David Risley: Why The Law of Attraction Is Incomplete
functionality
· 3 months ago
I love this line "In other words, stop focusing on new age mind tricks, get up off your ass and do something to make shit happen." Well said David.
JR Griggs
· 3 months ago
The Law of Attraction as it is taught by most people is just an exaggeration of natural behavior. The "universe" isn't going to do crap for you. But naturally if you are someone who is thinking of success and motivated by it then chances are you will be successful. Constantly think you are a loser and you will be.
Surround yourself with successful people and you will be successful, surround yourselves with morons and you will be a moron etc..
The bottom line is that there is no "force" in the universe that is going to move things around for you. You need to make it happen.
I worked for a boss that listened the "The Secret" everyday. Positive positive positive, even after they were shutting down the company and suing him for losing all the investor's money he was still positive that the company was successful. He spent and spent like the company was successful because that was positive thinking. The "Universe" was suppose to make it all work. His positive thought pushed common sense out the window.
You have 2 choices: 1 you can stare at a spoon for years and thinking positively that the universe will bend it for you, or 2. As David said grab the spoon and bend it.
jimi jones
· 3 months ago
Awesome post. No matter what you read, think, dream of, draw on paper or whatever. It always comes down to you getting off your ass and making something happen. :-)
Robert Garcia
· 3 months ago
Hi David,
Great Post!
I believe a lot in the law of attraction but like you said it has to be put together with some type of action. If you dream about the perfect business or job you actually have to go out and talk to people, put out your resume, network with people and the law of attraction will help by putting the right person or company in front of you and even then it's still up to you to take the action and do something with what is presented in front of you.
Many people pray and dream a lot but then sit on their ass and don't do anything and wonder why they didn't get what they wanted.
The Law of Attraction has worked for me many times. About 1 year ago I started thinking about a certain car I had wanted ever since I was young, a 1986-87 Conquest TSI Turbo, 5-speed, with the fender flares and big fat tires and within a couple of weeks I was visiting my friend and one of his neighbors happened to be selling exactly what I was looking for at great price...
Have a great day!
Robert
Leslie, The Freebie Guy
· 3 months ago
WOOHOOO. I love it. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Action is where the rubber meets the road. Yes, It all begins in the mind. However, that's just the beginning. Make it happen, and don't stop fighting until it does!!
shanew71
· 3 months ago
Agree 100 David, my life turned when I put all that self help bull-shit down and got some new skills and just did it, I didnt ask the universe for it, I asked myself what I needed to do for it to happen, self-help "if your why is strong enough" and "you ask the universe for it" bla bla f'g bla, its all horse shit mate, i know 'why', always have, waht it didnt know was how, my success is not because of my why, thats always been there, the skills i learned gave me my success, nice article, well done :)
Steve
· 3 months ago
I thought the same thing when I listened to the Secret on a road trip two summers ago. Nothing is going to happen unless you take action. That is the #1 rule of almost every peek performance trainer.
Gordie
· 3 months ago
I agree with you. We try to get all meta-physical and turn things into a pseudo science. We've learnt so much about the human brain in the past ten years. Let's get back to loving science because it aims to offer answers. I can't recommend highly enough, "The Answer"by John Asarraf and Murray Smith. They show you how the nonconscious mind works and teach you how to make it work for you.
You're also right, that action is the key and can give the universe a kick in the pants to speed things up to get what you want. Thanks for the interesting post.
Web 2.0 Tools
· 3 months ago
This is my first time @ this blog and I really enjoyed your articles :)
Shazzalive
· 3 months ago
As a Witch I agree to a certain extent; although I am a proponent of the idea that what is imagined eventually becomes reality with time and a lot of positive thought power; either as a group or as an individual.
Whilst practical and physical effort, ie getting up off one's ass and doing something to further the situation on a positive note, are definitely a huge part of the key; there is also the fact that one's mental and emotional negativity can work directly against one's positive physical efforts and nullify their results, at least to some extent.
- Therefore I would say that a tremendous amount of willower, coupled with self-beleif and also positive action, will get an individual a lot further forward towards acheiving their goals than simply practical physical application and effort alone.
You yourself David have a tremendous amount of self-belief and positive attitude, in addition to positive application of technique, strategy, and other practical traits: As a result you are a six-figure problogger. I don't imagine for one second that you could have acheived this status had you been full of self-doubt and negativity; whether or not you made exactly the right moves with optimal timing.
Michelle Janosi
· 3 months ago
Great post! I've always believed in the Law of Attraction and have benefited from it as well. I think always keeping a positive thought about what you want and taking action to get it will definitely get you where you want to be!
Beach Betty PR
· 3 months ago
Great post, great line about getting off your ass. Awesome pattern interrupt. I think a lot of people don't understand the Law of Attraction. What it comes down to I think is not the universe doing things or not doing things for you but rather you putting yourself in the mindset that allows things to happen. If you know what you want of course you will find it because subconsciously you are doing things (taking action) or looking for things to make it happen. If you are positive other positive people will gravitate toward you because like attracts like. If you project success because you are positive you will be you will attract successful people and therefore more opportunities will open up to you reinforcing that successfulness.
