Introduction

The Law of Attraction has been widely quoted throughout the Internet, largely on the basis of the release of “The Secret (Extended Edition)” and the books by Esther and Jerry Hicks. At the most extreme end of the Law of Attraction continuum, its advocates would have us believe that, in order to realize (or manifest) our hearts wildest desires, all we need to do is to visualize that desire and release it to the Universe in order for it to manifest into our lives.

I would argue that the other end of the continuum could be referred to as “The Protestant Work Ethic”, or something similar (“Nose to the Grindstone”, perhaps). I believe the “Law of Attraction” should, more properly, be referred to as the initial component to a “Plan of Action”.

Law of Attraction

Defined

Arguably, the movie “The Secret” (and/or its companion book by the same name), is the best known source for the resurgence of interest in the “Law of Attraction”, one of 11 man-made “Natural Laws” (as opposed to “Natural Laws” everywhere present, definable and testable in Nature).

In its simplest form, the following summarizes the four steps underlying the “Law of Attraction” (from Wiipedia):

“1. Know exactly what you want.
2. Ask the universe for it.
3. Feel, behave and know as if the object of your desire is already yours (visualize).
4. Be open to receive it and let go of (the attachment to) the outcome”.

It has been futher argued that “… thinking of what one does not have … manifests itself in not having, while if one abides by these principles, and avoids “negative” thoughts, the universe will manifest a person’s desires”.

Problems with this Definition

In contrast to Natural Laws

Natural Laws are those that are testable, repeatable and can be consistently relied upon (i.e. they are universal and unchangable). Man-made laws, on the other hand, cannot be testable, must be taken on faith and are inconsistent (i..e they are dependent upon the local environment (the individual’s mind) and are NOT universal). (Note: universal means applicable throughout the known Universe, as opposed to Universal meaning some Intelligence underlying the universe).

A review of the Wikipedia posting (under “Criticism”) documents some of the criticisms surrounding the “Law of Attraction”. In additon, a review of sites throughout the internet (particularly blogs) will reveal a widely diverse range of opinion, ranging from those strongly endorsing the “Law of Attraction” (and, typically, promoting some sort of “Law of Attraction” product) to those thoroughly disappointed and disillusioned with the law as a result of their failed attempts to utilize it.

For further commentary, please refer to the following articles on the subject:

Law of Attraction – A Contrary Opinion
Challenge to the Conventional Law of Attraction
Quantum Theory and the Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction -The first step in a Plan of Action

Visualizing a Goal

In my opinion, the “Law of Attraction” significantly benefits from people’s experience to a point, then uses misinformation and pseudo-science to progress beyond the rational to the irrational. With reference to the above four steps, with any goal, we need to know what it is we want. The more accurately and thoroughly we can define our goal(s), the better our chances of realizing it.

For example, you would be more likely to “realize” (or “manifest”) a vacation to a specific five star resort in Cancun, Mexico than simply a “vacation”. Having specified a goal to Cancun, you will be looking for deals and opportunities, planning the best dates to go, booking time off work and so on. Simply desiring to take a vacation, it will remain an ambiguous goal, not likely to be achieved. In this context, “Know Exactly What you Want” is consistent with recommendations for “Goal-Setting”

The second step, however, “Ask the Universe For it”, is the point at which the irrational departs from the rational. For believers in “Faith” (i.e. religions), the Universe would be an alternate reference to “God” or other religious icon. For New Agers, however, it is an unspecified Intelligence underlying the Universe that allows believers to have the powers of a God, with none of the moral responsibility.

The idea espoused here is that the believer sends out his / her desire in the form of “mental vibrations”, carrying their desire to the Universe in order to become manifest. The problem here is that the mental signal (electrical neural impulses) are so weak, it is difficult to rationalize how they might pass beyond the cranium, let alone out into the Universe. Every electrical current generates a corresponding magnetic field, however, it is difficult to rationalize how a magnetic field associated with a single thought impulse might even be detected. Finally, any electromagnetic signal decreases as a square of the distance from the source. Under the Inverse-square (a universal Natural Law), a weak electrical or magnetic signal originating in the brain would, in all liklihood, not even have enough energy to travel to the cranium, let alone through the cranium and out into the universe in order to become manifest.

