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The Law Of Attraction: How To Use It To Your Favor

March 13, 2009 by  

The Law of Attracton

The Law of Attraction has been attacked by many, including many personal development bloggers.  It looks to me that the easiest way to prove you are “smart” is to disagree with the Law of Attraction.  If that is what you want, you probably don’t need this article.  If you want to improve your life effortlessly, please read on.  (Photo by Trader Doc)

Misunderstanding the Law of Attraction

To understand misunderstanding, we first need to define the Law of Attraction.  For now, we will say “Like energy attracts like energy.” We will explore the deeper meaning of this law later.

There are a lot of misunderstanding going around about the Law of Attraction, discouraging people to use it to their favor.

1. Magnets don’t attract the same, they attracts the opposites.  So the theory of Law of Attraction is flawed.
One end of a magnet attracts the opposite end of another magnet so that as a whole, the magnetic energy flows through in one way.  Magnets attract magnets, not woods.  It is indeed attracting the like energy.

2. The Law of Attraction is not a law because it is not proven.  Plus the whole quantum physics stuff is BS.
Did the law of gravity become the law when Newton theorized it?  Or was it working from the beginning of time?

Regarding the quantum physics – what I gather from Greatness Without Genies: The Law of Attraction for Realists is that this area of physics is still in debate and neither proven nor defeated.  We just don’t know if the quantum physics is real, and if so, to what level of existence it applies, nor how it is related to the Law of Attraction.  So let’s give it a benefit of doubt.  (By the way, this eBook is an interesting read if you disliked the Secret.  Especially if you disliked the Secret but still feel the pull of the Law of Attraction ;) )

3. The Law of Attraction doesn’t work because I couldn’t attract what I wanted.
Ah, but did you use it properly?  For example, if you wanted to be financially well, did you focus on abundance or did you focus on you being broke?  If it’s the latter, the Law of Attraction worked perfectly – you got more broke.  I feel for you, but don’t use your failure as a proof of the Law of Attraction not working.  It’s a case of operator error.

The final point leads to the point of how to use the Law of Attraction correctly.

Is it the thoughts or the feelings that attract?

Many Law of Attraction books tell you that your thoughts attract the very thing you think about, that thoughts become things.  Well, kind of.

Are you aware there are two kinds of thoughts?

  1. Logical thoughts (or non-ego thoughts)
  2. Ego thoughts

Typical example of logical thoughts is when you think about math.  How do you know the total sum of all inner angles of a triangle is 180 degrees?  There are several ways to prove this.

While you are thinking about triangles, parallel lines, or vector, you are thinking hard, but you don’t attract more triangles.  Because your feeling is neutral.  (I’m talking about pure mathematical thoughts, not your fear of failing the math test.)

On the other hand, we spend a lot of time and energy doing ego thoughts.  What will the economy be like?  Will I be able to keep my job?  Will I have to take a paycut?  Will I be able to afford the vacation this year?  And if I can’t, what would my friends think about me?  OMG, and . . .

Ego thoughts use tons of emotional energy.  And it’s usually negative thoughts based on fear.  And bam, don’t you know you get a layoff when you spend sufficient time and energy thinking this way?

The energy of emotions

When the Law of Attraction teachers say you attract the things you think about, they are talking about thoughts, or images, that are supported by plenty of feelings, the energy of emotions.  Thoughts are energies as well, but compared to the energies of emotions, thought energy alone is pretty small.

In order to use the Law of Attraction to your favor, you need to think in a way that causes you lots of positive feelings.  You can do this in both kinds of thinking.  One, you can manipulate your own ego thoughts to aim the things you want, rather than the things you don’t want.  For example, tons of money.  This way you can stimulate your greed and cause “positive” feelings of joy and excitement of having it.

