What Is the Law of Attraction?

The law of attraction has been attributed to Buddhist philosophy, Karma, and/or some sort of universal force. Some sources liken it to gravity - it just exists. The law of attraction says that what you focus on, feel strongly and think about will ultimately be yours. This means bad things as well as good things.

Those who subscribe to the law of attraction claim that it is an inevitable law, like gravity. Thus, even those who don't acknowledge the law of attraction are participating in it.

Good Vibrations

A belief behind the law of attraction is the idea that the whole universe gives off certain vibrations. As a part of the universe, you, too, give off vibrations. This is sort of like your personal broadcast. The law of attraction responds to the vibrations given off by individuals.

If you give off positive vibrations, then the law states you will receive positive things in response. To generate these vibrations, sources say you should visualize reaching your goals and dreams. Every day, you think specifically about those things you want to achieve. Between the times that you are thinking so specifically, you need to cultivate an overall positive attitude so that your vibration will always be positive.

In other words, you can't make up for 23 hours of negative thinking with one hour of positive visualization.

Like Attracts Like

The law of attraction is based on the principle that "like attracts like." This is why a positive outlook is said to affect you positively and vice versa.

The Subconscious

An interesting theory within the law of attraction says that the brain cannot distinguish well between observing an event in real life and observing an event within your own mind. To the brain, so the theory goes, observation is observation. This is why the law of attraction is said to be so powerful - it taps into this observational area of the subconscious.

Taking Action

As opportunities begin to come your way, the law of attraction says you need to act on them. You are said to be able to distinguish these opportunities because they are slightly out of the ordinary. Practitioners of the law of attraction follow up on "leads" and opportunities that have anything to do with their goals, and on those that just intuitively "feel right." After all, sometimes you can't tell how relevant something is to your goals until you inquire.

How has the law of attraction been working in your life? Share your successes in the comments below.