Discussions
Law of Attraction
Posted by braincatcher • 7/01/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: law of attraction, negative thinking, positive thinking, will power
Law of Attraction in simplest form is "Like attracts like."
This means positive thinking results in positive outcome, and negative thinking results in negative outcome.
Sad thoughts makes you sadder and happy thoughts makes you happier.
They say its a Universal Law. As a pessimist, I beg to disagree. As far as I know, in magnets (which they often use as an example in their lectures) Opposites attract and Likes repel. Therefore its not universal.
On positive thinking, they say, if you can think of it, it can happen. I say, maybe not. There are things that are out of our control. And sometimes we just have to let them be.
What are your insights on this?
User Comments
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It works, it works it works..... some call it meditation some call it prayer, if you focus it will happen!-
If you focus with a real good work ethic and plan to back it up it will work
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A lot of people say that the power of suggestion is very powerful indeed. Placebo effect, etc.
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It works for me. I live by the phrase, "fake it till you make it."-
Fake it till you make it - Nice...
But - How much work are you putting into it...
If you answer is your not - then you will not make it
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No it doesn't work. Everybody wants to move a thing without touching it just by thinking. But I just can't, can you? And the concept that "You get what you want or what you think" is SELFISH. How about what others want? Don't you think it maybe different than what you want?
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I'm with you on "no it doesn't work." I experimented with the concept for years before finally giving up on it as claptrap. -
Finally, somebody agrees with me. I thought I was alone in this world.
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I think that being positive doesn't HURT-- and because people tend to prefer to deal with positive folks over those who mope, then additional opportunities may result.
But I would like to see a credible double-blind study that proves positive people get more positive opportunities/events than negative ones. I think much of it is selective memory-- how you choose to interpret the same events and act on them. Not wishful thinking.
My two cents only. -
You can't control everything but it does work. When I think of the really important things that manifested in my life, all of them were things I believed would happen without a doubt in my mind. I never wavered on that belief and although it might have taken longer than I wanted, they happened. If you think negatively, your actions and decisions will be based on those negative thoughts and how can you accomplish anything that way?? If you think positively and believe in something, your actions will take on a more purposeful and focused direction. Yes, I do very firmly believe in positive thinking, law of attraction, whatever you want to call it.
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Yes, but you're also talking about taking action and really working to make something happen. Not just thinking pretty thoughts and having things go "POOF!" your way.
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Negative thinkers think negative, but they don't want them to happen. Even the baddest man doesn't want something bad happen to them.
Example is, when I'm crossing a street, I always thought of some speeding car will hit me, and that's why I am more careful than a positive thinker. For all these years, I've never been hit by a car.
@ Jenn...Unfortunately, it does.
Example, You expect a promotion, and I don't, we both don't get it, now who is more disappointed? -
But Brain Catcher - You did not get the promotion unless you worked to get it - and I do not care if you count "working the boss" work - you had to put effort into it. You did not sit at your desk all day - and then your boss walked in and say - You- promoted!
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Depends on the rationale behind why it didn't happen, and whether there's something I can improve upon, really. If I have a rationale, I can fairly easily bear disappointment.
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there is a huge difference between thinking positive and the law of attraction. Yes the law of attraction uses the concept of negative thoughts versus positive ones... but if you are a strict believer - remember - there are more forces at work then JUST YOUR THOUGHTS in this farce of a law. As my thoughts will directly influence yours - in this Secret-of-a-Law
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@ braincatcher: "Example is, when I'm crossing a street, I always thought of some speeding car will hit me, and that's why I am more careful than a positive thinker. For all these years, I've never been hit by a car"
If you are using the LoA as an example - you have not been hit because the drivers are thinking "better" than you are and "atracting" better than you do - that THEY DO NOT want to hit anyone when they drive...
Just as stupid... -
The situation on the promotion example is as is, the point is, there is more emotional damage if you expect, than if you don't.
Lets see it positively, we both got the promotion you are expecting but I am not expecting, then I am more elated, because I don't expect it.
In either case, its nice not to expect. It's like being humble. -
I am not exactly sure of what you said or are trying to say but...
If you got the promotion - you worked at it - and though it might have been a bit of a surprise - you know you were working at it - so you would eventually get it.
As for the Negative vs. Positive.