This approach works, and some people have become quite good at it.  However, I don’t recommend it.  Because it can whack your sense of peace and harmony.  When you base your joy on greed, you need more and more things to satisfy your greed, and the state of just being happy with what you have become further and further away.  To me, this sounds like hell than heaven.  Having more and more, but never really satisfied.

So the better approach is to use your logical thinking and add feelings.  For the same objective to attract money, you think of money and what money can buy in that logical neutral way, for yourself and others, and then be inspired to have positive feelings such as joy and gratitude.

Better.  But isn’t there an even better way to utilize the energy of emotions?

The problem of thought-based feelings

There are two kinds of feelings:

  1. Feelings that are caused by specific thoughts
  2. Feelings that come from your core, unrelated to specific thoughts you may be having

We are familiar with the first kind of feelings, and this is also what the Law of Attraction advocates teach us to utilize.  They teach us to use emotions as a guide of your thoughts.  Thoughts on what you desire cause positive feelings.  Thoughts on what you don’t desire cause negative feelings.  Watch your feelings to monitor your thoughts.

When you do this, you notice your feelings are very unstable.  Having and not having something is like the sides of a coin and it can flip so easily.  One moment you are feeling great thinking about getting a raise – you are inflated in your emotions – the next moment, the thought of missing the raise crosses your mind and you are deflated miserably.  Up and down, up and down.  It takes lots of discipline to manage this process and disallow negative ideas to enter your mind.

And this is the biggest challenge those who try to use the Law of Attraction face even when they so believe in it.  They mix up thoughts and feelings, and the positive and negative energies negate each other.  Results: no clear results.

You’ve seen these people, or maybe you are one of them.  Are you afraid of thinking negative thoughts?  To the point you are afraid of using “bad words” like debt or loss?  When you try to direct your thoughts to “good” things you desire, you know (oh, damn you know!) there is a flip side.  The bigger your desire, the bigger your fear of not having it.

And if you are so afraid, of course, that is what you attract:  More fear and more situations that cause you fear.

Enough about playing between the polarities.

Emotions without thoughts

You don’t need thoughts to have feelings.

When I wake up after a good night sleep, I feel wonderful. I’m full of excitement and gratitude for the new day.  It’s not about being excited about specific things I plan to do.  These days, I hardly have any plans.  I have a natural routine and maybe I have some phone sessions scheduled, but my good feeling is not about these things.  It’s about being alive and another beautiful day.  Little me having another day!

When I sip coffee watching the trees and coffee, I feel wonderful. I’m filled with joy, wonderment, and contentment.  I’m not thinking about anything particular – I just like relaxing with coffee and looking at trees.

And what is this good feeling doing in my life?

My life is pretty good.  My business is growing, I have great friends, and I’m healthy.  Hmm.  I guess I could be happier with a boyfriend.  But then, there are hardly times I feel lonely.  So maybe I’m doing just fine.

So the most effective way to utilize the Law of Attraction, that is also the most effortless, is:
Cultivate the good feeling that comes from being yourself

Aaaagh, so simple. . .

The fundamental good feelings of life in the Law of Attraction

You may think it’s difficult to cultivate this fundamental good feelings about life and yourself.  However, once you have it, it’s pretty solid.  It’s not based on external conditions.  You realize that you are loved and supported in all ways, that you are special and valuable, and that the universe is a wonderful and friendly place to live and play.

From there, you live your life, and of course, you think.

So I live in good feelings majority of the time.  Then I occasionally think – let’s say thinking about my business.  Perhaps the most frequent thought is “Well, I enjoy doing the reading and clearing, and I know this is the foundation of my service, but this new coaching is so much fun I want to put more focus on this.  And I’d like to free up some time to do more writing, too.”  My business is developing exactly this way.

So thoughts have their place in the Law of Attraction.  But not necessarily a big place.  The majority of the energy is based on emotions, and thoughts only give directions to the energy.  And again, the easiest and surest way to have lots of good feelings is to base the feelings on who you are, not on external situations or your thoughts.