“Feel, behave and know as if the object of your desire is already yours (visualize)”. I agree with the proposal to “Feel” and “Know” your goal has been achieved, however, I suggest healthy caution with regard to behaving as if it is already yours. I wouldn’t want to behave as though I had a million dollars before I was physically in possession of that sum of money. I have heard of stories (which we will generously regard as rumours) of people who had built businesses based on their visions of a client base, only to fail when the client base failed to materialize.

“Be open to receive it and let go of (the attachment to) the outcome”. I heartily endorse the propose to receive an outcome for the heart’s desire, however, I believe there to be a fundamental step missing in this four step plan – specifically, action.

Action

The Missing Component

Action is, I believe, the fundamental step missing in every discussion of the “Law of Attraction”. Action is barely mentioned in “The Secret” and is entirely missing in most discussions by its proponents. In essence, its strongest advocates are promoting the concept of “Something for Nothing”. This concept is the mental equivalent of the “Perpetual Motion Machine”, which violates the First Law of Thermodynamics (again, unfortunately for Law of Attraction advocates, a universal, Natural Law).

I suggest that if one thinks rationally about every success in life, it has been achieved through the implementation of a plan, whether consciously or unconsciously. Most failures in life have been the direct result of the lack or failure of a plan.

If I were to walk down the street tomorrow and stumble across $1 million in cash, it is almost certain that it did not manifest for me (despite my strongest visualization of this desire). Somewhere, some financial institution or criminal element (who else would potentially lose $1 million) would be desparately trying to recover that money. It is unlikely and improbable that I would be able to keep it.

Law of Attraction

As a Plan of Action

I suggest that the “Law of Attraction” is, in actual fact and more correctly speaking, a Plan of Action, a process, comprised of four general steps, as follows:

1. Identify / Visualize the desired outcome (Goal)
2. Develop a plan to achieve that goal
3. Implement the plan
4. Revise the plan until the goal is realized

In this regard, I fully subscribe to the Philosophy of Achievement proposed by Napoleon Hill in “Think and Grow Rich”and “Law of Success”. Once you have a goal toward which you intend to work, develop and implement a plan as soon as possible. Having implemented it, revise and modify it as required. If the initial plan fails, develop a new plan with which to replace it. The analogy is that of a ship in the ocean – if it has a rudder (a goal), it progressively moves toward that goal despite not being able to set the port (goal). A ship without a rudder, however, moves randomly across the oceans surface, at the whim of tide and currents and will, in all liklihood, never reach port.

Are the Differences merely Semantic?

Some may argue that the differences between these interpretations of the “Law of Attraction” are merely semantic. I would strongly disagree with this viewpoint, however, as one perspective leaves us helpless while the other empowers us.

Statements have been made to the effect that we manifest every aspect of our lives as a result of our thoughts, that our minds create our reality. As a result of this perspective, the victim of crime has brought the crime upon themselves, our health issues reflect our negative thoughts and so on. If we don’t want negative events in our lives, don’t think negative thoughts. While there is some evidence that a negative attitude can, and probably does, have a negative impact on our lives, I believe it stretches credibility too far to state that every health issue is the result of a negative thought pattern.

Some illnesses are genetic, some are environmental and others have a definite cause and effect relationship, irregardless of mental attitude. Taken to the extreme, I find it utterly implausible that a premature baby has brought it’s circumstance upon itself through a negative thought pattern.

This perspective incapacitates us and, as stated in the Wikipedia entry, can have harmful to dangerous outcomes through its emphasis on the statement that every circumstance in our lives is the manifestation of our thoughts.

On the other hand, having the ability to take action, to implement a plan, empowers us. Through careful planning, we can overcome life’s obstacles, we can prepare for possibilities and eventualities. Plans provide us with hope where circumstances seem bleak. Plans, with accompanying action, allow us to face life’s circumstances and address the results.

Ben Underwood

Lazy Legs

Kyle Maynard

Most importantly, action may contribute signiifcantly to healing. Advocates of the “Law of Attraction” deny healing, compounding hopelessness and depression over life’s circumstances by attributing our reality to our thoughts.

Summary

My life’s successes and failures are directly attributable to plans or lack thereof. The “Law of Attraction” has no basis in fact and, more importantly, life’s circumstances in any meaningful manner. The “Law of Attraction” is untestable, unverifiable, non-reproducible and violates several known Natural Laws. (Note: being Natural Laws and not man-made laws, they cannot be repealed).

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