Dear Lexis,
I’ve never really believed in the whole Law of Attraction thing, but it seems to be a belief that you recommend. I wondered why that is and how you can justify holding such a belief when it seems so different from life as I know it.
Thanks,
~ Curious
Dear Curious,
It’s an excellent question and a subject that I’ve discussed with many people who share your perspective. The reason I believe in the Law of Attraction is pretty simple: I find that it benefits me.
The idea that everything I want is within reach helps to keep me motivated and when things are challenging I can look to this concept for hope that a shift in perspective will provide me with answers or comfort.
Personally, I don’t think that Law of Attraction is explained very well. Often teachers describe it as wish fulfillment or some kind of mental magnet that draws to you that which you want. And while both of these concepts do technically describe how the law works, they leave out some details. I can’t pretend to know everything about the law, but I do feel that it’s much more logically based than other teachers tend to let on.
In essence, the Law of Attraction is a play on the concept of focusing in order to achieve that which you want, coupled with the idea of altering the way in which you perceive the world around you. To be fair, there also seems to be a semi-magical quality to it as well.
Generally this concept isn’t very hard for people to grasp. We live in a society where people are taught that hard work breeds results. And while this seems to be less and less true for many, the belief runs deep. Part of the reason for this persistence is the pieces of truth that lay within this claim: that which you focus on can be achieved.
When you focus on a problem, you tend to think of solutions (and by focus I’m referring more to setting your mind a task rather than the dogged, anxious obsession that’s often utilized instead). By tasking your mind with a specific purpose, you discover different paths to success. As you try out these different paths, you eventually find one that works for you (and with your ethical or moral programming).
People tend to have a little more trouble with this concept as it relies on the abstract concept of beliefs. Because it can be such a challenge, I often refer to this concept as the million dollar question: Who’s more likely to get a million dollars in their bank account: he who believes it’s possible and likely to do so, or he who believes a million dollars is an impossible dream?
Most people will say that he who believes is far more likely to achieve his goal, but they often don’t know why that is. When we don’t understand why something happens, we’re more likely to dismiss it.
So, to clarify, the reason the man who believes is more likely to achieve his goal is because he is less likely to give up on it.
If you truly believe something, it doesn’t even enter your mind to question it. To you it becomes an inevitability, just a matter of time. If this is truly something you want, you will continue to work toward it and maintain motivation for a significantly longer period of time (essentially until doubt does manage to wheedle itself into your mind).
This is the more magical aspect of the Law of Attraction, but in essence it comes down to Maslow’s hammer: “if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail”. When you see life as a problem, you will inevitably find more problems. I’m not entirely sure how this happens, but I’ve certainly found it true within my own life.
These are the reasons for my belief, and the reasons I believe others should adopt a similar belief structure. And while I understand that this can be difficult, sometimes it’s better to try something out before making a decision. Suspend your disbelief for 30 days and see what happens. You might be surprised by the results you get.
Best of luck,
~ Lexis
Alexis Baker writes from her home in Olympia. Got a question? Write to her at Lexis@theJOLTnews.com
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