Not anymore, thanks to the book and movie entitled, “The Secret” which really brought the law of attraction into the light. It has helped many people, but has also created many critics. Why is that? I believe some people are skeptical because they don’t fully understand the concept.
The idea of the law of attraction is that “like attracts like.” This means that positive things, positive ideas and positive situations are attracted to positive thoughts. It is said that by believing and applying this theory, one can manifest wonderful changes to their life. Critics understand this to mean that if they want good things in their life, they must simply think about them, and they will happen. Therein lies the problem.
There’s more to it than that. The things we want in life must be taken action on. If you want a big success, or something good to happen, and simply think about it, it probably won’t happen. This is called wishful thinking and usually doesn’t work.
The following is one of my favorite quotes. “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Chose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Your destiny starts with your thoughts, but that is your first step. You must believe those thoughts so much that you talk about them, act on them, work on them and make them become who you are. I add another element to it: Positive emotion. When you do all these things, and feel happiness and excitement, that’s when the magic happens.
Feeling grateful is also a component of the law of attraction. Being thankful, in advance, for good things you are expecting, gives more power to your thoughts.
Does it really work all the time? Expect it to work every time, and be happy when it does. Focus on the times that it works, even if it’s a little thing like finding a parking spot in a crowded city.
When it doesn’t work for you, be okay with it. Know that life isn’t perfect. Remind yourself that sometimes not getting what you want is part of the greater good. Don’t focus on it because that will introduce negativity. Because “like attracts like,” negativity will attract more negativity. Put your mind on the next thing and think positively about that.
“The mind is everything. What you think, you become.” Buddha
“As within, so without.” Hermessianex, Greek poet
These quotes are different ways of saying that like attracts like...that our thoughts create our world. We can all become who we want to be, by first changing our thoughts.
Both Buddha and Hermessianex lived approximately 400-500 years BC, showing that this idea is centuries old.
“The Secret” is that if you think positively, believing good things will happen to you, look at and discuss good things and truly focus on the good, more good will come. It’s really the positive side of Robert Merton’s “self fulfilling prophecy.”
The law of attraction is different from wishful thinking. Wishful thinking is making a wish and sitting around waiting for magical things to happen. The law of attraction starts with making a wish, but then focusing on it, talking about it, being happy and excited about it, giving gratitude as though you already have it, giving it energy, and working toward it.
So here’s something to consider: If you knew, for a fact, that what you want in life will happen. What step would you take today? Try it. You may wind up surprising yourself with how much comes to you.
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