Or maybe I'm full of crap.
royhayward
· 3 months ago
When I was a kid, (11 yrs I think) I was helping my Dad move a piano. I grabbed ahold and lifted....and nothing happened.
My Dad, with a bit of irritation, instructed, "It didn't move because you didn't believe that it would move. You have to grab ahold, and lift as if you expect it to move."
Well, I grabbed ahold, and pulled with the expectation that it would lift, and lo and behold, it did.
The problem with the law is in #2. It should read, "Take action to achieve your desire, with the attitude that you will be successful." Taking action is the way you "Ask the Universe"
And you don't do 3 and 4 until you do #2.
Chris Khoo
· 3 months ago
LoA is another worldview that aims to replace atheism or other religions with a positive self-centered approach.
And there's so many reasons why it's untrue. Just one example from the IM world, Frank Kern succeeded in his niche businesses despite being fairly miserable. I'm sure he didn't "attract" success as per LoA, but just focused on supplying a demand.
Chris
thewayofmoney.com
· 3 months ago
You've written a great article here, but I'd contend that we're not our minds.
I whole-heartedly agree with "action". I think that this was also missing from movies like "The Secret".
However, "The Power of Now" completely changed my life. It wasn't just Eckhart Tolle's work either. Various accomplished and dare I say "enlightened" to "almost enlightened" (or on the path to enlightement) writers such as Ken Wilbur also see the mind as being just a tool - something that my partner and I have experienced to be true through meditation.
The mind is powerful and of course needed, that goes without saying! However, "acceptance" of what is, i.e. a non-judgmental outcome of any situation, is in essense, being "mindless" where there is no thought given to it - no internal mind-made dialogue. Appreciation is given in either outcome.
This is a spiritual as well as psychological topic and I'm glad you brought it up :)
David Risley
· 3 months ago
I actually agree - we're not our minds. Personally, I believe we are three components. Spirit, mind, body. But, that topic is well outside the scope of this blog. :-)
Tony Teegarden
· 3 months ago
Good to see you writing about this David.
This is a big focus of mine right now since you of course know I'm all about personal development & personal growth both mentally and spiritually. I've always believed the power in the Law of Attraction however there has always been a flaw in the fact it's not the total required package.
I believe of course in the fact that Action is as well required. There's nothing metaphysical about it. Plan Do then Review. Yes it all does begin with "Thoughts Are Things."
One of the big issues for many people is they won't take action because of what Joe Vitale calls counter intentions. I would say it goes even deeper than just counter intentions. The masses won't take action based on their deeper and darker shadows as Debbie Ford calls them.
I've personally started shadow work a few months ago and it's opened doors and allowed me to "finally" use the law of attraction. There are so many people attempting to use "programs" like the Law of Attraction and overwrite it on top of negative programs that cancel out any positive action or thought.
I go much deeper into this on my blog but it's a topic I feel is so necessary for people to become aware of because so many people have "unresolved emotional issues" that keep them from a) believing in the law of attraction and b) even if they did they would self sabotage themselves from taking the action based on their shadow beliefs.
Deep subject but very much a reality for many people.
Thanks as always for you candid insights.
Ryan Biddulph
· 3 months ago
Hi David,
It's a subtle game. Until you get the mind right you'll most likely be spinning your wheels.
The formula is 1.) Choose Thoughts 2.) Which Generate Feelings 3.) Which Move You Into Action 4.) Which Lead To Results
So many say to move into action, but what are they moving toward? More busy work, which leads to more of the same thought, more busy work. A vicious circle, cradle to grave. This is the average person.
One NEEDS to do some thinking before starting the process, or else they move into mindless, action, aka busy work, aka, keeping busy to stay out of trouble, aka you get the idea.
I agree that you need to move into action. If you want to get the desired results, you actually need a desire in the first place. It makes so sense to get off of your butt if you don't know why you're getting up.
Thanks for sharing your insight.
RB
classyruralgal
· 3 months ago
DAVID,
Greetings from rural Australia.
I love your choice with this topic! And it’s right up your alley. The ‘Can Do Man’ challenging the ‘New Thought’ thinkers/writers.
I’m a master at eavesdropping, an ardent voyeur and a keen observer. This is my take on what oils the wheels of the go-getters.
We are what we are. And what we are is staggeringly varied and diverse.
Some are thinkers, but couch potatoes when it comes to taking action. Some leap before they look, taking plenty of action: - but it lands them far away from their ‘X Marks The Spot’. Some are wanna-be's, who stop at nothing to get to their target. Some are lazy and justify their lethargy by believing that everything is impossible. Some doubt themselves, but also have a strong thirst for success and overcome everything to reach the top. Some are naturally optimistic doers, who think everything is achievable and do just that. While some are scaredy-cats, living in prisons of their own making. And some just don’t care and don’t understand why you’d want to make an effort to achieve anything.
