The Law of Attraction has been around for years (maybe forever) and has recently received a lot of attention in the media. The criticisms of this basic “you get back what you put out” principle range from it being too simplistic to it being too materialistic and superficial e.g., “I just kept envisioning a check in my mailbox and sure enough, one appeared. It was a miracle!” Now that most of the hype from the DVD, “The Secret” has worn off, I find myself returning to this principle with more appreciation for what it offers in terms of personal growth.
For those who aren’t familiar with the Law of Attraction, it states that that which is like unto itself is drawn. This means that we attract things, and people and circumstances to ourselves by how we think and feel over a period of time.
By this principle, if you worry long enough, think fearful thoughts and experience the corresponding sensations in your body, you will generate a vibration that will attract those circumstances and events and people which correspond to your worries.
Conversely, if you spend your time thinking positive things, anticipating good things to come, feeling, in the moment, the joy you would feel were those good things happening right now, you will attract the very people and circumstances that justify your happy and hopeful vibration.
When you study the Law of Attraction more closely it turns out to be less about manifesting a wish list than putting you in control of the aspects of your life that you can control. If there is any truth to this principle, then it turns most of our commonly accepted beliefs upside down. For instance, a corollary of the Law of Attraction would be that there are no victims and no perpetrators in our life. The only thing that happens to us is what we have created through our thoughts and feelings. It is easy to twist this into a way to blame ourselves for bad things that happen to us (I must have attracted this cancer) but that isn’t what is prescribed. Even if what happens in the present is the collective product of past thinking — so what? The important question is, “What are you going to do about it now?” It is in the now that we are literally creating our future. This is the only thing we have any control over—our reaction to, attitude toward, and thoughts about the present moment. Imagine the emotional maturity it takes to accept this premise.
Today, stepping into the shower, I managed to simultaneously bang my knee and stub my toe. Not only did it hurt but after I banged my kneecap I had to wait a few seconds for the pain to radiate as I knew it would. Then it really hurt. Since I knew no one was home, I indulged myself in a really loud and plaintive, “OWWWWWWWW!!!” I could see where my mind wanted to go with this. This would be the start of bad day and I was already feeling like the innocent victim of some universal plot to throw me off track before it was even 8 o’clock.
Then it hit me. I heard myself ask the question, “How do you want to feel?” “What kind of a day do you want this to be?” I realized that this was the emotional challenge of the Law of Attraction. I may not have had any control over what just happened but I had complete control over what I was going to do with it and what I was going to make it mean. I decided to use this as a wake up call to create a happy, productive day. I smiled in the shower and focused on the kind of day I wanted to have and what I was grateful for. I never gave my knee or toe another thought. Victim consciousness was replaced by my own creation. The end of the day bore no resemblance to the beginning. I know what people mean when they say, “Make it a great day.” They’re not kidding.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about any of the above ideas. I look forward to your comments.