If you think negative all the time you will always be disappointed.
If you think positive all the time it is true you will get disappointed sometimes but you will be much happier. And in turn those around you will be happier. Positive gets positive - Negative begets negative...
You can not show me an advantage for your negative or pessimistic outlook. -
I believe my illustration is clear. If you can't see it, I can't do anything about it.
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ok - and have a wonderful day
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Thanks. I had a wonderful negative thinking day. I didn't worry too much for something I want to happen, I'm just contented on whatever the world gives. "Que sera sera, whatever will be, will be, the future not ours to see", so let it be.
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You had a wonderful, content and worry-free day - sounds pretty positive to me - thank you - I rest my case
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Yes its a positive outcome. And I proved that not all negative thinking results to negative outcome, and not all positive thinking results to what you are expecting.
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The Law of Attraction as a stand-alone product is a farce. It does in fact work as a component part to your entire process.
If you sit there and do nothing and wish - like they do in a Disney Movie - then you get nothing. Oh every once in a while you get lucky (there is the law of averages too) and get something for nothing. Good time to read Emerson’s Essay on Compensation
If you do not have a plan and work for what it is you want -- you get squat.
A plan - backed by desire - the work ethic to go for it and the ability to keep the negative thoughts and people out of you way - is the way to get what it is you want.
Not sit there and say:
"I am going to the mall - I will find a great parking spot..."
"I am wanting to get married let me sleep as if there was another in my bed and leave the extra room there as if they were there."
There is no Secret - just hard work. Yes you should visualize what it is you want to achieve and even mind-script out what it is you want to have, as if you already have it - but you aint getting a thing - if you do nothing!-
Huzzah!
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Yes...visualizing can be a good tool & hard work is key. Awesome points.
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Sorry for taking over - It was not my intention - I just cannot believe that smart adults would think that wishing for something - and sitting back and waiting will get it for them. Too many of todays youth have read that crap and now believe they are owed it all - because they can see it all.
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I totally believe in the law of attraction but not quite to the extent that proponents like "The Secret" would like us to. There are many "laws" at work in our universe and they are all in motion and working AT THE SAME TIME. I think that's where some people get a little lost and ultimately disappointed. For example, the law of attraction can't work AGAINST the law of gravity!! But I do believe that when applied realistically, you can in fact "make things happen" for yourself.-
I agree - but it is just a PART of what you are doing to make things happen for yourself - or even for others.
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The psychological explanation to why thinking positively works is trivial,
but the quantum physics stuff is BS.-
Yes - But Quantum Leap is still my favorite Show
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Well, I think you are taking it far too literally.
If someone continuously thinks to themselves "There MUST be a way for me to do (whatever)" then their spirits and drive will usually remain high enough so that they may find whatever way they need to make whatever happen.
If they just think "It's never going to happen" and give up, then it won't.
To me, I think of "thinking positive" as being open and receptive to new ideas, challenges and opportunities, while being negative is just the opposite.
So, it stands to reason that one is constantly open, receptive and on their toes will be far more likely to see, gain, or take advantage of an opportunity whereas someone who is not will not - and thus the disparity in results.
Just sayin'
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and sayin' well!
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But isn't that a trivial common sense thing? Why create "a law" and make a movie about it? I think they wanted to present their BS quantum ideas.
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Well, I think they WANTED to make easy moola.
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Yup, it's common sense to me and you and Benny too!
As to why they made a movie of it? Let's just say we live in a society that has warning labels on jars of peanuts saying "Allergy warning: may contain peanuts". -
What - You mean it isn't a Secret that she dug up from long ago - one that took chapter and chapter of nonsense to tell us about?
Damn! Back to gravity! -
If there is, there is. We just give up on things that we can't do something. Positive thinkers don't give up, even on things they can't do anything. "Give-up" is just not in their vocabulary. It's a negative word.
Yes, "They must find whatever way", because they can't accept failure. It doesn't matter to them if that "way" may cause failure to another. -
Benny would you feel better if I told you it was ancient wisdom passed down to me by way of my drunken master and his drunken master before him?
Braincatcher - I'm not sure what point you are trying to make - but I don't think that anyone is saying that discretion and realism shouldn't be used. Sometimes, things just aren't possible, but those with positive thinking will not accept that before they have exhausted whatever options they have.
