Inspiration Break

Over lunch in Covent Garden today with my friend Kate – the fabulous crystal healer recommended by Vogue – we were talking about how inspiring it is to hear Michael Beckwith speak. I’d come across his writing in a couple of compilations of spiritual essays and his words were always the most soulful, full of enormous devotion and power.

Of course he’s now much more well-known since appearing in the DVD of The Secret and in that context too he’s a shining light in a field of spiritual snake-oil salesmen. He approaches the subject of The Secret by making clear that it’s a very beginner’s approach to what he calls ‘affirmative thinking’, which can be used to create a life that is abundant in so many ways more than just money.

This short clip of an interview with Rev Beckwith is a masterclass in what The Secret leaves out, so I hope you enjoy it as much as Kate and I did …

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=7938957

You won’t find it in the video, but one of my favourite Beckwith quotes is a question to ask yourself whenever you’re in troubled times. It’s a reminder that if your aim is happiness, your first goal needs to be keeping your interior world on an even keel. This week, try this question on for size wherever in your life things are not going to plan: “If this crisis were to last forever, what qualities would I have to grow to have peace of mind?”

Finally, Saturday Night Live have gifted us with a genius send-up of Oprah and The Secret all rolled up into one hilarious package. Life’s no fun if you take yourself too seriously, so enjoy this not-so-gentle parody of all things self-help …

Video no longer available

Click through to the Coach Fabulous advice column by using the link in the Favourite Sites section on the right or by going to http://coachfabulous.blogspot.com. For alert emails on new postings, email subscribe@iamfabulous.co.uk. To contact me, email coachfabulous@iamfabulous.co.uk. All material © 2007 Alison Porter. No article may be reproduced in full or in part without the express permission of the author. (Originally posted 31 Jul 07)