Ever since Rhonda Byrne wrote The Secret in 2006, the law of attraction has become one of the most controversial topics in modern society.
But now, there have been several studies done on the effectiveness of the law of attraction.
In fact, one interesting study about prayer and pregnancy showed the ability we, as humans, have to influence matters and fulfill our desires, particularly through prayer, which is known to be a powerful tool for manifestation. The results showed that women who had been prayed for showed almost twice the rate of pregnancy as those who hadn’t been prayed for.
So, we’ve put together a beginner’s law of attraction guide for you to answer your curiosities about it and, most importantly, how you can apply it to your life to reach your goals.
What is the law of attraction?
The law of attraction is merely a simple and unchanging universal principle. It is the belief that when we understand how to use it in our lives and apply it through practice, we are able to attract into our lives the things we intentionally focus on.
Simply put, your positive thoughts bring positive experiences into your life, while your negative thoughts bring negative experiences.
Is the law of attraction real?
The law of attraction isn’t some perplexing hocus-pocus, like Mary Poppins’ magical carry-all carpet bag. It’s continuously at work, with or without your intention. And when you are aware of the Law of Attraction and understand how to use it in your life, it attracts the things you desire to your life. So, yes, it is very real.
There are many everyday examples of the law of attraction at work:
- When you’re looking to buy a new car (or just bought one), then you start seeing that car everywhere.
- Thinking about someone, and they show up at your doorstep.
- Or even craving sushi and your partner suggests it for dinner.
And now, explore how to hold that good-feeling belief so that the law of attraction will work for you.
How does the law of attraction work?
To better understand how to make the law of attraction work, you should always take a look at your relationship with the universe. Examine how you feel about the way it interacts with you, and then ask yourself:
- Do you believe things happen to you?
- Or do you believe you can influence your surroundings so things happen for you?
In psychology, this perspective is called an external and internal locus of control.
In addition, we live in a world with 12 intrinsic, unchanging universal laws, with the law of attraction being one of them. The law affirms that things within our universe—thoughts, feelings, people, and objects—tend to migrate toward other things that are the same.
It’s a simple universal principle: like attracts like.
One way to look at it is with the law of gravity. Toss a penny from your roof, and it falls to the ground. Jump off your couch, and you’ll land on the floor.
Believing it’s true or untrue doesn’t change anything because it’s a universal principle.
The law of attraction works the same way.
Things to keep in mind
Before getting down on how to apply the law of attraction to your life, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
12 laws of the universe
The 12 intrinsic, unchanging laws of our universe work in synergy as guiding principles. No single law can defy another.
Here’s an example: the law of resonance works hand in hand with the law of attraction. It states that when the vibration of a thing is projected, it will attract energies of the same resonance.
However, if the energy vibrations aren’t at the same frequency, then one will prevail over the other.
Meaning, if you’re working on manifesting abundance but, on a subconscious level, you’re wired around scarcity and fears, then you will keep attracting scarcity and fears.
So, because the laws of the universe work as a collective for the betterment of your life, don’t expect to be able to manifest floating away on a magical parrot-headed umbrella whenever there’s a shift in the wind. (Check out lucid dreaming if you want to do that.) None of us are Mary Poppins, after all, no matter how many spoonfuls of sugar we take.
Free will
Everything in this universe has free will. In other words, your desires and manifestations must follow this principle. You can master the law of attraction and attract whatever you wish for, but if it violates somebody’s free will, it will not serve you well.
Your intentions vs other people’s intentions
You’re also competing with other people’s intentions, both good and bad. So, be aware that if your desire is in direct conflict with someone else’s stronger desire, the universe will respond accordingly.
The law of attraction does not give you full and total control of your life; it simply states that like will attract like. And you can use this to your advantage by being intentional with your desires, but this isn’t magic.
The reality is, your thoughts and feelings have an effect on the events that take place around you. When you practice the Law of Attract, shift your perspective, and understand the truth about your relationship to the universe, only then can you begin to attract better things into your life.
