The Law of Attraction: the definitive guide!

What is the Law of Attraction?

If you want the short version of the Law of Attraction definition, just head over to my intro post on the ‘Law of Attraction and how it really works‘. But if you’ve got the time, I’ve got the info. 🙂 Grab a coffee, and let’s deep dive into the Law of Attraction!

(This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on them I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

The Law of Attraction definition.

Now, I’ve seen a few definitions of the Law of Attraction over time and they range from the simple like attract likes, all the way to one of life’s greatest mysteries or a law as real and unbending as the law of gravity.

BUT WHAT IS IT???

The Law of Attraction recognises that what we focus on we attract.

Now, this can play out a few different ways, depending on our level of understanding. And I believe how we use and interact with it also depends on our level of understanding.

Scenario one: the world is a magic place. And we can put our wishes out to the universe and they will be answered. 🧚 Poof! (That’s a fairy granting your wishes).

Scenario two: when we focus our attention towards something, we notice more of it and less of other things. This is commonly demonstrated by the scenario when you decide to buy a new red car and suddenly all you see everywhere you look now is… you guessed it! Red cars!

The third option is that our thoughts are pure energy, and like energy attracts like energy. Like a magnet. 🧲

But these explanations could leave you wondering is the Law of Attraction even real? And does the the Law of Attraction really work?

The truth is, they are all a little bit right. And all a little bit too simple.

The definition for the Law of Attraction according to Wiki is “in the New Thought philosophy, the Law of Attraction is the belief that positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences into a person’s life. The belief is based on the idea that people and their thoughts are both made from pure energy, and that through the process of like energy attracting like energy a person can improve their own health, wealth, and personal relationships.”

But we’re not finished. It’s not complete.

“Advocates of this mind-power paradigm generally combine cognitive reframing techniques with affirmations and creative visualization to replace limiting or self-destructive (“negative”) thoughts with more empowered, adaptive (“positive”) thoughts. A key component of the philosophy is that in order to effectively change one’s negative thinking patterns, one must also “feel” (through creative visualization) that the desired changes have already occurred.”

Now we’re getting somewhere!

It’s not just positive thinking. Or magic. Or magnetism. I think that’s where some definitions gets confusing and vague. This idea can leave people stranded somewhere between wishing things would get better and sticking their head in the sand.

And finally, in frustration, announcing that the Law of Attraction doesn’t work!

But it’s about your thoughts and your feelings. It’s about your self-talk, your habits and perceptions, and your beliefs and focus.

It’s about aligning our mind, heart and spirit in the same direction to achieve some powerful results.

It’s about aligning our mind, heart and spirit in the same direction to achieve some powerful results.

Warning: skip over the next few paragraphs if science freaks you out! I’ll cue you back in…

It’s possible to take this definition of the Law of Attraction one step further. Hold on tight, I don’t want to lose you! Quantum physics describes a phenomena where every possible outcome exists, not just in theory. But actually exists. Right up until the point of a decision, or action, where one outcome is chosen. When you are standing on the precipice, your life stretched out before you, every option exists. Not just that every option is possible, but every option exists. 🤯

So by using the power of positive thinking, visualisation and consistent thought in your consciously chosen preferred future (you know, the one where you have a successful career, are financially free and live a life of abundance), you are aligning your thoughts with that outcome in reality. Rather than attracting a future through your thoughts, you are aligning yourself with the future you of the same vibration.

By creating that image in your conscious mind, your subconscious sees it, feels it, and is aligned to the outcome of the same vibration level.

And if you skipped the science, jump back in here!

Alright, enough mumble jumble! Let’s get into the fun stuff!

How do you use the Law of Attraction?

Now that we understand *ahem* the Law of Attraction, how do we use it?

How do you apply the Law of Attraction?

Will the Law of Attraction work for me?

Common questions, I know! When you’re just getting started, it can all feel a bit eerie fairy and it’s easy to doubt the power of the Law of Attraction (LoA). But the true reason that understanding the LoA will change your life (and it will!) is that when we feel powerless and unmotivated, we are in the least likely state to make changes in our lives. If we don’t feel like we have control over our life, then it’s easy to feel defeated and unengaged.

But! (and it is a beautiful “but”) when we understand the LoA and learn how we can influence our own circumstances, it is exciting and empowering and hugely motivating!

And even better, is when we start using the LoA to change our life, to start moving toward a happier, more fulfilling every day, you see the impact and it’s like a snowball effect. The more results you see in your life, the more empowered you’ll feel to make bigger, more impactful, changes. Because you can see that it works! That you are, in fact, in charge.

And then the sky is the limit!

Law of Attraction techniques.

Learning how to apply the Law of Attraction in your own life is more about recognising that it’s already working in your life! Your thoughts, your focus, they are already determining the direction of your life. You might just not be doing it very consciously.

So by learning how to control your thoughts and practice this consistently, you’ll be flexing your LoA muscles. Here are some techniques to help you build up those muscles!

Positive affirmations

I love the speed and effectiveness of using positive affirmations. They have a multitude of benefits, such as increasing productivity and creativity, breaking negative thought patterns and increasing focus.

First, choose a meaningful statement that you want to focus on, such as:

I am confident.

I am grateful for the abundance in my life.

Happiness is a choice, and I choose it.

And find a time in the day that suits you, or a routine that you can stick to. If you’re keen to learn more, check out my post on positive affirmations, but a morning or evening ritual is great for setting your intentions at a time of day when your conscious and subconscious minds are most closely linked.

Using affirmations in a regular way throughout the day are also great for breaking negative thought patterns and keeping you on track.

Related Post: 25 powerful positive affirmations for happiness, confidence and more!

