”
“Jam-aican me some fresh coffee, Mon?”
Okay, now I need a cup. . . seriously- tell us about your creative triggers or what you think about mine. . . you can comment below or as always, join us on our Facebook page where the best discussions always take place. Goo goo g’ joob!