Cultivate the good feeling that comes from being yourself.  Then think some to direct the energy.

Where does action fit in the picture?

There are people who say something in the line of, “The Law of Attraction works because it promotes positive thinking that motivates people to take actions.  It’s not a spiritual law, and there is no mystery to it.  Now go do your work.”

And what kind of action are we talking about?  Actions that come naturally that you hardly think you are making “efforts” or actions that you toil and loathe?

The latter has indeed nothing to do with the Law of Attraction.  Do action A to cause result B.  Use whatever motivation to get to action, including positive thinking or “psyching up”.  Or a whip.  I mean, it’s the action that causes the result.  Motivation is not directly related to the result.

The kind of action we want to be aware of in using the Law of Attraction is the first kind.

Beings is not about sitting on a stone and doing nothing.  Being involves doing things you like and doing things that interest you. Watch small kids.  Being kids, they are almost always moving and doing things.  Jumping on the couch.  Swirling around the chair.  Running outside.  And when they find something interesting, they just go ahead and explore it.

The action that matter in the Law of Attraction may be doing the things that you so love to do always or taking special inspired action.   Or it may take no action.

Manifestations without action

You’ve never seen people attracting great life without no particular action?

My former hairdresser in Tennessee more than doubled her clients list overnight doing nothing.  She was leasing a booth in a small hair salon.  The owner was the other hairdresser and his wife.  They wanted a baby for a long time and finally decided to adopt one.  They were delighted to have a beautiful baby girl.  So happy to the point that first, the wife decided to stay at home full time.  So she split her customers to her husband and my hairdresser.  After a few months, and the baby growing ever so charming, the husband also decided to stay home.  They figured they could live on rent income alone for awhile.  So my hairdresser got his client list.

What did she do?  Just being a happy great hairdresser.  I always enjoyed visiting her salon because not only was she good at haircut but she was so fun to talk with.

Another example.  I know a retired school teacher who travels the world, going to some of the most secret spots.  No, she doesn’t have the money.  She got acquainted to a wealthy widow who loved to travel.  She asked my friend to accompany her because traveling alone is no fun.  The widow pays for everything.  My friend just carries her pocket money.  And both are happy.

What did she do?  I have no idea.  Being a teacher, I guess she has the basic interpersonal skills.  And she has time and willingness to travel.  The last time I talked with her, they were planning to visit Galapagos.

Summary:  How to use the Law of Attraction to your favor

  1. Cultivate the good feeling that comes from being yourself.
    This is the first and paramount step.  The rest may or may not be necessary.
  2. Think some to direct the energy.
  3. Live your life doing what you love and what you are inspired to do.

You don’t have to think specific thoughts to use the Law of Attraction.  What you ultimately want to manifest is the good feelings, to feel even better in the coming reality you are creating, and you can just feel your way with our without specific thoughts.

When you do think, think it clearly but not necessarily specifically. Attachment to specifics is about your ego.  Envision the new reality you are creating and know it is there. It’s almost like taking it for granted, but with gratitude for it.  (Some people call this believing.  I don’t personally like the word believing because it implies there is a discrepancy between what you believe and what it is.)

Ego thoughts have little to do with this process.  As I wrote, our ego is brings in mostly fear, which is counterproductive in using the Law of Attraction to your favor.  Our ego also makes judgments and try to dictate the process and outcome of manifestation, which is again counterproductive.  Your ego only knows what you have experienced or heard so far, and it badly limits the boundless possibilities.

And with Ascension process going on, we are dropping the ego anyway.

Our power to create

That is the how.  Now the why.  Why does the Law of Attraction work?  I’ve seen many arguments why it doesn’t work, but not arguments why it does indeed work.

Because we are God.  Some express the same saying  we are children of God, or we are connected to the Source energy.  Really the same thing.  If we are children of God, we are growing up to be God.  If we are connected to the Source, we have the same energy the Source has.  And just like God created the universe, we can create our lives.  Smaller scale, but the same working of the energy.

