The Law of Attraction: Is This the Whole Story?

You may have heard of the Law of Attraction, a concept that infers that like attracts like. But what does this mean? To me, it means that if you want something with all your heart (and do something to show it), chances are you’ll get it.

But does the concept really work?

As a Life Coach, I like to think ahead and work towards what I call ‘ideals’. An ideal is simply something positive that you want to happen: it is a vision, a mission, a purpose, a goal.

Several years ago I compiled a sheet of paper containing my overall life purpose, my vision, my goals, and a list of projects derived from those goals. Everything I wrote came from deep inside of me and had been an integral part of me for years.

I’ve been looking at that sheet of paper almost daily since I compiled it without giving much thought to how things were going to manifest on the sheet.

The reason I refer to the blade so often is simply because it makes me feel good. It directs and moves me in a positive way. Ultimately, it represents everything I want to manifest in my life.

Most recently I attended a meeting with some colleagues and we discussed building a business. As the discussions progressed, I realized that a lot of what we were talking about was similar to what was on my sheet.

Coming home I looked at the sheet and laughed. Virtually everything he had written was discussed at the meeting. This happened not because I was pushing my own agenda. It happened naturally because we all had the same mindset with similar aspirations and wanted to achieve similar goals in life and business…like attracting like.

I have now realized that everything I have aspired to can come to fruition by default if our venture is successful.

So does this concept of attraction really work? Yes I believe it!

Now it could be said that nothing I have published has come to fruition. This is true. However, the meeting showed me that things are already beginning to change.

If I had not produced this sheet, I doubt the conversation at that meeting would have followed the same path. I may have been more easily guided by others around the table, because I would not have had a real perspective of my own.

By clearly articulating my purpose, vision, goals, and projects and referring to them daily, my subconscious mind is already recognizing opportunities that will help make them a reality. That meeting (and the subsequent business idea) is one of those opportunities.

However, I think there are certain caveats to the concept:

Windows of Opportunity

Once you have clearly and specifically established where you want to go, windows of opportunity begin to open up for you. It is up to you to seize those opportunities and immediately take the necessary steps to achieve your goals. Otherwise, those windows are eventually closed and the opportunity is lost.

letting go

I also think an important element is that you let go of the result. Feel good about achieving your goals and aspirations, and about not achieving them. This is because, from my point of view, despairing of your achievements drives them away. Relaxing more about them increases the chances that you will achieve them. For me it’s also about recognizing that your aspirations don’t always manifest in the way you imagine them to, and being okay with that.

giving it time

I also believe that it is important to give yourself the time you need to manifest your ideal. Specific time frames focus you and propel you into action. However, if those deadlines are not realistic, they could have the opposite effect. You may feel that if you haven’t reached your goal within the timeframe you’ve set for yourself, you’ve failed in some way.

Allowing yourself the time to mature with your vision and grow into the kind of person who can make it happen can increase your chances of success.

So yes, I believe that the law of attraction works if:

You are clear and specific about exactly what you want

You focus daily on what you want

Make the most of the opportunities that present themselves and do the work that is necessary

You let go of despair and…

you give him time