Using the VIBES method

VIBES puts the ACTION into the Law of AttrACTION. See what I did there? 😉

• Visualise
• Inspire
• Believe
• Experience
• Succeed

VIBES is a model that teaches alignment. Through visualising, inspiration and belief, we can align our minds, hearts and spirits and manifest our dreams into reality.

Francesca Jackson

It’s not tricky, but it is important to know and action every step. It only takes one step to be out of place, or forgotten, and you won’t see the results you are hoping for.  You can read more about the VIBES method here.

Here is the short version:

Visualisation

The very first step of any goal setting is to know where you want to be. It’s easy to fall back on common goals like “I want to be rich”, or “I want to travel the world”, but you need to take the time to think what that actually means to you and picture in your mind what that looks like to you.

Not even sure where to start? Check out my post on how to define your everyday dream life to get started.

Inspire

While we visualise our dreams in our mind, we need to feel inspired in our hearts. Tony Robbins teaches that we are driven by two emotions – pain and pleasure, and we can use these to help us achieve our goals.

When the pain of not doing something, and the pleasure we will gain from doing it outweigh the pain of doing it, perhaps the fear of the unknown or the fear of failure, then it becomes an easy and inevitable success. This inspiration helps drive us forward and stay focused.

Believe

Whether you believe in a god, or a higher power, the oneness of the universe or simply that you are the master of your own world, you need to believe that your vision will manifest.

Experience

You have created a vision in your mind that you will manifest and now is the time to take action to bring this vision into reality. Don’t be overwhelmed.

You only need to take one step at a time.

Succeed

The Law of Attraction is not a magic wand, although it might feel a bit magical! It takes effort and consistent thought and action. When you achieve your goals take a moment to enjoy your hard work!

Reflecting on the journey you have taken will reinforce the method in your subconscious mind and help you achieve future goals even faster.

Ready to learn more?

The Best Law of Attraction Books

They are not necessarily written or sold as “Law of Attraction” books, but they all teach an aspect of the law that together will give you a great understanding of how it actually works.

Law Of Attraction book #1 – As a Man Thinketh

As a Man Thinketh
– James Allen

He thinks in secret and it comes to pass:
Environment is but his looking-glass.

This book focuses in on the fact that our thoughts directly shape our environment. This is the first step in understanding the Law of Attraction definition. It challenges any idea of our circumstances affecting us, or being an external reason for where we end up in life.

It’s internal.

It’s all down to us.

The thoughts we think and the habits they lead to shape our lives. And honestly, it’s not a concept some people like. To think they might be responsible for, well, anything! It’s a bit daunting and confronting.

But once you get used to the idea, the upside is that it can be quite exciting and empowering.

The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of reality.

James Allen

Not only does Allen have a clear way of delivering his message, but he’s also very poetic, making for an uplifting and enjoyable read. I have seen the odd review that says his books are repetitive, but I guess I find that a good thing because you read the same message from several different angles and it really helps to cement your understanding.

So on to number two…

Law Of Attraction #2 book – The Science of Success

The Science of Success
– Wallace D. Wattles

This book is actually three prosperity classics in one!

• The Science of Getting Rich
• The Science of Being Well
• The Science of Being Great

The number one thing that I love about this book is that Wattles addresses the elephant in the room when we are talking about abundance and prosperity.

Does true abundance mean recognising and enjoying the best of the free things we have in this life like love, kindness and fresh air?

Do we only attain true wealth when we appreciate the beauty of nature and are rich in spirit?

No. And no.

Wattles is talking making money with the Law of Attraction. C.A.S.H. Just in case you weren’t sure, he spells it out. With money we can travel, have more leisure time, and afford the things that can enrich our lives like higher education or fancy cheese 🙂

There is nothing wrong in wanting to get rich. The desire for riches is really the desire for a richer, fuller, and more abundant life.

The next important thing thing that Wattles addresses, is that it’s hard work to have sustained thought in a certain direction. And I think this is probably something that we can all recognise in ourselves.

It’s so easy to get distracted, to turn to social media, to turn to any form of distraction when we are trying to focus on something. But just like anything else – the more we practice, the better we get.

And harder still is when we are using our thoughts to manifest something into being.

To think health when we are surrounded by disease, or to think riches when in the midst of appearances of poverty, requires power; but he who acquires this power becomes a MASTER MIND. He can conquer fate, he can have what he wants.

Wallace D. Wattles

See? This is about aligning your thoughts to your chosen outcome, stay focused and follow through with action!

And of course, Wattles addresses this too. The fact that creative thought alone will not get you there. You need action too.

I’ll share one last quote with you from Wattles because this one really makes me smile. From some articles I read about the Law of Attraction I think some people might actually think that this is how it works!

By thought you can cause the gold in the hearts of the mountains to be impelled toward you; but it will not mine itself, refine itself, coin itself into double eagles, and come rolling along the roads seeking its way into your pocket.

Law Of Attraction book #3 – The Strangest Secret

The Strangest Secret
– Earl Nightingale

And last, but not least, The Strangest Secret is one of my favourite Law of Attraction books because of it’s simplicity. Nightingale was a salesman who made a recording for his work colleagues back in the 1950s to inspire them. Because it was so well received, he made it more widely available and, before he knew, it he had sold over a million copies!

Spoiler alert! This is the strangest secret…

Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. If a man is working towards a predetermined goal and knows where he is going, that man is a success.

Nightingale describes this as the strangest secret, in a nut shell, because no one really understands the meaning of success. But the truth is this, if you have figured out a goal that you really want to achieve, something that is meaningful to you – not just “more money”, or a promotion – and are progressing towards it, you are miles ahead of most other people.

That, my friends, is where you will find success. 🙂

Congrats if you’re still with me!

Now you know it all! The Law of Attraction definition, how it can be applied (or, more accurately, how it is already being applied), and some great techniques to flex your LoA muscles.

Go and create your dream life!