I know it’s hard to accept we are God.  If it’s easy, we have absolutely no problem using the Law of Attraction.  Our awareness hasn’t grown up to that level yet, so at this time, it’s easier to think that something outside of us, be it genie, the universe, or God, would give us what we want.

However, I want to point out that the more we realize our own divine power to create, the better the Law of Attraction works. If your mindset is like “If I beg, God or genie may give me what I want.”, you are disempowering yourself.    So while it’s okay to believe in external power sources, please do start raising your awareness of your own creative power.

“The Law of Attraction” is a somewhat misleading term.  It is called so because on the energetic level, like energies attract like energies. It is NOT about the object of your desire getting attracted and coming closer and closer to you.  Nothing is really outside of you.  You are creating your reality. The Law of Attraction is really the way we create.

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Comments

32 Responses to “The Law Of Attraction: How To Use It To Your Favor”

  1. Mommy Mystic (Lisa) on March 13th, 2009 10:05 am

    Akemi – Fantastic. This is the best article on the law of attraction that I have ever read. I had been thinking of doing a post with some of my issues and concerns about how the law of attraction is sometimes taught, but you have covered everything here, so I will just send people here. The issues re: not getting trapped in greed, the trap of fear/polarity thinking, the focus on cultivating the ‘good feelings from being yourself’, the trap of an external higher power being dismepowering – I am 100% with you on all of it, and you put many things into words that I hadn’t quite conceptualized yet. Thanks for taking the time, I will stumble.

    Lisa

    Mommy Mystic (Lisa)s last blog post..Interview with Cyndi Dale – Chakra Expert and Author of The Subtle Body

  2. tom on March 13th, 2009 10:08 am

    Atleast for me, when I look back on the movie the secret, I think its great, it gives people some hope but one thing it lacks is the aspect of reality.

    People need to realize it takes a lot of work to have something such as business, money, etc. You can’t be sitting on the coach and dreaming of it.

    Its a fierce battle out there that we have to go out and face each day.

    Similar to the hype that these so called gurus spread too.

  3. Dot on March 13th, 2009 11:30 am

    This is very clear and empowering.

    “If we are connected to the Source, we have the same energy the Source has. ” When I was a teenager, I decided that God was the sum of all living souls and creatures. It sounds like I started out close to the truth.

  4. akemi on March 13th, 2009 1:25 pm

    Lisa,
    Thank you. I think a lot about the Law of Attraction because I don’t think many people are using it to its max cap. And they get confused with minute details that has nothing to do with the validity of LOA, such as the personality of LOA teachers.

    Tom,
    Well, as I wrote in the article, I didn’t advocate sitting on the coach. I hope you read that part.
    Reality can be as fierce as you want it to be. If you like it that way, please feel free to make it that way for yourself. I will take my afternoon off to enjoy the sunny spring day.

    Dot,
    Good job!

  5. Hunter Nuttall on March 13th, 2009 6:48 pm

    This is terrific, Akemi! A very uplifting thing to read on Friday the 13th.

    The flip flop between positive and negative emotions must be a very common problem. It’s easy to think you’re positive, when you’re forgetting all the negative emotions that cancelled out the positive ones. I know this is something that affects me, but I’m trying to focus more on being consistently positive.

    Thanks for linking to my ebook!

  6. sumiran on March 14th, 2009 8:54 pm

    Most empowering article i have read on LoA.
    Many times I felt incompatible with LoA’s claim – Put your energy on the ‘thoughts’ you like to realize. Although the happening the events may be resulted according to the LoA, but if we know the law, there is some what supression of negative feeling/thoughts thinking that they could be counterproductive. Thus the undercurrent fear plays its role.
    Consequently, the law of acceptance (as you put ‘Cultivate the good feeling that comes from being yourself’.) goes to the shadow. We refuse to welcome and accept the negative aspects of us.
    Thank you for this awesome post!

