The so-called "Law of Attraction" states that like attracts like, and is applied very broadly in the New Thought movement. The idea is that if you think, "I want to be happy," the universe will provide you with more reasons to want to be happy—but if you think to yourself, "I am happy," the universe will provide you with actual happiness. Or whatever.
How the "Law of Attraction" allows the universe to grant wishes in this way is anyone's guess, and the reason that the universe nitpicks one's wording likewise remains a mystery. I assume that it's because God is a monumental pedantic dick. In any event, this fake-it-'til-you-make-it philosophy has certainly proved successful for Rhonda Byrne, who has apparently sold six million copies of The Secret (in book and DVD form). But I digress.
Here's what Remez Sasson, proprietor of SuccessConsciousness.com, has to say about this ipse dixit law:
The message of all these books is that if you keep thinking upon a certain subject, you will ultimately attract it into your life. Thoughts, mental images and feelings can move the subconscious mind and the Universal Mind to act on your behalf and manifest your desires.
Sure. But as I continued reading, I was in for a bit of a surprise.
This is a most inspiring and elating idea, but inspiration and feelings of elation are not enough. You need to know what to do and how to proceed; otherwise you will get no results. You need to do more than just daydream for a few moments, once in a while, about what you wish to get or achieve.
...
It is not enough just to visualize a few times, and then wait for miracles to happen.
- You need to have a strong desire and motivation, and the commitment to do whatever is necessary to achieve your goal.
- You need persistence, concentration, the ability to visualize, and at least some degree of self-discipline.
- You need to learn to recognize opportunity when it appears, and to be willing and ready to take and use this opportunity.
- You need to be willing to act and take the required steps whenever needed, and not just wait for your desires to materialize from thin air or suddenly drop on you from the sky.
I wish that someone would tell Rhonda Byrne that.
It turns out that the article is actually just a sales-pitch for one of the author's books. All the same, it's not terrible. I'm still not sold on the so-called "Law of Attraction", but at the very least this fellow isn't your garden variety positive thinking nutjob. (Am I letting my biases show a little, here?) The problem with diluting the message this way, however, is that things start to seem very wishy-washy very quickly. Is this really "The Law of Attraction"? or is it simply keeping your eyes out for opportunities?
I've always thought that sort of thing to be an actively self-manipulative form of selectively reinforcing things we see every day in urban myth:
ReplyDelete- More babies are born on full moons (no, but because people noticed when they were, it was a common belief)
- Blondes are prettier/dumber/etc: No, but we sure notice when they are.
You get the idea.
I think properly done positive thinking (I prefer conscious/intelligent optimism) helps us to enjoy life because we're concentrating on the right parts, seeing opportunities, and letting crap slough off. Belief may not alter reality in physical, objective, universe-dancing-to-your-whim ways, but given how flexible our perceptions are and how much they affect the way we experience the world, I think it most certainly can alter our own subjective personal universe.
The human psyche, as I understand it, and certainly as I observe it, also picks up on and reinforces unhappiness and discontent much more easily than happiness. If true (I'd have to look for studies and have a pushup challenge to meet today), anything we can do to combat it is wholly in our favour. Also, I detest the trend I see that chooses criticism over compliment and dissatisfaction and cynicism over contentment and optimism.
And if people want to believe that some great hand in the sky is rewarding them for their happy thoughts, that's fine by me. ;) Whatever floats your boat, Joe.
"I think properly done positive thinking (I prefer conscious/intelligent optimism) helps us to enjoy life because we're concentrating on the right parts, seeing opportunities, and letting crap slough off. Belief may not alter reality in physical, objective, universe-dancing-to-your-whim ways, but given how flexible our perceptions are and how much they affect the way we experience the world, I think it most certainly can alter our own subjective personal universe."
ReplyDeleteSure! I couldn't agree more! I plan to get into that a little bit more in a later post. I also hope to talk about "dissatisfaction and cynicism over contentment and optimism" and discuss David Rakoff's book Half Empty.
I'm certain that thinking positively will make you happier! (Perhaps I should make that clear; I'd sort of taken it as a given.) It's the metaphysical claims of which I am skeptical.
Ah, yes.
ReplyDeleteI don't personally feel I need to actively disbelieve things like that- I realise it's one of your favourite things, which is fine, but I figure I can't prove a negative and if it's making someone happy, so be it.
I also think that sometimes people swallow the pill better sugar-coated (or god-coated, as the case may be).