The Law of Attraction says that if you think about something, you’ll attract it into your life.
According to this theory, if you think about riches, you’ll attract riches. If you think about happiness, you’ll attract happiness. If you think about friendship, you’ll attract friendship.
Of course, the Law of Attraction doesn’t explain everything. Sometimes, bad things happen to good people.
The Law can’t explain why a two-year-old gets diagnosed with cancer. It can’t explain why innocent bystanders get killed. It can’t explain genocide, slavery or terrorism. But – to be fair – I’m not sure anything can explain why those tragedies occur.
In short: the Law’s not perfect, but it IS an interesting idea.
Stop Thinking About What You Don’t Want
Here’s the fascinating corollary to the Law of Attraction: your brain doesn’t hear the word “not.”
If you think: “Don’t screw up. Don’t screw up.” – you’ll screw up.
If you think: “Don’t get sick.” – you’ll get sick.
If you think: “I’m worried I’ll never earn enough.” – you won’t.
The Law of Attraction says we should think about what we DO want, not about what we DON’T want.
Instead of “Don’t screw up,” try saying, “I’m going to kick-butt!”
Instead of “Don’t get sick,” try saying, “I’m staying in prime health!”
Instead of “What if I’m always broke?,” try saying, “I’ll be wealthy soon.”
In other words – reframe your doubts in a positive light.
Personal development writer Steve Pavlina says he receives e-mails from people “stuck in the pattern of thinking about what they don’t want.”
“If I were to write a template for such emails,” he says, “it would look something like this:
“I’m frustrated that…
“I hate my…
“I can’t figure out …
“I’m stressed about…
“I’m worried that…
“I should be able to… but I can’t…”
These thoughts are counterproductive, he says. “You’ll negate your desires by intending their opposite.”
In other words: Don’t focus on what you want LESS of. Focus on what you want MORE of.
Focus on Abundance, Not Scarcity
Last August I wrote about how diets are more effective if you focus on abundance, rather than deprivation.
Try telling yourself: “I shouldn’t eat sizzling bacon … and fresh-baked cookies … and an ice-cold beer.”
That was counterproductive. Now I’m hungry. What if you said:
“I love multigrain toast … and fresh-caught salmon … and wild blueberries.”
Better, eh? Creating wealth is the same way:
“I shouldn’t rent a bigger home … with high ceilings … and a walk-in closet ….”
Ooh, but now I want it. Try this narrative instead:
“I love knowing I have $10,000 to buy my next car in cash … and $5,000 in an index fund, earning money as I sleep …”
That’s more effective.
Real-Life Examples
The Law of Attraction says that if you focus on the positive, you’ll attract the positive.
The world is filled with awesome people doing incredible things — like these three people living successful, unconventional lives. Focus on that.
Final Thoughts
There will be stumbling blocks. Bad things DO happen to good people. Like I said, the Law can’t explain everything.
But there is one thing – and perhaps ONLY one thing – that we control: our thoughts.
And our thoughts are more powerful than we know.
Thanks to Roger Imp and Advertise to Win for the photos that ran in today’s post.