And thank the Gods for that, as many inventions, cures, and creations would not exist without this type of perseverance.
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Why shouldn't it work? God is thinking, isn't he? And that is all He has, because He is not a body. So thinking must be powerful.
The problem is always in the specifics. God certainly doesn't ask for a new car, more money, etc. In fact, He is quite deaf to such prayers. On the other side, how could it work, unless you take total responsibility for your thinking. You can't have some thoughts having effects and others not. Now look at the crap of our minds, thinking nothing or complete darkness all day long. Don't you see them in the world everywhere? The world is what you think.-
Many people have the source of their faith firmly planted in their religious convictions; and I will tell you here as I have mentioned before - I simply do not discuss religion, but you should realize faith is one of those mysteries that comes from believing; strong religious beliefs are a definite plus where your faith is concerned. But just as many people find their source of faith within themsleves...
But there is no need to bring religion into this discussion.
see this post for some clarity - sorry for the shamless one
ya-ttitude.com/blog/2008/05/20/fear-just-say-no/ -
I don't understand, but o.k. Do you like this better?
Why shouldn't it work? Mind is thinking, isn't it? And although it is unlimited, it can think it is limited and experience the result of that idea. Everything we do is based on our thinking. Everything starts with an idea. So thinking is powerful. We even can completely forget about our minds, becoming identified with our thoughts. Tell me that thinking isn't powerful?
The problem is always in the specifics. A mind that is whole and knows of its true nature, certainly wouldn't ask for a new car, more money, etc. In fact, it is quite ignorant of such thoughts. On the other side, how could it work -- the idea behind the law of attraction --, unless you take total responsibility for your thinking. You can't have some thoughts having effects and others not. Now look at the crap of our minds, thinking nothing or complete darkness all day long. Don't you see them in the world everywhere? The world is what you think.
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The Law of Attraction stuff is all pulled from age old principles/wisdom of you get back what you put out, what goes around comes around, treat others as you would like to be treated yourself, visualization techniques, positive thinking, etc, etc. I agree with Benny, it is part of a bigger package. Sometimes bad things happen to good people (holocaust, victims of crime, weather) and it has nothing to do with them attracting negativity. There also bad people who attract positive things because they are good liars.
So yes I believe in positive thinking but not how the author behind the Law of Attraction has cherry picked and interpreted age old principles that would have people believing they can just think it and that is it.-
That is right - and you know why - because as I mentione there is the other pesky law - the Law of Averages - and sometimes even boats with not rudders find land...
But you have a much better chance if you have your rudder in the water and aimed at what you are looking to accomplish - not a rudderless boat and tons of "wishing"
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IF YOU BUILD IT HE WILL COME.-
Tell that to Frenchies Donuts and Coffee Shoppes
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Too much positivity is just annoying. And, I know lots of positive people who have crappy lives. But, this idea sells a lot of books ... and makes people lots of money, and gets them booked on Oprah. So that's positive for them. -
"Too much positivity is annoying" be careful. Possibly you mean "fake" positivity is annoying. Stay positive it's the ONLY choice for my life.
True story, today in the car I told my wife I wished I had one of those little percussion eggs for my Jeep to rattle with to my tunes. In seconds, she handed me exactly what I wanted, an old baby rattle we had in the backseat. I love that friggin thing. I told the universe what I wanted and got something even better.-
...coincidence. It just happened that there you have it already and it seems it worked like magic right? But what if you don't have it, you won't find one on the street because if you do its another coincidence. You or your wife will probably buy one, and it still happened. But that's because of the "work" that Benny is talking about, and not by just thinking. The positive thinking worked in this example only because "you can do something about it."
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What you think is what you become ... -
"What YOU think, is what YOU become".
See how selfish positive thinking is.
Is it only limited to what I think for myself, or it can also be applied to what I think for someone else?
If its only limited to what I think for me, maybe it will work because most of the time I can do something if it concerns about me, but when it comes to someone else I don't even know personally, I don't think that "power of thinking" will work. -
Braincatcher; You're exactly right, again. What if I think I'll become the world's most horrific dictator? Everyone's just going to relent & let me? I doubt it...
