The Law of Attraction

Although others above have made a passing reference to negative thinking, its true significance in hindering our progress needs to be considered. A positive mental attitude will move us in the direction we wish to go, but it is also true we can be anchored by unhelpful thoughts that are difficult to shake off, delaying or preventing us from doing as well as we would like.

Much has been written about the need to think positively - Think and Grow Rich, Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude - for example. However, it is often not appreciated that how to deal with negative thinking - how to let it go - is of crucial importance.

The significance of the negative feelings which flow from negative thinking has been long understood as a destructive force. Anger and resentment, fear and anxiety, depression, jealousy, hatred, and others can bring about havoc in our lives. Just look at all the revenge-themed movies. A whole genre has developed justifying vengeful retaliation (think Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, and many more, not to mention the lyrics of many popular songs).

The need to get beyond those feelings to be able to release positivity in our lives has long been understood and yet is often glossed over. The continuing need to cope with negativity needs to be appreciated. For instance, the parable of the Prodigal Son (a son demands his inheritance and duly spends it until he is left impoverished and forced to return home. Instead of casting him out as undeserving, the father forgives him) and the Lord's Prayer ('...as we forgive those who trespass against us') indicate that, even 2,000 years ago, forgiving those who've wronged us is a better way to live than by harboring resentment and burdening ourselves with grudges.

You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger. - Buddha

Yet it can be easier said than done. People will cling to negative thoughts and justify them to the death. Just think of the bitter divorces where a wronged spouse vindictively tries to hurt a cheating partner - carrying past misery into the future!

In the modern day, a number of courses have developed which pay special attention to dealing with negativity. One such is A Course of Miracles, which famously deals with Forgiveness as part of its instruction. With Abraham-Hicks, Esther and Jerry Hicks spend much of the year traveling and conducting seminars entitled 'The Art of Allowing'. A lot of the material consists of showing how we resist aspects of our lives and how we can allow the better life we want to emerge by recognizing (and releasing) negative thoughts and by not resisting those things we cannot change.

Positive thinking is, in many respects, the easy part. For instance, if we are lonely and friendless, we are aware that having good friends can ease those feelings. Likewise, if we are impoverished, we don't need a CPA to tell us that possessing more money will help.

Yet our focus on the life we want is greatly affected by our preoccupation with other matters, including fears, doubts, anger, sadness, etc. We allow those feelings to direct and even dominate our lives.

If, however, we were unhindered by negative thinking - free from thoughts and feelings which were counter-productive - our true desires and potential could be freely expressed.

Putting the Law of Attraction into effect is not just about positive thinking. It is also about letting go and allowing what is to be, freeing us to move on.

Ivan