Sunday, February 14, 2010
10:48 PM Google the Law of Attraction and you will be presented with nearly limitless options from which to choose. But the majority of articles and experts will offer you similar interpretations.
For the most part, we are told that:
1.We can create the life we desire if we discipline ourselves to focus on only positive thoughts and feelings.
2. Our choices are limitless and we are limitless.. Struggle is unnecessary.
3.We can attract anything that our mind conceives and our heart believes.
It is a message that is very attractive.
Most interpretations claim that through applying the Law of Attraction, we can acquire whatever we want, everything that we want. We are limitless and struggle is the choice of the uninformed. Furthermore, nothing can occur in our lives without our consent, vibrational consent. We only have to avoid negative thoughts, feelings and beliefs, and instill positive ones in their place. Then we will attract the means to attain our every desire, compliments of the Universe.
We are limitless. We are told that if we experience otherwise, it is because we have claimed our own limits, have chosen to be irresponsible and made excuses for the results that we attracted in the first place.
Let's expand our focus for just a moment.
Can we jump off a cliff and not be smashed by the consequences of gravity? Can we fore go sleep indefinitely? Can we walk through walls, control others prejudices, deflect a bullet?
No? But aren't we limitless? I have no doubt that there are some evolved humans who have mastered the physics of overcoming these physical laws of earthly existence. However, they, at least presently, are in the minority and are equally beyond needing any of the knowledge that the most acclaimed spiritual teachers or experts could possibly provide them.
Many reader may counter, only a moron would suppose that the Law of Attraction included physical laws. (However, that brick wall is really a form of energy and the experts of the Law of Attraction claim that our conscious thoughts control energy.) Never the less, walking through a wall is for most of us, at the level of our present evolution, a physical limitation.
However, many situations that people encounter in their lives, can also result in the experience of limitation, albeit, not quite so obvious. However, the Law of Attraction, as interpreted by many experts, takes a different view.
They consider difficult situations, struggles and challenges to be merely excuses, the result of individuals with a negative mindset or victim mentality. Since a negative mindset creates such situations, the experts dismiss them from qualifying as limits. But the impact of theses situations and obstacles along with their inherent pain and challenges, is ever bit as solid and debilitating as that brick wall.
Consider the following example of difficult situations in which some people find themselves.
People who are wheel chair bound , no matter how much they believe in their own limitlessness, will probably have to modify their dream of being a professional dancer. People who have chronic health issues with symptoms of constant pain or debilitating fatigue, would be hard pressed to work even 8 hour days. Many people have the complication of mental health disorders. These are proven to often be genetic in nature. In order to have been responsible for attracting these conditions, they would have had to be negative at the moment of conception, at the precise moment that they came into physical existence. Single parent's, especially if they are stuck in a minimum wage job, with young children, can barely make ends meet when they work two jobs . If they put college on their to do list to improve their lot in life, and the kids get in trouble for lack of supervision, at whom will society point the finger? For those of you who have never had the pleasure of being a single parent, here is an FYI. Childcare for one child cost more than it does to rent a two bedroom apartment.
Are we really comfortable claiming that all people who find themselves in these situations are examples of victim mentality? Many articles on the Law of Attraction assert that these people are solely responsible for their circumstance. Furthermore, the experts claim that it is the individual's weak mindset, laziness or an unwillingness to help themselves, that is the exclusive cause of their circumstances.
Without a doubt, personal responsibility is essential if we want to improve our lives. And a positive attitude goes a long way toward improving our perspective, our choices and our experiences. However, the experts are making a character judgment (weak, victim mentality) based on a person's difficult life circumstances or current situation.
This stance is similar to the claim that a person who has aids is being punished for amoral behavior. It is the archaic notion that if bad things happen to you then you must be bad. Excuse me, negative is the proper word I believe, as it there is really a difference in the judgment. The repercussions of this judgmental attitude, for the individual and for society, are definitely not positive.