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@LGramlich - If you think it - nothing will happen? - unfortunatley history has shown us -- people who have thought it - put it into action as part of their plan - worked it day and night - gathered a group of like-minded people to work with and allowed nothing that they did not want to hear get in their way... IT GOT DONE! And I do not have to name drop here do I?
Hence if you think negative and work it - you can accomplish it just as well as thinking positive and accomplishing it...
Positive thinking can be selfish - but - when you get positive - you give positive and when yu give positive you get it too... so the selfishness ends and the giving begins...
read if you like: ya-ttitude.com/blog/2008/04/02/ya-ttitude-give-and-take/
One of my favorite posts... -
@BC - Maybe you should try it before you knock it - there was I time I didn't eat sushi either...
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Okay, Benny, a simpler example, then (although Hitler's a bad example--I should have better implied that I meant "ruler of the entire planet," which no one has yet achieved, I guess.)
A high school girl wants someone to be her boyfriend. He's really not interested. Is he going to relent? I doubt it. He might, if he's just after sex, but then that didn't fulfill her desires, did it? -
That one is just too easy.
A H.S. boy wanted "her" to be his girlfriend. She would not be his girl friend. He worked at it and befriended her and spoke to her and made her laugh and was there when she cried and was part of her inner circle and they hung out together and then... they now have children and a home and a life - I guess she never became his girlfriend... but she is his wife. -
Benny; Ah yes...the "feel good" myth. It CAN happen, sure, but what you've described is unlikely at best & not going to happen in every case just because someone else wishes it. If so, I'd be married to a former neighbor now & living in MD, which I'm not. I'm not going to split hairs with you anymore, though. Instead I'll think positively about Paris Hilton's feet falling off tomorrow. We'll see what happens.
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I am sorry LG - I have no interest in splitting hairs with you either. I am sorry that you feel that way. I am sorry that you feel you need to think that a person (another living being) should have physical harm thrust upon themselves. I am sorry that you do not understand. Nothing happens just because you wish it to happen. There is much more to it. Do not confuse positive thinking and positive actions with "wishing."
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LG, your positive thoughts can only affect you directly - not someone else.
There is no "force" coercion, or magic spell at work here that you can use to bewitch others.
Positive thinking does, however, make you more confident, and confidence in yourself makes a HUGE difference in your success (Unless it's too much confidence, AKA arrogance ) -
Wholly misunderstood, yet again. *sigh*
Benny; Personally I don't care about ANY celebrities. I was merely making a point. Splitting hairs, semantics...Call it what you will. I'm done.
Anok; I know. That's been my point all along.
I'm out of this discussion. Peace.
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The question is "Is positive thinking works?", And they try to depend it on the effort done. Scientifically reasoning, I would like to equate effort done to zero to neglect it. In a basketball game, your favorite team is competing against my favorite team. Of course we both want our team to win, and we are both thinking positive, right? We can't do anything about the game so the effort=0 (Unless you bribe the referees :D, but I don't think so.) Then who will win? Anyone, right? Not both, because in case of a deadlock the game will have to be extended. And the other positive thinker will fail. Therefore, positive thinking does not affect on matters you don't have control. And the outcome will unfold no matter how we think it's way to happen.
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You've confused the topic entirely.
No one said that your positive thinking will make other people successful - like your basketball analogy.
it only works on you. Although a positive attitude will certainly rub off onto other people, and you may affect them in that manner - you wishing for your team to win is not what this is about. -
You proved my point. It only works for you or the thinker and matters concerning to him/her. We just need the positive thinkers or people applying the Law of Attraction to agree with that. Because as far as I know, they claim that it is applicable to "everything".
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This is related to self-esteem. People with healthy self-esteem will focus on their successes. Even failure can reinforce their self-esteem because it will cause them to look at their previous successes. It's their successes that are what's important -- not their failures. They are also more likely to get out of their comfort zone and try new things because the risk of failure weighs less on the chance of success. And when they do try something, they go into it with a positive attitude and confidence in their self-efficacy.
People with low self-esteem place more emphasis on failure, are less likely to try new things, and are more likely to fail because of their attitude.-
Isn't in failure we learn our mistakes, and if we know it, we can avoid it, thus making us successful?
