We have all heard the phrase, “The Law Of Attraction” or “The Power Of Intention“, at some point in our lives. What does it really mean? Where did the theory come from? Is it real? If so, how do we use such a powerful tool to manifest the life we desire?
I have asked these questions, myself. I have found the times I have pondered the topic the most, is usually when I am feeling frustration with something in my life. I have a need to find a better method of achieving my goals, because they won’t be reached without thought and planning of some sort. Undoubtedly, I then find myself questioning the pure power of thought and desire…lol!
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Hot Topic…
But that is not why I chose to jump back into the discussion today. I have noticed recently that there seem to be a lot of people having this discussion as well. Why not? It is one worth having!
Let’s face it…the last few years have thrown us all a bit of a curve ball. We move along anyway, holding on to that little shred of hope and belief that things will naturally get better. What happens when your faith starts to waiver and you realize the only person you can depend on to change your current way of life for the better, is you, and you alone at the end of the day? No one else. Not your partner. Your job. Your Boss. Your politicians. Or even the universe itself (not entirely…). Just you.
This is not to say I don’t believe in a greater force than ourselves. I absolutely do. But I also believe that force is not the only deciding factor in our overall destinies.
Because the conversation has caught my attention once again, I decided to zone in on the theory a little more and investigate. I have my theories, but I also have my questions. Perspective is always welcome in my world.
Re-Examining An Old Philosophy…
The law of attraction (New Thought) is an old philosophy that has developed a handful of interpretations over the years. While there are differences between the various theories, they all do hold one fundamental thing in common. They all stem from the belief that we ultimately have control over our destiny and can shape it the way we want (to an extent, at least).
The law of attraction suggests that our feelings, thoughts, and desires (conscious and sub-conscious) in large part, effect and determine our reality. Everything we know to be reality, is made of energy…humans, animals, plants, objects, thoughts, desires, etc.
There is positive energy and negative energy. The positive energy attracts positive and negative attracts negative. Thus, if our thoughts and desires are positive, we will be successful in obtaining the things we want in life. If we put forth negative thoughts and feelings, what we attract, won’t be so favorable. This theory applies to all aspects of our lives… money, love, work, health, etc.
The History Behind The Law Of Attraction
While it wasn’t referred to as “The law of attraction“, the overall concept can be traced back to ancient teachings and theories. Over the years, the concept has evolved to include the theory that we have more control over every single aspect of our physical realities, than we might think.
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” – Buddha
According to Wikipedia, the early 1800’s brought about the “New Thought” movement that began with a man named Phineas Quimbly. Mr. Quimbly had apparently come down with tuberculosis at a time when there was no cure for the disease. Instead of giving up, he looked for ways to combat the disease. He noticed the more physically active he tried to be, the better he felt. In feeling better, he began to heal until eventually he recovered completely. This led him to further study the idea of “mind over body” (aka. Mind Over Matter).
His teachings later became associated with The law of attraction principle. While his theories addressed health, other authors that followed, expanded the concept to include other aspects of life.
The principle became more popular, going into the 1900’s and has gained momentum over the years since. The revived and modernized version of the law of attraction is known as manifestation. Many books have been written around the idea that you can create your own life outcomes…more recent books being Celestine Prophecy and The Secret, followed by the sequel, The Power.
Is the law of attraction real?
There is no “scientific evidence” to support the theory, so it is often considered Pseudoscience. According to Wikipedia, “Pseudoscience consists of statements, beliefs, or practices that claim to be both scientific and factual but are incompatible with the common scientific method“. However, there are still many people who firmly believe the concept is real and even claim to have experienced the law of attraction within their own lives.
It is often stated that there are three laws of attraction…Like Attracts Like, Nature abhors a vacuum, and The present is always perfect.
Like Attracts Like – Positive thoughts, feelings, and actions will attract positive people, opportunities and outcomes. Likewise, negative energy will bring about negative results.
Nature abhors a vacuum -This law of attraction suggests that all space must be occupied by some form of energy. It is best to weed out any negative energy from your life, to create room for more positive energy.
The present is always perfect -This law focuses on the belief that things can always be better even if it doesn’t currently seem so. If you have a situation that is less than perfect, recognize what is good about it or how you can improve it. For every positive action you take, feeling or thought you have, you create an environment in which more positive outcomes can occur. Like attracts like.
Overall, the law of attraction principle seems to combine certain theories from quantum physics with certain metaphysical laws.
Desire Is Not Enough…
One common belief of the philosophy, is the idea that in order to effectively change one’s outcomes, one must also feel that the desired changes have already occurred or are at least, “in the works”.
Hopes, thoughts, desires, and feelings aren’t enough, though. You must take steps to further your chances of obtaining your goals. Of course, it starts with your way of thinking and feeling, but those things just lead to certain changes in your attitude. It’s the opportunities that come your way and choices you make that bring about actual change in the physical world. Take consistent action toward your goals. Intentions are very powerful, but you must take action to get results! Start will small changes until they become bigger and eventually lead right to your goal.
There are universal forces always in motion. They are ever changing, as are situations and opportunities for you to respond to. While you can’t predict (or prevent) every circumstance out there, you can control how you react and use the circumstances to further your growth.
