The Truth About the Law of Attraction | Psychology Today

The law of attraction (LOA) is the belief that the universe creates and provides for you that which your thoughts are focused on. Skiptomaincontent NeilFarberM.D,Ph.D.,CLC,CPT TheBlameGame TheTruthAbouttheLawofAttraction Itdoesn'texist! PostedSeptember18,2016 | ReviewedbyHaraEstroffMarano Share Tweet Email Keypoints TheLawofAttraction(LOA)ismetaphysicalpseudosciencewithconclusionsbasedonerroneous,unfounded,andoftenincorrectassumptions. LawofAttractionassumesthatoneisaloneandcompletelyresponsibleforanygoalthatisnotsuccessfullyachieved,nomatterhowunrealistic. LawofAttractionphilosophyleadstoapophenia—themisguidedbeliefthatthereismeaningbehindrandomdata. Thelawofattraction(LOA)isthebeliefthattheuniversecreatesandprovidesforyouthatwhichyourthoughtsarefocusedon.Itisbelievedbymanytobeauniversallawbywhich“likealwaysattractslike.”Theresultsofpositivethoughtsarealwayspositiveconsequences.Thesameholdstruefornegativethoughts,alwaysleadingtobadoutcomes. ButtheLOAismuchmorethangeneralizations:ThinkingaboutredLamborghiniswillbringyouredLamborghinis—always.Tothebelievers,questioningthevalidityoftheLOAisakintoheresyandblasphemy;itcreatesreligiousfervor.Totheuninitiated,itmayseemsillytodiscusseventhepossibilitythatsuchalawcouldexist. Thefirstpostaboutthiswas“ThrowAwayYourVisionBoard.”Afteraquarter-millionhitsandmuchhatemail,IwantedtomakesurethatIhadathoroughLOAunderstanding,soIreadeverybookfromtheoriginatorsofthelawinthelate1800sandbecameacertified“AdvancedPractitioneroftheLawofAttraction”byoneoftheauthorsofTheSecret.Ithenwrote“ThrowAwayYourVisionBoard2.”Thistime,thefeedbackwasalittlemorepositive.Ialsorecentlypublishedthebook,ThrowAwayYourVisionBoard:TheTruthAbouttheLawofAttraction. Thispostsummarizes14reasonswhythereisnoLOA. Ifyouareclose-mindedandbelievethattheLOAexistsirrespectiveofdataorinformationtothecontrary,thenthispostisnotforyou.Thanksforvisiting—nowyoucangobacktoyourLOAabundance.ThispostisintendedforthosewhoarenewtotheLOA,thosewhodon'tknowaboutit,andthosewhohavenotsucceededinusingitandareopen-mindedandlookingforanswers. 1.Metaphysicalpseudoscience.LOAproponentsclaimthatitisbasedonscientifictheory.Itisatbest,metaphysicalpseudosciencewithconclusionsbasedonerroneous,unfounded,andoftenincorrectassumptions.ThelistofincorrectscientificinformationthatissuggestedbyLOAcreatorsiswaytoolongforapost.Hereareafewoftheirscientifictruths: Electronshavepositivecharges. Inphysics,“likealwaysattractslike.”(Magnets?) Thinkingburnsupbrainmatter. Onlyether(notair)conductslightandthought. Etherconnectsallmindstogether.Whentwoormoremindscomeclosetogether,“mindstuff”mixes,andcreatesathird“mastermind.” Higheraltitudeshavemoreoxygenandbetterairforbreathing. Vibratingsoundmorequicklyturnsitintoheat,light,andthenthought. Thoughtenergyis40,000Hzto4X1014Hzorabove7x1014Hz.Inreality,brainwavesareslow:1-100Hz. Theuniversehearsnouns,notadjectivesorqualifiers,oronlyseespicturesofyourthoughts. Everythoughtyouhave(about70,000/day)hasaspecificfrequencyorwavelengthofenergy.“ThoughtStuff”leavesyourbrain,travelsthroughtheetheraroundus,andcauses“FormlessStuff”tocreatewhateveryouarethinkingabout. Whyareanyoftheseimportant?Becausethese“scientifictruths”formthescientificbasisfortheLOA. 2.Nopurpose.Materialabundanceandwealtharethemostimportantmanifestationstoattract.TheUniversesetsyourlifepurpose.Youpickthespecificgoalbasedonwants;notvalues.Thisisonereasonthereislesspassiondrivinggoalcompletion—becausethesearenotdeep-seatedprincipledgoals. 