I can not consider myself as having low self-esteem. Being a consistent top-of-the-class from grades school to high school, I have enough reason to be proud of and boost my self-esteem. But it just doesn't matter. -
Of course we learn from our mistakes. Someone who is afraid to take a chance and make mistakes is probably not going to be very successful. But when people with low self-esteem fail, it's not just their endeavors that failed; they see themselves as being a failure.
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The Law of Attraction is pure nonsense. This is why:
necrofiles.blogspot.com/2008/12/law-of-attraction.html-
Pretty funny post, Poodle. How's that tux holding up?
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Well, pretty well considering I've been wearing it for about a week now. Still, I must be headstrong as Claudia is sure to knock on my door at any minute. You know, law of attraction and all..
Thanks for reading my blog -
Give us a shout when she arrives. And, maybe invest in some Febreeze fabric freshener. In a month or so, the tux might need it.
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Thanks for the tip. I'm hoping that Claudia would bathe me when she arrives. At least, I visualised it that way.
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Hey, do you believe in resurrection?
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I believe coz it always happen to me
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"As far as I know, in magnets (which they often use as an example in their lectures) Opposites attract and Likes repel. Therefore its not universal."
If this were true, criminals would not be in jails, they would be rich and sitting on the hill.
CEOs would not be CEOs. They would be either poor or in jail.
The idea which they are suggesting is this...
That those of a certain mindset are going to gravitate towards each other.
Poor people will gravitate to slums and jail houses, where as those who believe themselves to be "Middle-Class" gravitate to the suburbs.
Seeing as how it would seem impossible for all of us to be filthy rich, there are naturally only a select few who reach this goal in life. In effect, those who hold the belief that, “I am financially wealthy.“ the longest wins.
The question is...who wants it bad enough?
This is the same effect one has with anything they desire in life. “Oooh! I’m hungry” One will naturally gravitate to food. “I need a fix.” One will gravitate to drugs. “I need/want a car.” They will eventually end up with a car if…their mind, spirit, and body are operating as one. Mind - The thought. Spirit - The desire. Body - The action of acquiring that thing.
It is only when these three things are in alignment that the Law of Attraction works. -
Okay, now take all of that, and throw in neuroplasticity, and rewrite everything you know. Neuroplasticity (there's no argument about this, search the peer-reviewed journals) means that the brain physically reshapes itself (this can be shown on CAT scans, PET scans, fMRIs, etc.) to do most efficiently that which it does most often.
In other words, if you concentrate on working towards a desired goal, your brain will begin to rewire itself within twenty minutes to work towards that goal more efficiently.
I encourage people to read the research on neuroplasticity and think carefully about the effects their thoughts have upon the physical structure of their brains.
Don't mind me, I just have an undergraduate degree in neuroscience -
I know it works...so be careful what you wish for, dwell on, cry wolf about. If a person that takes things at face value (positive) and lives with a skeptic (negative) don't you think eventually that the positive person would second guess themselves? Since its much easier to be negative, and then come to dislike the negativity? I have been in a relationship with a (like in mind) person and we had shared a goal..vision and one day the opportunity presented itself....spontaneously. So I do believe. -
I believe there is some truth behind the Law of Attraction, but it's a lot more complex than the phrase makes it seem. How many times have I worried myself sick about something and it never occurred? How many time have I fallen into delusions due to my wishful thinking over something I desired and it never happened?
I actually just wrote a couple blog posts about this topic:
shiftingshadow.blogspot.com/2008/11/law-of-attraction-and-inner-purpose.htm...
shiftingshadow.blogspot.com/2008/12/precognition-synchronicities-and.html
Personally, I am mostly interested in the a-causal effects we have on the reality we experience, that is, the way we make things happen without the usual cause-and-effect processes being involved (even though something like neuroplasticity is also fascinating).
Certain events do gravitate towards us due to our thinking and attitude in life. But under which rules? When does like attract like and when do opposites attract? That is one of the most difficult questions in life to answer in my opinion.
I have come to believe in what I call "Existential Vorticity" which manifests when we apply an intense amount of focus upon an aspect of our lives. I cannot adequately explain it here in just a few paragraphs, but here's the basic gist of it:
Similar to the vortices in nature (such as hurricanes and black holes) existential vorticity brings order into what was originally "random". In existential terms, events begin to follow an underlying purpose or rhythm that seem linked to one's thoughts and desires. Synchronicities begin to occur as evidence of this inner/outer interaction.