    My last post: The Best Spiritual Teachers

  7. akemi on March 15th, 2009 3:34 pm

    Hunter,
    You are welcome.
    I think it’s critical to get out of the cycle of polarities to really feel good consistently. And this is part of Ascension.

    Sumiran,
    I’m glad you like the article. LoA can be very helpful when we know the whole story.

  8. Robin on March 15th, 2009 7:53 pm

    Hi there Akemi – I think we are God, or the Source, too.

    It’s funny how people will say the LOA doesn’t work because some particular thing they want hasn’t happened – it never seems to occur to them to investigate what is really going on inside them a little more closely. Or they just don’t want to, because they prefer to see themselves as victims of random circumstances.

  9. Cath Lawson on March 16th, 2009 5:02 am

    Hi Akemi – I like the way that you describe feelings attracting things as opposed to thoughts. That makes a lot of sense.

    I don’t disbelieve what many people describe as the Law of Attraction. I read about it many years ago in Think And Grow Rich and have had first hand experience of it working.

    But I do feel that the Law of Attraction, as described in films like The Secret, is way too simplified. There is a lot more to improving your life than simply wanting something and focusing on it until you attract it.

    So many other things are involved too – particularly overcoming some fears – like fear of death, or illness and changing unfavourable life circumstances – like wrong partner in marriage. It took me many years to change some of the things that were holding me back. I was able to attract more money before I changed some of those things – but money alone doesn’t automatically make your life better.

    Hill certainly went into more details of what is involved in his book. But his work was not without flaws either. He was vague in what he wrote about getting ideas from source. I don’t know if this was because he didn’t fully understand it, or because he was too embarrassed to write exactly what he meant.

  10. akemi on March 16th, 2009 8:18 am

    Robin,
    Victim mentality run deep in so many people. I’m saddened about it — clearing energetic issues is one thing, but if my clients just sit back doing nothing productive, their lives are not going to be much better.

    Cath,
    I agree about Napoleon Hill’s book being too vague.
    And action is important. It’s just before action, there are thoughts and feelings. Most people take actions with little conscious thoughts, just based on fear. That is reaction, and it only keep them where they are.

  11. Law of Attraction Carnival #49 | Law of Attraction | The Secret | LOA on April 10th, 2009 4:44 pm

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  12. Suzie Cheel on April 10th, 2009 9:39 pm

    Akemi,

    Thank you for writing this post, I have been thinking along the same lines recently. It is interesting as you say that “The Law of Attraction has been attacked by many, including many personal development bloggers.” I have been surprised to see that expressed on many blogs too.

    I am also finding bloggers who were very pro LOA saying to me there is more to the LOA and there are all the other laws,and I see we have launching next week 11 Laws from Teachers from the Secret- no wonder people get confused.

    Here is to keeping our vibes high and keep attracting

    Suzie

    This is a great

  13. akemi on April 14th, 2009 8:21 am

    Hi Suzie,
    Nice to see you here. Here is to you too.

  14. Giovani on April 19th, 2009 4:13 pm

    Hi, akemi!

    Thanks, for taking the time to parse all this!

    It’s helpful to see someone’s clear consideration of these issues. You’re a very clear and compassionate thinker, it seems to me.

    I enjoyed following your reasoning, and it’ll probably influence how I approach things in the near future.

    The natural happiness of being myself is something I’m working on. Sometimes it seems available, but sometimes it seems like it’s a great luxury for those who are built a certain way, while others of us live like one missing some special physical organ and being laughed at for our struggles.

    I’ll move on to another thought, because I’m looking at what the paradigm of opening to receive can do for me. It all sounds legit. Most of the time it’s what I “preach.” I just thought I’d bring up that concern, in case you’ve never heard it expressed.

