Law of Attraction - Is it a gimmick

June 21st, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

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Alex Shalman and I have started a cross blog conversation where we will discuss topics on personal development. I spoke to Alex a few nights ago about possible topics for the conversation and the topic of the ‘Law of Attraction’ came up.

See Alex’s Topic Starter to help you join in the conversation.

Basically Alex asked me if I thought the ‘Law of attraction’ is a gimmick.

First off I would like to say that I can understand why a lot of people are sceptical about the ‘Law of attraction’. I think this is because of the rather cheesy way that the film ‘The secret’ came across and the books by Esther Hicks are a bit ‘out there’. Taking away all the hype and the cheesiness of the films and books out there, the underlying principle that our thoughts literally control and lives and the energy around is something I wholeheartedly believe in and something I practice every single day of my life and something I teach my children.

I don’t think it is a gimmick, but what I do think is the way that it is being marketed just now puts a lot of people off the idea that our thoughts control the energy around us. I believe the energy around us can touch other people a few feet away or a few thousand miles away which is where ‘the attraction’ part comes in.

Alex, do you have any personal stories or any anecdotes where the ‘Law of Attraction’ has worked for you?

What are your thoughts on the subject, leave your comments or follow the conversation on Alex’s blog (RSS feed) and see the responses

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There Are 30 Responses So Far. »

Comment by Vered on 21 June 2008:

Do my thoughts - my attitude - have the power to influence my life, my reality and how people react to me? Of course.

Do mere thoughts have the power to create a new reality in the sense that if I want something badly enough it will manifest itself? Of course not.

Comment by Steven Aitchison on 21 June 2008:

Hi Vered, I think that’s where a lot of people are getting confused. Thinking that, just by thinking about something it will happen - that’s not what the law of attraction is about. The law of attraction is thinking about the life you want and the energies from those thoughts give you the power to act on your desires and gives off an energy that attracts others to you who will be able to help manifest your desiries.

Comment by Frank on 21 June 2008:

I think the “law of attraction” is mostly the same as the notion of “self-fulfilling prophecy”. If someone is convinced they will always lose or be a victim or never be happy, then they will tend to act in a way that will provide them evidence to support their beliefs. By acting, I don’t just mean physical action but mental acts like perceptual filtering of any counter evidence to that person’s existing beliefs. Of course, the opposite is also true. If you are convinced that good things will happen to you and that you will live a extraordinary life then you’ll tend to perceive and act according and be much more likely to experience life in a way consistent with those beliefs.

At least for me, packaging this simple idea with metaphysical “energies”, “vibrational harmony”, supposed channeling of nonphysical entities, and so on is not benefical. If that packaging works for others, that great, but I think it does result in some of the side effects like those you’ve mentioned (widespread confusion, increased superstition, …).

Comment by T on 21 June 2008:

To agree with the first poster would be to render the term “Law of attraction” meaningless. You’re not attracting anything; you’re just looking at things differently, and therefore approaching challenges differently.

To this end, I propose that we switch the name to “Law of perception” or “Law of Perspective.”

Comment by Alex Shalman on 21 June 2008:

I don’t know Vered — some people firmly believe that the LoA will manifest everything they want.

Pingback by Law of Attraction : Is It A Gimmick? on 22 June 2008:

[...] Steven Aitchison has asked his readers for such stories so, here you go Steven! [...]

Comment by Tim Brownson on 22 June 2008:

Steve, that’s not my understanding of the LOA, but I may be wrong. Certainly Wayne Dyer talks about simply putting the idea ‘out there’ and letting the universe doing the rest. That’s also what I took out of ‘Ask And It Is Given’

If you believe in the physics of it, then there shouldn’t have to be a need to act other than just using your thoughts.

I’m stuck in the middle on ot. On the one hand I really believe that the mind is capable of things way beyond our wildest dreams but on the other hand the way it is explained leaves a lot of holes in the theory. When devotees tell me like attracts like I toss them a magnet. Well not really, it’s not like I have a drawer of magnets or anything, metaphorically speaking I meant.

In response to Alex, I think we could actually call it ‘The theory of attraction that’s kinda interesting and worth looking into but don’t make any long term plans based on it just yet’ Not as snappy at LOA, but I like it.

One final thing whilst I’m on a roll. I do get niggled by people that hold up a couple of vague coincidences as ‘proof’ that the LOA works. If it works for you, do it again and again and there’s no limit, so go big, very big.

