The Law of Attraction: Creating a Belief System for Success

Since time immemorial, people have been searching for the keys to success.  You have probably heard of Napoleon Hill, who made his fortune in the early 1900′s by studying the habits of the most successful men in America.  His best-selling book, Think and Grow Rich, has inspired hundreds (if not thousands) of personal development coaches and motivational speakers who have become millionaires in their own right by sharing the lessons of success.

Amazingly, the strategies  advocated by Hill have changed little over the years.  They include having a clear vision of what you want to achieve, single-minded focus, a process of repetition to communicate the vision to your subconscious mind, and commitment to action that is congruent with the vision.

The latest manifestation of this quest for the keys to success was Rhonda Byrne’s best-selling book and video, The Secret.   If you read The Secret or watched the video, and have tried to apply the Law of Attraction to your life, there is a good reason that you might be frustrated.

The Secret did a terrific job of popularizing the Law of Attraction…but by its very nature, it oversimplified the process needed to manifest success.  The Secret focused mostly on using affirmative thoughts (affirmations and visualization) to attract what you want in your life.  This is based on the simple principle that “like attracts like.” Many people walked away thinking that all they had to do was “think positive” and their desires would automatically manifest themselves.

Unfortunately, that approach does not take into account the powers of the subconscious mind.  In their book, The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom, and Live an Extraordinary Life, John Assaraf and Murray Smith explain the science behind the Law of Attraction, and why controlling your conscious mind will never produce the results you are seeking.  For all its brilliance, the conscious brain has very limited processing power.  Most perceptions…in fact, more than 95%…happens in your nonconscious mind.  To change your beliefs, you have to change the habits governed by your nonconscious mind.

Assaraf and Smith set out “five musts” for employing the Law of Attraction in your business:

• You must find something that stirs your soul.  That’s what you did in Week 1 when you identified your passions, purpose and life vision.
• You must become excellent at it.
• You must recondition your brain to believe you can have it and achieve it.
• You must understand how to make money at it.
• You must take daily action.

For the next few days, we are going to create a belief system for success.  But first, let me address a central question that may be on your mind:  Is the Law of Attraction for real?

The Science Behind the Law of Attraction

Early scientists like Galileo and Descartes believed that the world operated according to precise, objective formulas that had no relationship to the subjective world of the mind and soul. That view prevailed until Albert Einstein came along with his Theory of Relativity…energy = mass times the speed of light squared.

Among his other contributions, Einstein opened the door to a new field of science known as quantum physics.  This is the study of how the world works at the smallest scale, much smaller than molecules and atom.

At the quantum level, scientists have discovered that everything is made of vibrating energy.  At this level, thoughts are capable of affecting everything.  Our thoughts broadcast a frequency that will resonate with every other for of energy that is in a similar pattern.  This is the foundation for the more simplistic notion in  The Secret that “like attracts like.”

According to Lynne McTaggart, author of The Intention Experiment, all living things engage in a constant 2-way flow of quantum information with their environment. At the realm of quantum particles, we are not separate things …but vibrating energy connected by a vast quantum energy field known as the Zero Point Field.

Cells and DNA communicate through quantum frequencies. The brain perceives the world through quantum frequencies.  We are all in ceaseless communication with the environment and sea of consciousness that makes up the zero point field.

One amazing thing that quantum scientists observed is that the mere act of observing sub-atomic particles affects their behavior!  That means there is no such thing as the neutral observer that most science is based upon.

Another thing they have been able to observe is that different emotional states produce different frequencies or resonances, which can be measured electronically. What this means scientists do not really know. But it does suggest that the universe is much more complex and less mechanical than we used to believe.

Does all of this “prove” that the Law of Attraction actually exists?  That issue is still open to interpretation.  But it does mean that our thoughts exert observable effects on our environment…this suggests that by changing our thoughts, we can resonate or attract a different outcome.

Myths and Misconceptions About the Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction has been criticized because of some of the overly-simplistic interpretations and false claims that people have made about it.  So let’s put those to rest right here and now.