How to use the law of attraction
The formula for how to use the law of attraction is simple:
- Decide what you really want.
- Raise your frequency to match your desire.
- Open up to the possibilities and believe in them fully.
- Pretend you already have what you want, and enjoy the feeling!
- Persistence is key.
Now keep in mind that the law of attraction and manifestation work hand in hand. The law of attraction is the universal principle of ‘like attracting like,’ while manifestation is when you consciously use your thoughts and energy to attract your sincerest desires.
So, start thinking about what you want to manifest into your life—such as money, love, relationships, health, and spirituality—to make the power of the law of attraction work for you.
Now, let’s take a closer look at how the law of attraction steps can be used to your advantage.
Step 1: Make your decision
You need a 20/20 vision of your desire. Whether you wish to attract something minor or you’re looking for a huge overhaul of your life, be clear about what you truly want.
Imagine what this new thing looks like, smells like, sounds like, feels like, and tastes like (if it’s relevant).
- How do you feel once this new thing is in your life?
- Where do you feel it in your body?
- Does it make your toes tingle or make your heart flutter?
- Does your pulse race or do you feel a wave of calm?
Make it real in your mind. Don’t just focus on receiving this new thing, but think about your life after you receive it too. Imagine how it will change your world.
Taking part in this imagination exercise, you align yourself with your desires. Open up to the possibilities and prepare your body to receive whatever it is you are attempting to attract. It may seem simple, but this first step is what paves the way to working with the energies of the law of attraction.
Step 2: Practice unconditional love
Being aware of your thoughts and feelings is incredibly important. When you love yourself, you open up the possibility to receive your greatest desires, and you begin to only desire the things that are best for you.
But if you feel as though you don’t deserve what you’re seeking, those deep, subconscious fears and doubts send messages that compete with your desire. The only effective method for combating fears and doubts is to become aware of them, acknowledge them, and approach them with love and compassion.
Step 3: Open up to the possibilities
First, think about the bad things in your life right now. Can you see connections to your fears, doubts, and old patterns that led those things into your life?
Focus on understanding your part in this overall process rather than feeling guilty or ashamed. Recognizing how your fears have manifested in your life doesn’t mean that the bad things in your life are your fault. It simply means that the law of attraction has responded to the signal you sent out.
Next, think of all the great things in your life. Reflect on how your hopes, dreams, and ambitions attracted those good things to you. Reinforce in your mind how, when you believe something can happen, it does.
Again, rather than experiencing pride or feeling boastful, this is about understanding and seeing how the law of attraction is already a part of your life. It’s always existed, but now you are aware of it.
Once you see that the law of attraction works without you knowing, it will reinforce your understanding that this is simply a universal law. Work with your awareness of the law and understand how it works. Then you can work with the law and align yourself with it.
Step 4: Experience the reality of your desires
Now, it’s time to live the reality of your desires.
This is a bit of an acting exercise, so let go of your inhibitions to make this exercise really effective. Rather than just visualizing the reality in your mind, live it as much as possible.
If you’re using the system to find, let’s say, great parking, get in your car and drive to that parking spot with the full intention and expectation of finding it clear for you. Announce it out loud. “That parking spot is clear for me. I am parking in a spot that is open for me.”
If you’re trying to lose weight, go out and buy an outfit that fits the size you’re aiming for. If you want a new car, go to a dealership and shop around. Or, if you’re aiming for something as big as complete financial freedom, start planning what you’re going to do with all that free time and money.
The important step is to take action and act as if you already have what you’re looking for. Jump into this step with joy and enthusiasm. When you take action as if you’ve already gotten what you desire, you are sending a huge, loud, and clear message to the universe that you’re serious. Actions speak louder than words, right?
Step 5: Be patient, yet persistent
There’s no formula for how long things take to manifest in your life. Some people begin to see things happen immediately, while others take a little more time. But the key here is patience and persistence.