    You seem very sincere, and I appreciate your sharing! :O)

    Sunshine & Blessings,
    Giovani

  15. akemi on April 19th, 2009 4:33 pm

    Hi Giovani,
    Thank you for your comment. Ultimately, the opening up and being happy with oneself is something that can only be experienced,, rather than rationally understood. I hope my blog helps to lead the way.

  16. Avatar on April 23rd, 2009 4:01 am

    You mentioned the points that most people did not know about but are trying to have Law of Attraction to work for them. There’s lots of things being said about Law of Attraction and Quantum Physics and not all are true. It seems you have good knowledge and experience with Law of Attraction and you have written a wonderful article here. I learned alot from your post. I think I have to do more research on Law of Attraction before writing my own articles. Thanks for posting this article. :)

  17. jonathan on April 29th, 2009 12:29 am

    That was pretty much one of the best LAW OF ATTRACTION articles on the net I have seen. The good thing was at the end you werent trying to sell me something. It was a fantastic article and I loved it. I do believe anything is possible.

  18. akemi on April 29th, 2009 5:39 pm

    Avatar,
    You are welcome. Now start using the LOA ^_^

    jonathan,
    No, I’m not trying to sell you LOA products. I have plenty of income source. Thank you for reading my blog.

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  21. Law of Attraction Coach on January 2nd, 2010 8:23 pm

    Great post! You have pointed out step by step the law of attraction. I love the summary specially the first one. If you do that, you really don’t need to think about the rest. It will come. Just be yourself. And one more thing. Be grateful. Gratitude is a positive energy and being grateful means you have nothing to worry about. Be thankful for what you have rather than complain on what you don’t have. Thankful is more positive than complaining.
    .-= Law of Attraction Coach´s last blog .. =-.

  22. akemi on January 3rd, 2010 8:56 am

    LoA Coach,

    Yes, Gratitude is very empowering. I have experienced many miracles with gratitude.

  23. Carl on January 6th, 2010 5:48 pm

    Akemi,

    Gee, all this info for free.

    I think all people coming here are, as I am, very grateful for it.

    Thank you.

  24. akemi on January 6th, 2010 7:48 pm

    Carl,

    Haha, you are welcome, now go use it to your advantage. Get rich and happy.

  25. Halima on February 28th, 2010 5:40 am

    The LOA is actually a formula of good feelings and being inspired to take action to obtain more of those positive feelings in a positive manner. We actually block ourselves from receiving true happiness with our thought processes. I block myself at times and at times I let it flow, we actually have to watch over the egomind like an unruly child who we must constantly discipline so they will stop bullying the other thoughts into thinking that what egomind says is true or absolute.

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  30. Dave on February 26th, 2011 7:09 am

    Akemi, You are a great inspiration! There is no greater thing you can give to someone than inspiration. As Dr. Robert Anthony says the root of why any person wants anything is to be happy. Be happy now and you have everything you want now.

  31. Caroline on May 5th, 2011 6:41 pm

    Hi Akemi,

    My search for inspiration brought me to your blog and I wanted to express my gratitude to you for your wisdom and obvious innate goodness. Your ideas remind me of what a buddy of mine used to say: “I live the life I love and I love the life I live.” I really wanted to ‘get me summa that!’ Now I try to live by the idea of: Rather than being focused on Having What You Want, focus on Wanting What You Have. In this I have found that what I want is naturally drawn to me. I guess this is similar to the LOA.
    Cheers, Caroline

  32. dale on May 13th, 2011 6:32 pm

    Most teenagers set out unequipped to achieve. Just as there are laws that govern nature, there are also laws that govern performance and achievement. Unfortunately, teenagers and adults alike are either not aware of them or simply do not apply them. As a result, many people chase after goals and find that the results they desire constantly elude them.If you want to achieve something or get somewhere in life, you must understand the fundamental and governing laws that turn dreams into reality. Over the last few hundred years of recorded history the common denominators that lead to personal success have consistently surfaced. Join T. J. Hoisington as he shares with you these time-tested principles.

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