Numerous “self-help” books, such as The Secret
While there are physicists who concur with such a view of QM, Murray Gell-Mann, winner of the 1969 Nobel prize in physics, referred to this view of quantum mechanics as quantum flapdoodle. The vast majority of quantum physicists agree with him. No doubt the quantum mechanical claims of these self-help books are well-intentioned, but they just do not jive with the dominant views of experts in quantum physics.
Would this also mean that self-help books are wrong when they tell us that positive affirmations will help us get what we want? (Many of them cite quantum mechanics as the basis for positive affirmations.)
I have mixed views on this:
- It is clear that having a positive outcome in mind, and clearly visualizing it, gives you a new lens to view situations with. You begin to see opportunities that you would not have seen if you had not visualized a particular outcome. The opportunities were there all along, but you did not see them. Of course once you do see them, you are more likely to find ways to bring about the outcome you visualized.
- On the other hand, I recall a time over five years ago when I had just finished reading a self-help book and decided to implement some positive affirmations, just as it recommended. Every day for two months I wrote down the following affirmation (among others) three or four times a day: “My wife and I deserve the very best.” I firmly believed this affirmation … how could one not believe something so fundamental? Yet, my wife died unexpectedly within two months of my starting the affirmations. None of the other affirmations came true, either.
So, while I know there is value in visualizing what you want, I personally do not see a value in affirmations. To me they are just more quantum flapdoodle. Somehow I seriously doubt that affirmations have played a role in Warren Buffett’s success.
Yet, many successful people preach the value of affirmations. And, I do not want to appear as being “down on” folks like Wayne Dyer: I have a lot of his material over the years, and appreciate a great many of his insights. And, I do know that words are powerful. But, my view is that they are powerful in terms of what actions they motivate us to take, not in some magical sense.
What do you think? Am I wrong on this? Do affirmations really work? Or are they just flapdoodle?
Update: J.D. of The Get Rich Slowly site has a great write-up on why The Secret is a crock. I encourage you to give it a read.
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