When the proclamation that we are limitless beings is presented and interpreted in a way that minimizes, discounts or judges the individual's struggle in these situations, it can foster confusion and self doubt for the people who most need to believe in the limitless nature of their spirit and their ability to create a fulfilling, meaningful life in spite of their circumstances. They also need to experience the limitlessness of human compassion, understanding and support, a quality that seems to be conspicuously lacking in most expert's dissertation on our limitlessness, and the Law of Attraction.
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In spite of their individual hardships, there are many determined people that continue to strive for that brass ring. And they follow the prescription of positive mindset, focused intent, determination, discipline and envisioning their goal. However, recognition, power and wealth elude them.
But the popular interpretation of the Law of Attraction and the experts, could not possibly be wrong.
So they have come up with an eloquent solution. The determined individual's utter defeat was obviously the result of their refusal to change their negative beliefs, especially the unconscious beliefs. Splendid catch 22.
Tell me this. How is one suppose to ever identify these negative beliefs when we are being directed to only think positive thoughts and feel positive emotions?
Another possible reason that is cited for our failure, is our insatiable need to know what is happening in our country and the world. The media is poisoning our minds with negative stories about the casualties in the war, the starving in Africa, the escalating hate crimes in this country and abroad, and the disaster in Haiti.
These unsettling events would produce uncomfortable emotions in any feeling human. Thus we are told to avoid knowledge of them. Better to stick our head in the sand than to feel a twinge of concern about one's fellow humans. Besides, the rationale goes, these people obviously attracted these dreadful situations and this callous treatment themselves, hence they must learn to control their thoughts and take responsibility for their beliefs.
Then apparently, their crops will grow in spite of the drought, they will mysteriously receive a timely job transfer to another city before mother nature unleashes a new adventure in survival on their city and they will know when to stay indoors and avoid the mean spirited folks who wish to beat them into submission.
Hence, we are directed to avoid anything that may natively influence our positive thoughts and feelings. How can we be expected to risk our positive mindset for those unfortunates who obviously refuse to control their negative beliefs, unconscious or not. (No one seems to be volunteering to show them how this is done, however.)
These typical interpretations of the Law of Attraction judge the character of the misfortunate. They also extol the character of the successful. Many experts assert that people who have acquired wealth, power and success are models of character, integrity, superior mindset, positive thinking, self discipline and focus. And they actually say this with a straight face and claim it is a fact. They encourage us to model the successful folks in every area of life.
They have actually created videos for those of us still in the process of envisioning our success. These videos provide affirmations for us. They extol the superior integrity, character and mindset of the wealthy. And then they encouraging us to validate our respect and admiration of them. A nice ploy to increase the influence, prestige and powerbase of the wealthy and powerful.
Idealizing the rich and successful as examples of character, positive mindset, discipline and importance sends a message that is both deceitful and debilitating. Deceitful because we only have to look to the recent past, (wall street CEO's, bank executives) to see that character is not a required quality to acquire power and money. Historically, some of the wealthy in this country have taken actions that have cost hundreds of individuals their lives, figuratively and literally. Yet, they are remembered with respect and admiration because they achieved wealth and power.
Perhaps the suggested practice of avoiding negative information has given the experts a distorted view of the wealthy. Or perhaps it is merely self delusion.
It is debilitating, because if one has not reached that pinnacle of power and wealth, the implication is that one lacks these qualities, or at the very least, lacks determination and importance. What a good way to keep the peons in their place. Convince them that they lack what it takes, evidenced by the fact that they haven't achieved it.
Without a doubt, there are many successful people who are the image of positive thinking and character and whose contribution have been vastly positive and beneficial. However, many people who remain in difficult situations also possess character, integrity and are supremely positive, possessing mental and emotional fortitude. Suggesting otherwise is highly judgmental, and also reeks of discrimination, bias and bigotry.
Yet, the popular interpretation persists that the Law of Attraction provides a guaranteed spiritual formula for acquiring wealth, power, and success. Therefore, it is evident that those who have wealth, power and success are applying spiritual principles and have developed a superior mindset..Complete control is simple: positive thoughts, feelings and beliefs, single minded focus, frequent visualization and presto, the universe complies with your every desire, mission accomplished.