3.Noaction.Theonlywaytomanifestyourthoughtsintothingsistobelieveandliveasifyou’vealreadyaccomplishedyourgoal.LOAguruEstherHickssaid,“Youdidnotcomeintothisenvironmenttocreatethroughaction.”ActionshowstheUniversethatyouknowyoudon’thaveitandthatyoudoubtitsabilitytomanifestitforyou.Whileitisobvioustomostthatactionisanecessarycomponentofgoalachievement,itiscompletelyinconsistentwithabeliefinLOA. 4.Noplan.IfthebestwayformetoachievemygoalsistoliveasifI’vealreadyachievedthem,thenthereisnoreasontomakefurtherplanstodoso!Makingplansshowstheuniversethatyoudoubtitsabilityandlackfaith.Doubtisnegativeandyouwillthenattractmorenegativeandnotgetyourdesireditem.InthebookTheSecret,JackCanfieldproposed,“Ourjobisnottofigureoutthehow.…TrustthattheUniversewillfigureouthowtomanifestit.”Studiesshowthatthiswayofthinkingresultsingreatershort-termsatisfactionbutlessmotivationandalowerchanceofachievinggoals.CuriousthatJackCanfield’swebsitesellsaprogramtoteachyouhowtomakean“ActionPlan.” 5.Nodate.Whenyouliveasifyouhavealreadyaccomplishedyourgoals,thereisnoreasontoestablishdeadlinesortimelines.AsSecretauthorRhondaByrnestated,“IttakesnotimefortheUniversetomanifestwhatyouwant.”Whilegoal-settingresearchsupportstheimportanceofestablishingtimelinestoachievesuccess,LOAexpertsassertthatitwouldbeinappropriatetosetadeadlinefortheuniversetoachieveyourgoal. 6.Nochallenges.Challengesareconsiderednegativethoughtsandaretobeavoided.Besides,ifyou’vetheoreticallyalreadyachievedyourgoal,therecouldnotbeanychallenges.AsEstherHickshasstated,“Onceyouhaverecognizedthatthinkingofwhatyoudonotwantonlyattractsmoreofwhatyoudonotwantintoyourexperience,controllingyourthoughtswillnotbeadifficultthing…”Therearemanygoal-achievingbenefitstoacknowledgingandplanningforchallengesthatmayarise.Unfortunately,abeliefinalawofattractiondoesnotallowforyoutoaccomplishthis. 7.Nocompassion.Don’tgetinvolvedwithanythingnegativelikecharityorhelpingtheneedy.Thiswillattractmorenegativityandpoverty.WallaceWattles,anLOAfounder,wrote,“Donottalkaboutpoverty;donotinvestigateit,orconcernyourselfwithit.Donotspendyourtimeincharitablework,orcharitymovements,allcharityonlytendstoperpetuatethewretchednessitaimstoeradicate.”and“Giveyourattentionwhollytoriches;ignorepoverty.” RhondaByrneinTheSecrettakesthisastepfurther:“Ifyouseepeoplewhoareoverweight,donotobservethem…Ifyouthinkortalkaboutdiseases,youwillbecomesick.Whatyouthinkorsurroundyourselfwith—goodorbad,iswhatyouwillbringuponyourself.”IfyoubelieveinLOA,avoidanyofthe“helpingorhealth”professionssuchasphysician,nurse,hospitalworker,clergy,psychologist,policeofficer,paramedic,etc.Avoidprofessionsinwhichyoudealwithpoorpeople,suchasaccountant,mortgagebroker,banker,lawyer.Whileresearchshowsthatcharitablework,empathy,andvolunteeringarebeneficialtoboththegiverandreceiver,avoidthesethingsifyoubelieveinLOA. 8.Nosupport.Sinceyouwillalwaysattractwhatyouthinkabout,youneedtoavoidanytypeofsupportgroupsforpeoplewithmentalorphysicalillnessesorforpeoplewithsimilarexperiences.ResearchshowsthatsupportgroupssuchasAlcoholicsAnonymous,WeightWatchers,orbreastcancersupportarebeneficial.TheLOAincorrectlypredictsthatyouwillmakeyourproblemsworse. 9.Mindless.ToinvokeLOA,youneedtolivecontinuouslyinanunrealfutureasyouanticipatethatitwillbeonceyou’veachievedyourgoalandonlyvisualizeasuccessfuloutcome.Thisshowsfaithintheuniverse.Thinkingaboutplans,actions,andchallengesarediscordantandnegative,soskiptheprocessandfocusontheresult;livewithoutregardtothepresent. Thisisthedefinitionofmindlessness.Beingfullyawareofandattentivetothehereandnowismindfulnessandhasbeenshowntoproducepowerfulhealthandwellnessbenefits,suchasgreaterlifesatisfactionandhappiness. 