Friday, June 13, 2008

The Law of Attraction

Today's Oprah show is about the Law of Attraction ... which according to Wikipedia (which seemed as good of place as any to look it up) is:

That is, a person's thoughts (conscious and unconscious), emotions, and beliefs cause a change in the physical world that attracts positive or negative experiences that correspond to the aforementioned thoughts, with or without the person taking action to attain such experiences. This process has been described as "harmonious vibrations of the law of attraction"[1], or "you get what you think about; your thoughts determine your experience".[2]


So, I am not completely opposed to this concept. I mean, really, when not taken to extremes (as in not getting medical treatment because you think if you just think positively will just heal you) isn't necessarily a bad thing. Really, who among us probably couldn't stand to think more positively?!

The thing that bothers me the most is that I really and truly believe this concept can only exist in America (or in any other industrialized nation). They talk about making a vision board. They also mention that you have to let go of the want and not be like I really really really really really want it for this process to work.

Now, let's think about that for an instance. Think about the poorest of the poor in the world - areas of the world where there isn't enough food or water and there are lots of medical issues. Are you really going to sit there and tell that if there is a mother there and she creates a vision board and let's go of really really really really really wanting to feed her family - that food will start to appear? A) How in the world is she going to make this vision board? With what materials? and B) is that feeling something you can really let go of?

I just don't buy it. I don't buy the entire world can make their lives better and get what they need just by thinking positive thoughts.

That's not to say, I don't think positive thoughts in of themselves are bad. I just hate how they present it in a Field of Dreams kind of concept - if you wish it, it will come! But wait, you have to wish it just right. And you have to do it just the way they say to do it. Well, I hate to say it, but I think the "rules" around how to positively think are just ways to assure people who are being positive and still not getting basic necessities that really, it must be because they are doing it wrong.

I just want them to step up and say - being positive is worth it. It makes life a lot better to get through. Wanting better and wanting more gets us to move forward and to make lives better. But just because you want it, doesn't mean you will get it and I don't think you can apply the theory to all areas of the world.

Just my 2 cents!

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:32 AM

    Well? How'd the show go?
    I've heard about folks like this before, and I believe in it to a small extent, but ... a vision board? How corporate thinking can you get?
    Sheesh.

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  2. I think what you say is a much more common sense approach. Another criticism I've heard of this idea is that if you take this idea to the extreme, then that means people who have chronic illnesses have brought it upon themselves.

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Seeing your comments makes me smile! Thank you so much =)