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A lot of people have been drawn to the idea of “the Law of Attraction.” The concept is that everything in the universe is of the same energy and, according to some, simply by putting out the right thoughts – the right energies – you can have anything your heart desires.
My thoughts are that there’s a bit of half truth in this – mixed with a large dose of ‘yeah, you wish!’ (Not to mention that it would be nice if more of our thoughts were on behalf of others.)
I do believe that the entirety of all that exists is energy. Everything is a ‘thing’ that is packed, loaded with energy. And I also believe that ‘like attracts like.’ If you’re having a lousy day, just wait, it will get worse! On the contrary, if you’re having a great day, you’ll probably notice that the people you interact with seem to respond more positively than normal.
However, “the Law of Attraction” often makes claims like: Do an image board. Put up pictures of the type of house you want to live in, the kind of car you’d like to drive and anything else you’d like to have or experience. Then, sooner or later, presto – it will be attracted to you.
Wouldn’t you like a nickel for every person who has tried this but to no avail?! Why didn’t it work? What was missing?
In their book “<a href= http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416562001?ie=UTF8&tag=zoecarnatecom-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1416562001>The Answer</a>,” authors John Assaraf and Murray Smith tell us that along with putting out good vibes and positive thinking, there are more laws that should be at work.
Like “the Law of Preparation.” It may sound great to wish to live in a house on your own private island or to be the world’s greatest philanthropist, but I’m thinking it will take more than good vibes to get that done! You may want to do a bit of preparation work – maybe this means changing jobs, going back to school, getting in networking groups, not making it a practice to be a horse’s a*# when things don’t go your way or when you disagree with others.
There is also “the Law of Gestation.” As the old saying goes, “good things come to those who wait.” It takes time for dreams to come true. Our goals and desires do not occur in a vacuum. It may take a while for the right job to open up, the right house to become affordable or any number of other combinations that must fall into place before you realize your goal(s).
Lastly, there’s “the Law of Compensation.” This especially applies to business opportunities. When I decided to begin a non-profit twelve years ago I had to work on all of the above in order to realize my vision. I put out lots of good thoughts. I have been patient over the years (yes, years!) in working my plan. I was well prepared before I started and now, after years of financial challenges, I’m finally “above water.” At long last, thanks to a generous board of directors and wonderful people who want to travel the journey with me, “the law of compensation” has worked its way into my life – I now get pork with my beans!
The bottom-line is this: good thoughts are a start, but they’ll only get you so far. It takes preparation and patience to achieve those goals! Today, plan your work, and work your plan. Be focused. Be patient. Be all the power that resides in YOU! And, along the way, be sure to lend a helping hand to others.
10 comments to “The Law of Attraction Plus??”
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Tim, every day you’re hitting home runs with these topics and your posts! Thanks!
I’ve found, in my own life as well as with those I’ve been coaching, preparation also means positioning…and positioning most often includes shedding things such as debt, toxic thinking/ toxic relationships (whether business or social), and even some time-consuming activities that provide short term satisfaction but interfere with achieving goals and desires. Positioning suggests an inner journey to examine and perhaps correct a mindset and belief system that might be an obstacle to that “shedding” process or to recognizing opportunities when they arrive. As you mentioned, It can mean strategic, sometimes painful, choices. We have to position ourselves so that when doors open, we are free enough emotionally/mentally, practically and spiritually to walk through them. I came to terms with this in my own life, and in the coaching of others, I find this is often a missing piece. People can be more willing to try something new to achieve their goals than to remove barriers necessary to position themselves for change. I’d have to agree that much of the discourse on the Law of Attraction as well as the film “The Secret” has led to some misconceptions and even resulted in derisive, hostile comments on some Christian blogs. However, I found much of the film to be quite plausible, thought-provoking and compatible with the sum of scripture, many ancient sacred texts, science and especially the current discoveries in quantum physics….(I find it most accurately applied within the framework and context of “the Greatest Commandment”, “You shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free” and “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”)
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Cathy I’ve found the same thing in non-Christian forums. I think missing pieces are very important. The Work by Byron Katie operates on the principle of shedding misconceptions too but lots of people don’t get that part of the process.
It’s just like with anything. It’s easy to shortcut personal growth and understanding and to miss the things about ourselves that keep us from realizing truth and experiencing happiness. These things are only partly formulaic and therefore the shortcuts we may see for don’t exist. But that doesn’t mean that knowing who we really are and what we really want can’t be found. They can.
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Ah one other thing that’s missing from LOA … People are collectives. LOA theory seems to presume that people are quite independent. We’re more like aspens, connected at our roots, intertwined with the processes of “others” and integrated in most ways with everyone else. Therefore we’re prone to trends, swinging pendulums and infighting as each individual tries to win the race they don’t realize is a potato sack leg race.
We’re quite interdependent. Our goals whether we realize it or not are largely complimentary with the goals of others and this in my opinion is because we are not fully whole or holistic without the traits we lack which are in other people. There’s so much we can learn from each other, it’s crazy how little we realize it… but of course that epiphany is there when our awareness is piqued by the occasional curiosity and/or need..
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“Be all the power that resides in YOU! And, along the way, be sure to lend a helping hand to others.”
Well said. Thanks for these inspiring words, Tim and collective PC’s!
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Katherine, I concur — interdependence! I’m picturing my aspen grove at my property in the mountains–that’s a great analogy!
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‘Not to mention that it would be nice if more of our thoughts were on behalf of others.’
O, so well said! I’m quite a fan of that law which Jesus and Paul spoke of: the law of Love.
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Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you? -
Tim,
I personally believe there is mixture in the idea of the “Law of Attraction.” First of all, Jesus declared that Love is to be the only motivation. There is no Law or commandment menality. Secondly, there is still a percieved seperation in that thinking. I am going to attract what is not me. I am goint to attract that which is other than me. Attraction is the outflow or the part of the Divine Contrasts. One of the major flaws of “Secret” movement is that the
authors speak of “Feeling” as you picture the image. It is the feeling of Gratitude that you have while having that picture that is powerful, not the picture. So much of this is the same Recycled material that comes out with a new title. One of the
major flaws where the Ego survives in this teaching
is that there is still a “us” and them” mentality.
You might be interested in this recent book by Barbara Ehrenreich on precisely this topic… Check the website link for the Google books sampler.