10.Blameyourself.AstheLOAissupposedtobeaperfect,universallaw,positivityshouldalwaysattractmorepositivity.Thecorollaryofthisisthatyoualonearecompletelyresponsibleforanygoalthatwasnotsuccessfullyachieved,nomatterhowunrealisticthegoal.Thisassumesthatyounotonlycontrolyourthoughtsandactions,butalsothoseofeveryonearoundyou…andnature.Thefactis,youdon’t.Sorrytobreakthattoyou. 11.Blamethevictim.Theonlyreasonanythingbadcouldeverhappentoyouisthatyouwerethinkingbadthoughts.Ifsomeonerear-endsyouinacar—100%yourfault.Ifyougetbreastcancer—100%yourfault(notgenetics).Ifyougetrapedorabused—100%yourfault.Childrengettingkilledbyterrorists,sickbabiesintheintensivecareunit,victimsoffloods,hurricanes,naturaldisasters,theHolocaust—yes,theirfault.Weallknowdeepinsidethatthisisridiculoustoevensuggest.However,itisabasic,fundamentalpremiseoftheLOA.Youneverattractsomethingyouarenotthinkingabout. Whenanythingbadhappenstoanyone,theyaretoblame.Don’tfeelsorryforanyonewhohascanceroradiseaseorstarvingchildreninpoverty;theybroughtitonthemselves.Whatcausesobesity?Slowmetabolism?No,fatthoughts. FromLOAexperts: “Diseasecannotliveinabodythat’sinahealthyemotionalstate.”(BobProctor) “Youcannotcatchanythingunlessyouthinkyoucan,andthinkingyoucanisinvitingittoyouwithyourthought.”(FromTheSecret) “Goodthoughtsandactionscanneverproducebadresults;badthoughtsandactionscanneverproducegoodresults.Sufferingisalwaystheeffectofwrongthoughtinsomedirection.”(JamesAllen) “Ifmanwillthinkonlythoughtsofperfecthealth,hecancausewithinhimselfthefunctioningofperfecthealth…”(WallaceWattles) “Everyindividualcreateseveryaspectoftheirexperiences—weareincompletecontrolofourhealththroughoutourentirelives.Therearenoaccidents.”(EstherHicks) 12.We’renotperfect.TheLOAisa“perfectlaw”andshouldresultina“perfect”life.Wearetoldthatnogoalistoobigifyoucanthinkit;thereisnosuchthingasanunrealisticgoal.FromTheSecret:“Youcanthinkyourwaytotheperfectstateofhealth,theperfectbody,theperfectweight,andeternalyouth.Youcanbringitintobeing,throughyourconsistentthinkingofperfection.” Realitycheck:Lifeisnotperfect.Itcanbegreat,fantastic,amazing,incredible,evenoptimal.Butperfect?Won’thappen. What’stheproblemwiththiswayofthinking?Whynotexpectperfection?Fantasizingandstrivingforperfectionmakesyoufeelbetterintheshorttermbutactuallyreducesyourchanceofattainingyourgoalsandresultsinmoreunhappinessandblaming.Ifyouareonlygoingtobesatisfiedwithperfectresults—perfecthealth,perfectbody,perfectfamily,perfectmarriage,perfectfriendships,perfectkids,perfecthouse,perfectjob,perfectlife;youareinforaperfectdisappointment.Researchstudiessupportthis. 13.Placeboeffect.Placebosareinactive,ineffectivesubstancestowhichapositiveeffecthasbeenattributed.Thegreateryourexpectationsandbeliefsthatsomethingwillbeeffective,thegreaterchanceithasofcreatingapositiveresponse.Themindisapowerfultool.Wecanincreaseordecreaseourheartrateandbloodpressurethroughvisualization.AfewindividualsusingLOAhaveafirmbeliefthatitwillworkandsoitdoes.PeopletendtohavemoresuccesswiththeLOAforsmalleritemsforwhichtheydidnotmakeavisionboard—findingmoneyonthestreet,gettingacheckinthemail,hearingfromalong-lostfriend.Isabeliefinalawofattractionanybetterthanrubbingarabbit’sfoot,tossingacoininthefountain,orpullingapartawishbone?Testityourself;theanswerisno! 