Comment by Vered on 22 June 2008:

@ Steven: that sounds like something I could accept. I do believe that our attitude, and the energy we radiate, can empower us to be successful and to attract the right people.

@ Alex: But that just seems ridiculous to me. On Zen Habits, a commenter said that she pictured a red hot air balloon and guess what, a couple days later, she saw one! It struck me as naive, and of course you have to wonder, why not picture a briefcase filled with money? As long as you are going to manifest something, at least make it useful.

In other words, I agree with Tim: “I do get niggled by people that hold up a couple of vague coincidences as ‘proof’ that the LOA works. If it works for you, do it again and again and there’s no limit, so go big, very big.”

Have you seen the comic by MonkMojo on the subject? To me, it really captures the problem with the idea of manifestation. Plus it’s funny.

<a href=”http://mojo1000.com/1000cuts/the-law-of-attraction-and-diminishing-returns.html/”Monk Mojo

Comment by Vered on 22 June 2008:

Trying that link again…

Monk Mojo

Comment by Bill Riddell on 23 June 2008:

I believe anything that discourages or does not tell you to take action is at best not the optimum way to achieve and attain what you want in life and at worst potentially quite dangerous.

Imagine someone deeply in debt, if they take no action to reign in and payoff that debt it will keep growing bigger and bigger. It’s not very often a bank calls a member at random to say ‘congratulations, your debt has been cleared’. Or that they win the lottery. Yes it can and has happened (maybe not the bank bit), but I would not rely on the chance that it will happen to save me, instead id start by working harder and finding an extra job, slash my expenses, sell non-vital assets and consolidate my debts in the lowest interest rate possible.

In order to catch a fish it is wisest to put a net or line in the water, simply sitting on the bank and waiting for a fish to jump onto the bank is going to take a LOT more time.

To me that method is simply blind faith, you hope that what you wish for will fall in your lap and pray that it is not scalding hot when it arrives.

Now I have had a few opportunities practically fall in my lap over the years however by far the greatest ones have been those that I have taken massive action to get to.

If the power of pure intention truly worked, nearly every sixteen year old in the world would have Carmen Electra in their bed.

Comment by Bill Riddell on 23 June 2008:

It is great to focus on what you want but you need to take action to achieve. It may be as simple as accepting an offer from someone or getting a check in the mail, but generally there is at least some hard work that must come beforehand.

Comment by Marc and Angel Hack Life on 24 June 2008:

@Vered and Steven:

I completely agree with your reasoning on the LoA. As far as the Zen Habits comments about the red hot air balloon appearing, I think it works like this… When some spends a great deal of time visualizing something in their mind, it means they’re focusing their attention and awareness on that particular thing. In other words, they’re looking for it. When it appears, coincidentally, they realize it. Had they not been looking for it, would they still have noticed it?

Comment by Tim Brownson on 25 June 2008:

Is this really a cross blog conversation? Where’s the cut and thrust debate from the authors. C’mon guys this is a great idea that appears to be dying at birth

Comment by steven aitchison on 25 June 2008:

Hi Tim

this was just a tester, there’s lots more to come. It has started a great conversation though and I think it’s 50/50 about whether the LOA works and it’s clear that people have different views on what it is about.

I am reading James Ray’s book ‘Harmonic wealth’ and he advocates taking massive action as part of the Law of Attraction.

Thanks for joining the conversaton.

Comment by Steve Olson on 25 June 2008:

Steven,

I believe in the LOA. It has worked amazing way in my life. I could go back a write biography of the ways my thoughts have created my reality. Now does that mean I believe you can win the lottery just my imagining it? no. Do I think you give yourself cancer by thinking about cancer? no.

I don’t think it ever that specific. For example, I think you could use the law of attraction to gain a million dollar net worth. However I don’t think you get to decide the when or the how. The universe will bring it to you, but it is up to you to recognize it.

About attracting negative things, I think negative people tend to attract negative things. Does that mean every victim on earth is responsibile for the negativity in their lives? no. We all think negative things from time to time. But I do believe if you focus on the negative too often with too much focus and energy you’ll end up in trouble.

Comment by Guy Cohen on 26 June 2008:

If you just keep on dreaming or thinking of the things that you want or desire to achieve I guess Law of Attraction will not work for you. To achieve what you want you need to take ACTION.

