Law of Attraction people advise us to raise our vibrations. They believe we are are able to create the things you want including health and wealth by broadcasting our good vibrations into the universe. They have The Secret and ascribe to a belief that they ought to be thinking only positive thoughts.
“There are many books out there that explore visualisation and the laws of attraction, this is definitely not one of the better examples [The Secret]. It is however brilliantly marketed, sadly though for a book so completely lacking in substance this has not done the self-empowerment industry any good.” Source
The Law of Attraction was popularized by a book and video called “The Secret” which Oprah promoted. The book contains the wisdom of the ages and that means there is nothing new in it but please buy the book. The book and movie give the impression that wishful thinking will get you what you want and many people actually end up believing it is so.
In “The Secret” video the claim is made that how the Law of Attraction works all due to the operation of quantum physics. The claim is that all molecules vibrating in your body at a certain resonance attract like things. That’s certainly no secret but it’s not quantum physics.
It’s neuroplasticity. The more you think about something the more your reticular cortex notices similar things. Have you not noticed that if you buy a new car then all of a sudden you see that same car in the same color all over the place. That is your reticular cortex at work. The same principal causes the law of attraction to work.
The discovery of neuroplasticity, that our thoughts can change the structure and function of our brains, even into old age, is the most important breakthrough in our understanding of the brain in four hundred years. Dr. Norman Doidge introduces principles we can all use to overcome brain limitations and explores the profound brain implications of the changing brain in an immensely moving book that will permanently alter the way we look at human possibility and human nature.
Norman Doidge on the brain and neuroplasticity
The Brain That Changes – Part 2_3
In Tibetan Buddhism, the concept of neuralplasticity has been around for far longer than Western science has recognized it – the term for it is le-su-rung-wa which means “pliability”; your brain can change based on repeated experience. It’s no surprise then that studies have been performed on plasticity during meditation and have shown that the brain can change based purely on mental training. This of course has huge ramifications for mental practice and its impact on overall well-being. If you can think yourself into being more compassionate, or more positive and more resourceful, or calmer and more content, it seems a little too good to be true. But with some effort, it’s possible. – Neuroplasticity: Your Brain’s Amazing Ability to Form New Habits
Oprah began by raving about how the Law of Attraction encompassed everything she had ever believed, but when a viewer wrote to thank her for that show and tell her that she was planning to eschew conventional cancer treatments and rely on the LOA, Oprah freaked out and hunted her down to bring her on the show and urge her to follow her doctor’s advice.
The Secret and its followers are a cult-like phenomena. They focus on using positive thinking to focus energy on securing material health, wealth and financial success from the Universe that smacks of religion that puts me right off. Have you ever heard an Law of Attraction advocate talk about human frailty or death? Well, those are the only certainties known to man.
When the truth is that you don’t like the way things are, then it’s time to set yourself free of the magical thinking you had as a child. Learn to tune and listen to your inner child self. Is that little child seeking material things? If so then instead of broadcasting those desires into the universe help that little child within to grow up and face reality just as it is.
Everything we do is based on core beliefs and agreements we have made – agreements with ourselves, with other people, with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves. In these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible. One single agreement is not such a problem, but we have many agreements that come from fear, deplete our energy, and diminish our self-worth. Remove all core values your previously agreed to that are harmful and/or useless and place them with healthy ones.
Learn how to love yourself by practicing self-acceptance. And when you practice self-acceptance of your feelings just as they are right now, you will experience real changes in consciousness. Learn how to meditate and how to remain in the present moment. Learn how to view every failure and/or obstacle to becoming a better person as a stepping stone to success. Learn how to choose to be happy no matter what.
I value my powers of critical thought and I value negative people and circumstances too, because they test my ability to stay in touch with my higher self and become a better person day by day.
If anyone counsels me to use The Law of Attraction to escape something undesirable or to acquire something like wealth, status, fame, health or love — I run the other direction as quickly as I can, knowing such egocentric broadcasting is doomed to failure because I am objecting to reality.
Use your brain. Change your thoughts. Face reality head on. Live your life honorably. Learn how to accept what is, how make changes where you can, and how use all opportunities to become a better person — a healthier, happier and more compassionate person.
The Secret has led to many people becoming self-styled Law of Attraction (LOA) “gurus. This movement is rapidly expanding as friends challenge friends and the overlapping circles of acolytes grow.
