The Law of Attraction is a metaphysical theory asserting that “like attracts like,” or those things that a person thinks about the most are those that will naturally be attracted to him. Though recently popularized again by the 2006 book and film The Secret by Rhonda Byrne the term “Law of Attraction” was originally coined by New Thought Movement guru William Walker Atkinson in his 1906 book Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World.
Simply stated the Law of Attraction is established upon the premise that thinking positive thoughts naturally attracts positive affects and negative thoughts just as naturally affect one negatively. If a person can form a clear and strong image of one’s desire in their mind and recreate it consistently, the acquisition of the desired object or goal will be realized. Likewise if one obsesses over negative thoughts and fears, those things will become manifest in his life. We become what we think about most of the time.
The key to activating the Law of Attraction in your life begins with simple visualization exercises. Decide what you want, perhaps a better job, a pay raise or a new lover. Sit down in a comfortable position and imagine yourself having this thing. Make it as real in your mind as possible. Feel the sensations you would have if you had this thing you desire. If it is a new car, imagine the sensations of driving it, the new car smell and the way the sun gleams off the chrome. Make this an enjoyable event, conjuring up all the positive feelings you can create and firmly attach them to all the sensations related to your desired outcome.
To avoid sabotaging yourself in this activity you must be sure to carefully monitor your words and thoughts. Whenever we speak or think we effectively affirm certain beliefs in our minds. Every time we say or think something like “I’ll never have that much money,” or some other limiting belief, we undermine our efforts. You must maintain a constant certainty that your desired outcome is already yours and working its way to you at this very moment.
How Does it Work?
There are two main theories explaining how the Law of Attraction works. The more metaphysical explanation is expressed in the book The Secret; that the thoughts we think are broadcast to the universe as if we were making an order from a catalog. If we are thinking about and envisioning our success then the universe will deliver success. If however, we are constantly fretting over our fears, those are what will be delivered.
A more pragmatic explanation for the Law of Attraction is that by practicing visualization techniques and by monitoring our thoughts we condition our subconscious minds to expect those things we think about most. Since the subconscious mind cannot process a negative, then thinking about the things we don’t want is effectively the same as if we wanted them to come true. By conditioning our subconscious minds to expect success, achievement or even failure, we become motivated to act and behave in ways that will bring that into reality.
Either way one sees the process unfold, the core lesson to be learned from the Law of Attraction is that we are responsible for our own lives and conditions based off our own thoughts and conditioning. This is more than just “positive thinking” or simple recitation of affirmations encountered in the typical self help seminar. The Law of Attraction requires consistent maintenance of positive belief and deep visualization in order for it to be effective. Love, wealth and happiness are ours for the taking if only we can visualize ourselves having them, not at some future point, but right now regardless of our current predicaments.