Continue to express gratitude and appreciation every day. Think positively and recall all the connections you made that prove the law of attraction is real for you. Take time every day to review the visualization exercises and prep your mind and body to receive this incredible gift.
How to apply the law of attraction
While manifesting, you may come across challenges. Here are some exercises you can do while you’re working with the law of attraction.
- Make a vision board
- Do a visualization meditation
- Write a gratitude list
- Practice mindfulness
- Practice kindness
- Be focused and intentional
- Repeat empowering affirmations
- Express yourself through movement
Practice any or all of the law of attraction exercises you want to, but we suggest trying each exercise at least once. There are no hard-and-fast rules, so feel free to tweak these exercises and make them your own.
In addition, try these 12 hacks to manifest more abundance in your life.
How can the law of attraction improve your life?
Now that we’ve covered what the law of attraction is and how it works, let’s get into the ways you can use it to improve your life.
1. Attract money
Financial abundance is the number one reason people become interested in the law of attraction. It’s no wonder. Working tirelessly for small paychecks is exhausting, and when life starts throwing unexpected expenses your way, debt can seem inevitable.
The good news is that using the law of attraction for money is easy to come by. Once you learn the techniques, you’ll start to see changes really quickly. Many people report unexpected checks and seemingly random job opportunities. Even literally finding money is one of the first results of working with the law of attraction.
2. Manifest love and relationships
The second most popular reason people seek information about the law of attraction is to find true love. Finding a lifetime partner to fulfill an ideal, loving relationship can seem like an elusive and frustrating game that you can’t win.
Luckily, the law of attraction is a great tool for finding love. Because the law of attraction means working on yourself and your desires, it inherently makes you a more attractive person with a clear vision of what you want and need in your life.
3. Improve your health
Most people don’t consider using the law of attraction to bring better health into their lives. However, as you noticed in the results of the aging experiment, it’s actually a great tool for that purpose. Because the law of attraction works with thoughts, and thoughts affect our physical reality, you may be attracting poor health into your life right now without even realizing it.
Learning about the law of attraction helps you see that your thoughts are having a direct effect on your entire world. That includes the vessel you’re traveling in. A good attitude goes a long way to improving your health. The law of attraction can help you take that even further.
4. Spiritual awakening
By its very nature, the law of attraction connects you with higher, spiritual planes of existence. When you start practicing the techniques, you begin to see beyond the mundane, ordinary world. A new, brighter world opens up to you that is brimming with possibility.
Many people find a spiritual awakening in those possibilities. Connecting with the rhythms of the universe and opening up to new potential awakens the spiritual force inside you that is connected to everything around you. The law of attraction demonstrates that you are connected to everything, and everything is connected to you.
5. Have more fun
The results of using the law of attraction techniques are only limited by your imagination. By the laws of physics, you’re not going to manifest bird-like flying anytime soon.
There are endless things you can attract in your life. From practical things, like ‘good parking karma’ that can guarantee you a great parking spot, to ‘calls to adventure’ that open you up to random invitations to explore the world, you can use the principles behind the law of attraction in any way you please.
Law of attraction books to inspire you
If you’re not ready to dive in headfirst and just want to dip your toes in, books are a great way to start. Here are a few recommended ones:
- The Secret by Rhona Byrne
- The Universe Has Your Back by Gabby Bernstein
- Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
- The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer
- Infinite Possibilities: The Art of Living Your Dreams by Mike Dooley
- Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life by Roxie Nafousi
Regardless of what you’re looking to attract, using the law of attraction can get confusing for some people. But with a sprinkle of inspiration from these books, you may just find that using the law of attraction can be a powerful tool.
It’s like what Paulo Coehlo wrote in The Alchemist: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.“
Manifest and live your soul’s purpose
Don’t let anyone fool you; the law of attraction is more than just visualizing and waiting around for it to happen. As with all great things in life, you have to make the effort.
And no one else can make that effort for you. As Dr. Beckwith explains, “No one else can do it but you. Because no one else is you but you. And so you—you must do you.”