The dark side of a situation is just as important as the light. If nothing else, the darker aspect of something may have come to challenge you to respond in an effective way and therefore learn from it. When trying to utilize the law of attraction, it is important to recognize signs from the Universe.
Gratitude
Gratitude is especially important for implementing the law of attraction. You may not have much and desire a lot more. However, appreciating what you do already have, just permeates more positive energy. The universe will respond to you in kind. If you are constantly thinking of what you lack, that is all you will ever achieve.
Living as though you already have what you wish for, plays a large part in manifesting that life. This goes back to the theory that what you believe will happen in your life, will happen. Your desire to achieve a certain thing must be strong. If you desire something, but the nagging little voice in the back of your head says that desire isn’t realistic, then that negative little voice will just block the positive energy you are sending out for manifestation. So…act and feel as if you already have what you desire. Pretend. You know that saying, “Fake it ’till you make it.”? Take that seriously. This will activate your subconscious mind to make decisions that will cause those imagined feelings to become reality.
Visualize
Learn how to identify negative thinking and turn it around. Instead of thinking, “The only way I will accomplish ____ is to ____.”, replace the statement with, “What steps can I take toward creating ____ until ______ happens?”
Visualize your goals. If you visualize your end goal, you will naturally become more aware of the barriers in your path to success and better be able to remove them. Vision boards, journals, scrapbooks, etc. are all recommendations for improving your ability to visualize.
Use positive affirmations. Positive affirmations are great any day of the week or for any reason. It’s just another way to put forth positive vibes.
Ask the Universe for What You Want. You are always sending signals out to the universe as well as to your subconscious. Verbally speaking your desires, further promotes them to become reality. Be specific with the universe and your subconscious. Don’t talk in broad strokes. Know details of what you wish your outcome to be. It will be easier for it to become reality if your desires are focused, specific, and intentional.
Focus
Focus. In addition to speaking about what you want, read about that thing. Investigate it. Educate yourself so you will know better how to respond as it manifests itself. (For example: If you would like to have more money, research ideas on how to make more money. Spend more time thinking about it and making plans as to what you will do with it when it arrives).
Believe You’ll Get What You Want. Have confidence in yourself and more importantly, in the universe to pick up on your energy and return it in kind. This goes back to, what you believe will happen, actually will happen.
“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
My Takeaway…
While I have always agreed with a lot of the above beliefs, I did have a few questions I think I may have found my answers to. I do believe if you have faith you will achieve a certain thing, you actually will. Intention and determination are very powerful. I have witnessed this in my own life. There have been a few occasions where I have shaken my head in disbelief. Why? Because something I wished for, materialized almost as if it were magic.
Which brings me to my next observation. It is true. I have noticed when I verbally express my desires to the universe and actually believe they are possible, it does somehow make it feel more like it is reality already. I realize the actions I take do stem from those feelings, and lay the groundwork for actual manifestation. Of course, I also believe the universe itself helps that manifestation occur.
I do agree with the dark and light theory. Even the negative outcomes in life have something to teach us at the end of the day. Maybe you are in fact being challenged in a way that is meant to make you stronger, more aware, more knowledgeable, etc.
I have always strived to maintain a position where I can honestly say I have no regrets in life. So far, I have succeeded. It’s not that I have never made a bad choice. Of course I have…plenty of them. It’s my unwavering determination to find the positive in everything. While I may make a bad choice, I always learn something from it and obviously, it is a lesson the universe felt necessary to bring to me.
Changing My Thought Process
I know what I want and can visualize it to a point. That’s where I need more practice…the “to a point” aspect. I am so much a realist that it often times gets in my way. I do wish upon a star as anyone. I do believe in magic and miracles. At the end of the day, that nagging voice comes thru to remind me what I want is more grandiose than what is actually possible.
What were to happen if I were to change my way of thinking from what I feel is possible to achieve realistically… to knowing and feeling like I already have what I want, regardless of how realistic? I can’t remember the last time I really allowed myself to dream up some grandiose desire that didn’t seem realistically possible.
A lot of the strategies I found for practicing the law of attraction, convey the notion that you should in fact, dream big. Allow your imagination to run wild. Dream it…Believe it… And you will become it, way of thinking.
I do believe you need more than just thought, feelings, and desires. Being proactive and making choices that will prepare you for success, are vital to achieving your goals.
An Experiment
With that being said, I have come up with two specific goals I wish to achieve in the near future. One involves a 6 month timeline and the other, a 1 year time line. I am going to make an effort to beat down that nagging voice every time it rears it’s ugly little head to remind me of what is realistic. I have set the bar higher this time. Why not?
Maybe I will make that vision board that is often suggested for manifestation. I will try to repeat my affirmations as often as possible and meditate on my goals. I will begin making little plans that will bring about the larger opportunities that will help me achieve those goals. Again, while I’ve experienced the law of attraction before, I’ve never attempted to utilize it on a large scale. Who knows? Time will tell.
What about you? Have you ever intentionally tried to practice the law of attraction? Or have you unintentionally experienced it, but realize how your focus helped it to manifest?
Check out these stories I came across throughout my investigating. They will certainly make you ponder your reality and the possibilities you haven’t even allowed yourself to think of.
Other Good Reads…
What Is The Law Of Attraction & How Does It Work?
What Are Vision Boards and How To Create One
Law of Attraction Stories of Success That Will Inspire You