We are limitless Beings with limitless potential. But while in physical form, at this time and in this dimension, we are subject to some limits. We are unable to grow a new arm. If we are unprotected, we will most likely freeze to death in temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Here's another physical reality. We are unable to have or to do everything at the same time. (those physical laws again) Sometimes by choosing character and principles, I may forfeit a promotion. Focusing on my goal to the exclusion of all other distractions will affect my relationships. Meaningful relationships, (not just romantic) require commitment, honesty, focus and time. Big goals require sacrifices, and choices. The Law of Attraction does not eliminate the reality of living in the physical realm. You still can not have your cake and eat it, too. ( Perhaps if you eat it in your sleep and thus do not consciously observe it?)
The concept is no different than eating 2 cheesecakes a day and expecting to lose weight by positive thinking and visualization.
Sometimes we are faced with difficult choices that can affect our goals and dreams. If I compromise my priorities and principles in order to achieve wealth, position, or power, at what am I really successful? I am a white collar con artist at best and a white collar wise guy at worse.
This interpretation of the Law of Attraction also tends to justify apathy in the name of protecting ourselves from negative thoughts and feelings. Instead of exploring possible actions that may alleviate the causes of suffering, sharing information with our fellow humans to enable them to improve their lives, or developing an attitude of compassion, understanding and support, for all life, instead it condones our tendency to put appearance, power and control above unity, support and understanding.
These interpretation of the Law of Attraction have missed the message. The Law of Attraction is about empowerment. It is about our right to an abundant life. It is about pursuing our inner truth. It is about expanding our perspective rather than judging our experience. (You see? It's not the news that is negative, it is our judgment of it.)
Although we may experience limits, challenges and circumstance which we view as unpleasant, we do, in fact, have limitless potential. We may be unable to jump off a cliff and fly like a bird, but we have achieved flight, none the less.
We can create a fulfilling life in spite of, (and sometimes because of) difficult circumstances, extreme challenges, or catastrophes. Our life situations, how we perceive them(positive or negative) , and our principles, affect the dream we have, the choices we make in the pursuit of them, the length of time necessary to realize them, and the actual form that they will take.
However, to get from where we are to where we want to go, (in reality, who we want to be), we must make changes and new choices. But we are impotent to change what we refuse to see.
.We must first acknowledge and accept what is. Next we need to honestly evaluate and identify our particular situation and yes, limits, in order discover ways to work with or around them.
Simply deciding that one's chronic disease and symptoms no longer exists because it is a self imposed limitation, and consequently challenging oneself to perform as if one is healthy, will frequently result in hospitalization at best. It is also denial of what is. And denial is a form of resistance. And it is a fact that what we resist, persists.
If we refuse to objectively seek out information, we lack the ability to make intelligent choices. When we intentionally ignore negative emotions, choosing instead to silence them by grasping at pleasant thoughts, we are missing out on the priceless guidance that our feelings provide. Focusing on the message in the emotion is very different from becoming immersed in it or lamenting and judging the person or situation that triggered it. Knowing the trigger will not fix the situation but it can enable us to expand our perception and to make new choices, based on the present rather than as a reaction to the past.
The universe and life do unfold according to Universal Laws, yes, plural. And our beliefs, conscious and unconscious, do have a powerful influence on our perceptions, choices and actions. But contrary to popular opinion, intellect is not king. We are limiting rather than expanding our spiritual evolution when we put our thoughts in charge of our Being. Intellect is dangerous without the balancing effects of compassion, unity, feeling (not the same as emotional reactions), and wisdom.
The Law of Attraction as other Universal Laws, are spiritual guidelines to encourage us to reach for our potential, to inspire us to imagine and dream and to give us courage to live our lives with passion in the pursuit of our true, inner purpose.
The way in which we perceive and experience the situations we encounter is within our power. That is our choice. And it is that choice which is at the heart of our limitless potential. It is our experience, rather than our accomplishments that are limitless.
It is through embracing rather than avoiding life's experiences that we experience our potential, and the limitless nature of our Spirit.