Comment by Eric on 27 June 2008:

@Steven:

Gotta say the point you made about the cheesy marketing tactics employed by the film, “The Secret” were spot on. Fortunately, I was introduced to the LOA through the books and audio tapes of guys like Anthony Robbins and Jim Rohn. If I’d seen that film first, I’m not sure I’d given the theory a second look. That said, I have seen, “The Secret” and there are one or two gems inside. Anyone who’s confused pay particular attention the part where Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul explains what the, “The Secret” means to him. He talks about a time when he focused on earning $100,000 and the ideas and events that seemingly came out of nowhere to make it happen. For me it sums up the LOA perfectly.

Anyways, I’m liking the blog, I think I’ll stick around. Peace.

Comment by Third World Geek on 28 June 2008:

I also watched The Secret on DVD and I think they made it sound like it’s something that’s completely hidden from the rest of the world when it fact it’s been talked to death by inspirational authors and speakers. I was kinda put-off to be honest and yeah, I agree the gimmicks used were cheesy.

Comment by janet on 29 June 2008:

I been hearing a lot about the LOA recently. If your life is straight before the one true GOD then in some way the LOA is possible. Read Romans 8:28.

Comment by Bryan on 1 July 2008:

I believe LOA works to certain extend. More importantly, don’t dream without taking action.

Comment by steven aitchison on 1 July 2008:

Hi Steve

You’re spot on. Negative people do attract negative things but sometimes negative things happen to positive people, the difference being the positive people don’t dwell on the negative.

Guy, you always need to take action, can’t sit on your arse and be a couch potatoe and expect good things to happen to you.

Eric, that is my understandng of the LOA, it gives you the ofcus and insight to gain new ideas, thereby nudging you in the right direction.

TWG, it has been around for a while it’s just being packaged in a new way.

Janet, thanks for your comments.

Bryan, too true just what we have been saying here, take action, takemore action and keep taking action

Pingback by Law of Attraction : A Gimmick Or What?! | SAIF IMPROVEMENT on 2 July 2008:

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Comment by nancy on 8 July 2008:

according to me if you want to achieve great things, you have to DO great things. And, you have to see yourself doing those great things. The Law of Attraction works best if you are in action…

Comment by Neil on 15 July 2008:

From all my metaphysical musings, I found that Abraham- the entities that Esther Hicks channels, now come through more than one person.

(Under a different name!)

http://www.talktoterah.com

see what you think

Comment by Ethan @ Self Improvement Mentor on 20 July 2008:

I too wholeheartedly believe that our thoughts create our reality. The thing about ‘The Secret’ movie and books is that though they got principle message of LOA across right, I just think that they just conveniently ignore other factors and make it seem simpler than it actually is. Hence the cheesiness. A term i like to use is they are ’selling hope’ rather than properly educating people on LOA. I guess that’s why after a while some people get tired of it.

Not saying that LOA is complex, it’s just that there’s so much more involved in it than just steering your surface level thoughts. Things like the subconscious mind, past conditioning, emotions etc.

Just worried that the oversimplification of ‘The Secret’ may put people off LOA more in the long run.

Comment by Tom on 11 September 2008:

I do believe that there are laws of attraction do apply. Call me a hopeless romantic, but all metaphysical and religion aside. I think it is mostly human nature that drives us to LOA. I believe that it is built into us and our genetic operations.

Comment by John "Law of Attraction" Derrick on 1 November 2008:

I discovered that my thoughts had the ability to change the world around me. I shared this with my wife and at first she was worried for my sanity, but then we started using our thoughts together to “make things happen”.

We used to call it “bending reality”. It was very empowering.

Now of course everyone calls it the law of attraction.

It’s a sublte skill, that is for certain and the movie “The Secret” did make it mainstream, but it certainly didn’t do any justice to the truth on the subject.

Comment by Toronto personal injury on 5 February 2009:

It has been created to encourage you to act and to move us further along on our American journey to get to “we” the people. Here is a place to start: Use the experience of seeing this film and the thoughts it evoked to start a conversation with someone whose race and social class are different from yours.

Comment by Pat on 27 February 2009:

If nothing else all of the exposure to the Law of Attraction is helping people to be more positive and believe they can have better lives. I personally do believe that your thoughts can create your reality.

Comment by Hani on 4 June 2009:

Amazing conversation here. I am reading a couple of books right now on the LoA. I tend to agree that the LoA can work, but you need to follow up on the opportunities that come your way.

You cannot visualise and not take action.

What I am understanding from my readings is that like attracts like. Think about what you want in correctly and in a positive way as often as you can, and in time your unconscious mind’s antenna will bring the people and opportunities to you, and it’s up to you to take action to make your want a reality.

I agree with Pat. Your thoughts can create your reality.