Introduction

Since the release of “The Secret” there has been considerable interest in the Law of Attraction, with proponents claiming that all one needs to do to realize (“manifest”) goals is to visualize the goal or desire, then release it to the Universe to manifest into one’s life.

A review of opinions posted on throughout the Internet suggests that many are disillusioned with the Law of Attraction as advocated above. The lack of success is not surprising as it is not a “Natural Law” as claimed, but a man-made law.

In order to achieve one’s goals, one needs to visualize the goal or desired outcome AND THEN develop a plan or action so as to realize that goal. Action is required in order to achieve one’s goals, unfortunately, there is no such thing a Something for Nothing.

Law of Attraction – A Man-made Law, Not a Law of Nature

A Process Rather than a “Law”

“The Secret” was, I believe misleading in that it presented the process known as “The Law of Attraction” as consisting only, and exclusively, of visualizing an outcome and releasing it in order for it to become manifest. Subsequent to “The Secret”, I have read a considerable amount of material on the Internet with regard to a lack of success in association with Visualization.

Contrary to the claims made in promoting “The Secret”, the Law of Attraction is not a recent discovery in metaphysics, nor has it been actively suppressed by the Church or hidden societies. It simply passed into relative obscurity through the passage of time. It has been, and remains, available to everyone who searches for it and is willing to actually apply it to their lives.

The formula is available, and is, in all likelihood, well known to most. In its simplest form, it was concisely summarized as follows:

“Ask and it will be given to you;

seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you.

“For everyone who asks receives;

he who seeks finds;

and to him who knocks, the door will be opened”.

Matthew 7:7 (Luke 11:9) NIV

I believe the process for manifesting a desired outcome is three part, comprised of: 1) Visualization (“Ask”), 2) Taking indirect action to prepare the ground (“Seeking”), and 3) implementing the plan (“Knocking”).

I challenge those who believe in visualization, exclusively, as the means to realizing a goal to relate an incident involving a tangible object (something physical) that did not include a component of Action.

Example

We recently completed construction of our dream home. We had it contracted and, therefore, did not take any direct action in it’s construction. We did, however, spend more than 10 years looking through house plans to get ideas for what we wanted in our house. We arranged the financing (the most “Direct” action we took in relation to realizing our dream home). We picked colours, cabinets, flooring, lighting and plumbing fixtures. We amended and re-amending the plans through construction as issues were identified.

Finally, we took possession, without raising a hammer.

Conclusion

I believe the process underlying the “Law of Attraction” is, indeed, to Visualize the desired Goal … then take indirect action to prepare the ground for its realization while you wait to identify the opportunity to realize that goal when it presents itself. It was my wife who recognized the opportunity to acquire the land on which our home is located.

My thinking on this subject has been based on over twenty years of research and thought into the powers of the mind, particularly the sub-conscious. This thinking has culminated in the web-site I have been developing at Integrated Success Program . I am in the process of re-editing, and posting, the classic texts on which modern “Personal Development” is based.

Many of the classic books in the “Personal Development” genre are available on the Integrated Success Program web-site.

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