• The Law of Attraction does not mean that you can have whatever you desire, without limitation.  Chances are, if you’re 5’8″, you are not going to be a pro basketball player.  And if you just sit at home wishing to be a famous speaker, that’s not likely to happen either.
• The Law of Attraction does not mean that you will never have misfortune or illness again.  Challenges are a fact of life, and you can’t save yourself from them by wishing them away.  So don’t fall into the trap of blaming yourself (or others) when the inevitable illness, job loss or other life obstacle occurs.
• The Law of Attraction does not mean that the universe was created for your own personal happiness.  Though we may not understand how it works, every spiritual tradition in history teaches that we only achieve happiness by aligning ourselves with a life purpose that is bigger than ourselves.

The Law of Attraction in Your Business

That brings us to an important point to ponder.  How do you want to use the Law of Attraction in your life and in your business?

If you recall, when you were working on your vision early in this course, we talked about the importance of thinking big…of connecting your business vision with a life purpose that goes beyond your own personal gratification.  Now is a good time to re-visit that vision statement.  Does it really reflect the life you want?  Or have you censored yourself to only write down what you believe is possible?

In the words of Joe Vitale, star of The Secret and a self-made millionaire, now is the time  to Dare Something Worthy.  So, what do you want?

What would ake your heart sing?

What would make you dance in the streets?

What would make you smile right now thinking about it?

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

What would you want–if you could have anything?

If you are having a hard time breaking the confines of “reality,” here is another set of questions to get you started.

What would you do if you possessed all the money in the world?

What would you do if you could make money appear by simply snapping your fingers?

What would you do once you owned 12 houses, made 14 exotic trips, and bought 28 luxury cars?

Your answer is a major clue to your real passions purpose in life.  Make sure you are building your dream business to honor those passions and purpose.

Creating Your Intentions

Once your vision is crystal clear, it is time to start building your belief system.  Every great success coach, from Napoleon Hill to Joe Vitale, has taught that the first step to manifesting your vision is to write down your goals.   Not just as something you wish to attain in the future…but as present, vivid reality. The way to do that is with powerful declarations, affirmations and visualizations of yourself achieving your goals.

Visualization

Did you know the one secret of most world-class athletes?  They prepare themselves mentally to perform their best.  In fact, scientists have documented that mentally practicing your basketball shot in your mind exerts a powerful influence on the muscle memory in your body.  That is why athletes who have been sidelined by an injury are able to get back in the game almost immediately after they have healed.

So now it is your turn.  Visualize yourself achieving what it is that you really want most.  See yourself walking across the stage to get your award, or going to the bank to deposit $1 Million dollars, or being cheered as you enter the room by all the people you have helped make successful.  Once you have a clear vision in your head, replay it in your mind’s eye as often as possible.

By the way, don’t worry if you can’t actually see what you are “envisioning. “  The important thing is to feel as though it is actually happening.

Affirmations

An affirmation is simply a positive, declarative statement of your goals, stated in the present tense.  For example, if your goal is to improve your fitness level, your affirmation might be:

I am strong, energetic and able to run 20 miles easily without breaking a sweat.

The first step in the Law of Attraction is to turn your most important business goals into affirmations. One way to do that is to think about the beliefs you currently have that you want to change.  For example, if you think you are not a good sales person, your affirmation might say:

I easily make money by sharing my products or services with people who are attracted to me and will honestly benefit from what I have to offer.

It is best to personalize your affirmations, but here are a few that might be relevant to your business:

I live each day with passion and purpose.

My business is filled with prosperity and abundance.

I am a confident, successful business person.

I accomplish my financial goals with ease.

I have all the talent, skills and intelligence needed to succeed.

Okay, now it is your turn. Write out five or six positive, vivid, powerful statements in the present tense that articulate exactly what you want to achieve in your business.  Once you are happy with them, put them on index cards and post them where you will see them as you go about your day’s work.  Repeat them often, and out loud, even if it seems odd or forced at first.

In our next post, we will talk about how to get these positive visualizations and affirmations from your conscious mind into your subconscious mind.