There is a spinning or oscillation effect (usually very slow) when we are unbalanced or arbitrarily biased in one direction with respect to the topic at hand. In such a scenario, this causes the opposite of our intentions to occur. On the other hand, attaining balance and retaining focus causes an inevitable pull towards the object/goal of focus.
This is, of course, an overly simplified explanation. There are also matters of "inner purpose", inner self desire vs. conscious self desire, abilities in willful prayer, visualization, being single-pointed in one's pursuits, etc.
My main point is, however, the term "Law of Attraction" makes it sound far too simple. Because there is a "Law of Repulsion" that could also take place. -
hocus pocus, its all in the psychology -
This is how the Law of Attraction relates to Quantum Physics:
One of the most famous experiments in Quantum Physics is the notorious Double Slit Experiment. You might wanna look it up for a full explanation since I’m not a physicist, but the short and relevant part for our discussion would be this: If you fire a single photon of light (or an electron) through a thin plate with 2 parallel slits in it, you don’t get a simple pattern on the other side, like you would expect from particles going through 2 slits; what you do get is an interference pattern which is a known behavior of waves, not particles. It’s like the photon, which is often thought of as a particle, acted like a wave, went through both slits simultaneously and interacted with itself to create the interference pattern. If you want to prove that the photon went through both slits at the same time, you must place a detector in each of the slits to catch the photon when it passes, but when you do, the photon changes its behavior back to acting as a particle displaying a simple particle-like pattern on the other side of the plate. This is called The Observer Effect since the act of "observing" the experiment changes its outcome. The new age people claim that the presence of a conscious observer (the scientist conducting the experiment in the lab) is the sole responsible for this transformation, clearing the path to these wild theories that your thoughts can affect the physical world outside of your body; but the more simple, logical, and wildly acceptable explanation is that in order to detect a photon passing by, the detector must interact with the particle/wave, and by that action changes its behavior. So it's not just "observing" - it's "interacting". No need for any conscious observer; your mind didn’t affect the photon; the detector did.
Sorry, I would love to think that my thoughts can affect the physical universe, but the true is that all this new age quantum physics stuff you saw in “The Secret” and “What the Bleep” is just invalid.-
Ah, thanks for that. I was confused by the photon detectors. If I understand that correctly, it is a bit like having a tub of water full of floating red balls. Then, you empty the tub into an aqueduct through a plate with a slit that's just wide enough to let the balls fall through. Then, you capture a red ball and once the water is all gone, you claim that the water has particle effects. Yet you can also capture only water with a jug, then claim that whatever was in the tub had wave properties.
So it's not the observer changing the properties of the content of the tub, it's the method used to capture whatever went through the slit.
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"Sorry, I would love to think that my thoughts can affect the physical universe, but the true is that all this new age quantum physics stuff you saw in “The Secret” and “What the Bleep” is just invalid."
Personally, I would not suggest that you look to science to prove the acausal relationship between the psyche and life's events. Look to synchronicities instead. It is a subjective matter anyways.
I don't believe science will ever be able to prove that such a relationship exists, just as I cannot prove to others that not everything in the hocus pocus world is hocus pocus. I only have my stories to tell.
It is as if the nature of reality is such that one has complete free will in how much they wish to believe in. It is a matter of choosing the blue pill vs. the red pill. It is typically the case that you have to actively choose the red pill in order to have the experiences that show you that there's more to life out there than the mechanistic world most people believe in.
I used to be a skeptic on these matters, until I had my first spirit world experience, which scared the living daylights out of me. The jolt can be quite intense, but I think most people go into this kind of thing relatively smoothly. In any case, here's my story:
shiftingshadow.blogspot.com/2008/03/shifting-assemblage-point.html
Cheers. -
I believe in external circumstances as well as karma and internal locus of control. Check my posts about this on my blog www.guruinjeans.blogspot.com -
I believe in laws of attraction, no different to Karma (cause and effect). People always reap what they sow and it doesn't need too much scientific explanations how it happens, it's just simply common sense. -
hahahaha.. there are so many Law of Attraction here... -
As i have said in other discussions Even if you don’t believe in the secret law of attraction you get what you dominate your mind with
tinyurl.com/98krvh
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