14.Anecdotalevidence.EvidencethattheLOAisaneffectivewayofattaininggoalsisanecdotal,nonscientific,andself-reported.Thisfactdoesnotproveitdoesn’texist.Butcloselyscrutinizewhetheryouwanttoinvesttime,money,andenergyintosomethingthatisineffectiveandpotentiallyharmful. Peoplearemuchmorelikelytopublishsuccessesthanfailures.Wealsopracticeapophenia—thebeliefthatthereismeaningbehindrandomdata—whenwefocusoncoincidenceswithoutregardtothemuchgreaternumberoftimesthatwedonotexperiencecoincidences.Howmanytimesdidyouthinkofthatpersonandtheydidn’tcallyou?Ofthe2,000peopleIthoughtoftoday,only2actuallycalled.That’snotagreatpercentage—0.1%.ButifIthinkofitintermsofthepeoplethatcalled,wegetadifferentstory.IthoughtofBertandhecalledme—that’s100%! IfyoureadLOAwebsitesandposts,you’dguessthatitismightbemorethan90%effective:Everybodyseemstobeachievingtheirgoalsthisway.TalktoexpertswhodealwiththegeneralpublictryingtouseLOA,andthere’sacompletelydifferentstory.Thefailurerateishuge!Infact,LOAexpertJohnAssarafestimatedthatthesuccessrateisabout0.1%andwebelievethisnumbertobecorrect. I’msorryforthedoomandgloom,butthesethingsneedtobesaid.Millionsofpeoplearewastingtime,money,andenergyinanineffectiveanddetrimentalsystem. Share Tweet Email advertisement AbouttheAuthor NeilFarber,M.D.,Ph.D., isanadjunctProfessorofPsychologyatArizonaStateUniversity.Heisaretiredphysician,lifecoach,hypnotherapist,researcherandtheauthorofThrowAwayYourVisionBoard. Online:TheKeytoAchieve,Facebook,LinkedIn,Twitter ReadNext TheStainontheWall:HowFalseIdeasStickWithUs ToVieworNottoView?ThatIstheQuestion advertisement MostPopular HowtoRuinYourRelationshipin5SimpleSteps HowtoStopYourMindWhenIt’sSpinningOutofControl 3QualitiesThatCanPushYouTowardSinglehood HowtoIdentifyAttachmentStylesonaFirstDate HowChildhoodShameCanAffectOurAdultRelationships WhenLoss,TraumaandAnxietyLeadtoTransformativeGrowth advertisement FindaTherapist Getthehelpyouneedfromatherapistnearyou–aFREEservicefromPsychologyToday. CityorZip Cities: Atlanta,GA Austin,TX Baltimore,MD Boston,MA Brooklyn,NY Charlotte,NC Chicago,IL Columbus,OH Dallas,TX Denver,CO Detroit,MI Houston,TX Indianapolis,IN Jacksonville,FL LasVegas,NV LosAngeles,CA Louisville,KY Memphis,TN Miami,FL Milwaukee,WI Minneapolis,MN Nashville,TN NewYork,NY Oakland,CA Omaha,NE Philadelphia,PA Phoenix,AZ Pittsburgh,PA Portland,OR Raleigh,NC Sacramento,CA SaintLouis,MO SanAntonio,TX SanDiego,CA SanFrancisco,CA SanJose,CA Seattle,WA Tucson,AZ Washington,DC Back PsychologyToday Home FindaTherapist GetHelp Magazine Today Back FindaTherapist GetHelp FindaTherapist FindaTreatmentCenter FindaPsychiatrist FindaSupportGroup FindTeletherapy Members Login SignUp UnitedStates Austin,TX Brooklyn,NY Chicago,IL Denver,CO Houston,TX LosAngeles,CA NewYork,NY Portland,OR SanDiego,CA SanFrancisco,CA Seattle,WA Washington,DC Back GetHelp MentalHealth Addiction Anxiety ADHD Asperger's Autism BipolarDisorder ChronicPain Depression EatingDisorders Personality PassiveAggression Personality Shyness PersonalGrowth GoalSetting Happiness PositivePsychology StoppingSmoking Relationships LowSexualDesire Relationships Sex FamilyLife ChildDevelopment Parenting ViewHelpIndex DoINeedHelp? SelfTests TherapyCenterNEW RecentlyDiagnosed? DiagnosisDictionary TypesofTherapy TalktoSomeone FindaTherapist FindaTreatmentCenter FindaPsychiatrist FindaSupportGroup FindTeletherapy Back Magazine May2022 MakingPeaceWithThePast Therearemanytemptationstoorganizeourlifearoundtheexperienceofearliertrauma.Butthatmayshort-changethefuture—whichstartsbyourenvisioningsomethingbetter. Subscribe IssueArchive Back Today MostPopular HowtoRuinYourRelationshipin5SimpleSteps HowtoStopYourMindWhenIt’sSpinningOutofControl 3QualitiesThatCanPushYouTowardSinglehood HowtoIdentifyAttachmentStylesonaFirstDate HowChildhoodShameCanAffectOurAdultRelationships EssentialReads HowWillWeKnowWhenthePandemicIsOver? DoLargeBrainsMakePeopleSexier? CrisisSupportLines:WhatAreWeMissing? TheStainontheWall:HowFalseIdeasStickWithUs TrendingTopics CoronavirusDisease2019 Narcissism Dementia Bias AffectiveForecasting Neuroscience