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There’s a whole lot of talk about manifestation and the Law of Attraction in the world today.
To be completely honest, I’ve never really been a fan of this kind of stuff. The idea that we can have whatever we want if we simply put it in our mind’s eye just seems really f*cking childish to me.
For one, there’s no guarantee that we’re going to be happy if we get what we want—because if you haven’t noticed, people are pretty bad at knowing how things are going to turn out. Secondly, the people who come up with this stuff couldn’t possibly understand all of the different situations their followers could be tangled up in—the things preventing them from actualizing their goals—so there’s an absence of empathy.
The whole thing just feels so wishy-washy to me. Like, what about all of the other stuff in life? Poetry. Beauty. Love. Kindness. The vast subtleties of being alive. The endless intricacies involved in being human. The Law of Attraction and all the new age jargon that surrounds it is completely black and white, without any real depth or meaning.
Still, there is something attractive (pun intended) about someone who carves out their destiny from stone. I think this is in part due to the fact that very few people have the privilege of doing this—and that stands throughout human history. Much of our lives are controlled in some way by forces beyond our control, whether it’s our parents, our society, or some greater force in the universe. To manifest something we desire across time and space—through the chaos of life—is like making a deal with God. We are transcending our limitations, or at least that’s the idea, giving us an escape from our fears, our flaws, and our mortality.
No wonder folks have raked in a ton of cash from this bullsh*t. Most people would do anything to feel some semblance of power while trying to swim through the tidal wave of uncertainty that makes up our lives.
Now, I’m not completely against the underlying message of the Law of Attraction; I’m just concerned about how the message has been sold to people, with all of the false hopes and shallow promises that come with it. I do believe that manifestation is a real thing—that there is power behind having a vision and setting an intention—I just feel that it’s been taken advantage of and given a magical spin to make a profit. It’s not capitalism, it’s just people. When something potentially valuable emerges, there will always be people looking to make a buck.
So, I want to give my own version of the Law of Attraction that can be of practical use to anyone, because it would be nice to see things go our way every now and again, right?
A more grounded definition of manifestation goes something like this: when we give energy to something, we increase the likelihood of that thing happening.Done. That’s it.
I also like to play with “vision.” When I meditate, I go inside of myself and shed light on what I’m trying to accomplish in life. It’s nothing that grand, usually; it’s often something like, “I want to create more positivity than negativity,” or, “I want to get people to take their ego less seriously and their soul more seriously,” or, “I want to make good art.” These are underlying sentiments of what I’d like to make happen, my ethos, the deepest forces within me—and then comes the more specific and tangible goals toward actualization in my daily life. For example, “I’m going to make a video today with the intention of growing my YouTube channel this month,” or, “I’m going to write an article a day with the hope of improving my skills and sharing my message to more people.”
I keep a balance between the big things and the small things—doing the daily grind while never losing sight of my bigger dreams. If the bigger things don’t happen, I’m fine with that; we’re all going to die anyway. I just keep my head down and work hard every day, gradually becoming more capable of being the change I want to see in the world. I have a vision, but I don’t daydream too much. I stick with the “down to earth” stuff, while maintaining the singleness of purpose necessary in making big things happen. It’s about balance, at the end of the day.
Having lived with a chronic illness for the past few years, which some readers might be tired of hearing about, I’ve learned that it’s essential to keep the goal of recovery in mind while continuing to do the daily work to ensure that my goals become reality. I have to get better, so I’m taking medications and supplements every day, doing research, engaging in breathing exercises, eating healthy, detoxing, and so on—but when I lose touch with what I am doing this all for, then I lose motivation.
I must keep the vision in mind. I must stay connected with the dream of recovering, envisioning what that will feel like, what I will do when the time comes, and how deeply I’ll enjoy every moment when my body is fully healthy once again. It’s going to happen, I just know it. I’m going to make it happen.
The Law of Attraction is real, but only when it connects with our deepest desires and most heartfelt longings—not just our material wants.
I like Jim Carrey’s position on the matter: “I believe in manifestation, I just don’t think it matters.” I got a kick out of that.
Here’s my Law of Attraction: think of some long-term goals that align with our deeper purpose, and then focus on the daily activities we can engage in to make them happen. There is time. There is opportunity. There is abundance.
We can only excel into a better future by stepping fully into the present moment. Ask yourself, “What can I do in the here and now to take steps toward manifesting my soul’s purpose?” If we can answer that question, I’d say we’re good to go.
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