What we all have in common is this. Very few of us ever think we’re anything other than optimistic. A recent study of men and women who are considered to be very pessimistic by experts, show that 99.9% of them view themselves as optimists. They view themselves as positive people with a sunny attitude who expect good things to happen. Unfortunately, good things are just not happening now.
So we are not only what we are. But what we perceive we are. And life toddles along accordingly.
Those who think most things are impossible, live a life within narrow boundaries. Those who doubt themselves, but who yearn for something better, jump sky high hurdles and overcome humungous obstacles to give themselves a very fulfilling and envious life. While others seem to go through life attracting abundance and success with little effort. And the optimist - who’s negative - and still waiting for something to happen, has sooooo many reasons why it’s just not happening for them right now. And the master of ‘I could care less’ just takes what comes along.
But what’s true is this. The Original Law of Attraction, which has been in force since the beginning of time, and taught to me by my parents, never fails to work.
What you attract into your life is directly related to what you do to make it happen.
Dreamers, wanna-be’s, scaredy-cats, go-getters, all have different levels of commitment to making things happen. And their lives reflect this.
You can tell people until you’re blue in the face that nothing happens without taking action. And some still won’t budge.
Why?
It’s widely assumed that many people fear success and the change it will make to their lives. They prefer living in their present comfort zone far more than they desire tackling a new challenge with an uncertain outcome.
Or.
They absolutely love and embrace the Rhonda Byrne concept in her New Law Of Attraction, as written in The Secret, where they blow a wish into the universe and patiently wait for it to happen. Very much a case of … ‘all care and no responsibility’. And the perfect way to become a zillionaire. Promise them everything and position yourself to take no responsibility when it doesn’t happen.
I voluntarily mentor one young woman in business every year. Because my only reward is their success, I’m quick to assess their attitude. The nanosecond I detect any excuse for not taking action, I withdraw. Their perception that something is always easier for someone else, or that other people are luckier than them, or something can’t be done because of… tells me they live in a world of wishful dreaming; of someone not yet prepared to be a high achiever by taking action.
Again, it’s the Original Law Of Attraction at work. You attract to you exactly what you’re prepared to take action to achieve.
Taking action is as natural as breathing for those who really want to be successful.
At anything. A hobby, their business, relationships, parenting, snorting coke or winning the Tour de France. Commitment traverses all boundaries. Pete Doherty is as committed to his coke addiction as Lance Armstrong is committed to winning the next Tour de France.
So I’m no longer unforgiving of those who’d rather wish than do. It’s just who they are and I now know they’re happier in the comfort zone that allows them to dream and hope without having to busy themselves with taking action.
This is a great topic, David, with diverse, and sometimes divisive, viewpoints!
Taking action is so important. It seems everone who watches The Secret overlooks the 30 seconds it talked about taking action when the opprotunity is in front of you.
All Comments
Well said David.
Surround yourself with successful people and you will be successful, surround yourselves with morons and you will be a moron etc..
The bottom line is that there is no "force" in the universe that is going to move things around for you. You need to make it happen.
I worked for a boss that listened the "The Secret" everyday. Positive positive positive, even after they were shutting down the company and suing him for losing all the investor's money he was still positive that the company was successful. He spent and spent like the company was successful because that was positive thinking. The "Universe" was suppose to make it all work. His positive thought pushed common sense out the window.
You have 2 choices: 1 you can stare at a spoon for years and thinking positively that the universe will bend it for you, or 2. As David said grab the spoon and bend it.
No matter what you read, think, dream of, draw on paper or whatever. It always comes down to you getting off your ass and making something happen. :-)
Great Post!
I believe a lot in the law of attraction but like you said it has to be put together with some type of action. If you dream about the perfect business or job you actually have to go out and talk to people, put out your resume, network with people and the law of attraction will help by putting the right person or company in front of you and even then it's still up to you to take the action and do something with what is presented in front of you.
Many people pray and dream a lot but then sit on their ass and don't do anything and wonder why they didn't get what they wanted.
The Law of Attraction has worked for me many times. About 1 year ago I started thinking about a certain car I had wanted ever since I was young, a 1986-87 Conquest TSI Turbo, 5-speed, with the fender flares and big fat tires and within a couple of weeks I was visiting my friend and one of his neighbors happened to be selling exactly what I was looking for at great price...
Have a great day!
Robert
You're also right, that action is the key and can give the universe a kick in the pants to speed things up to get what you want. Thanks for the interesting post.
Whilst practical and physical effort, ie getting up off one's ass and doing something to further the situation on a positive note, are definitely a huge part of the key; there is also the fact that one's mental and emotional negativity can work directly against one's positive physical efforts and nullify their results, at least to some extent.
- Therefore I would say that a tremendous amount of willower, coupled with self-beleif and also positive action, will get an individual a lot further forward towards acheiving their goals than simply practical physical application and effort alone.
You yourself David have a tremendous amount of self-belief and positive attitude, in addition to positive application of technique, strategy, and other practical traits: As a result you are a six-figure problogger. I don't imagine for one second that you could have acheived this status had you been full of self-doubt and negativity; whether or not you made exactly the right moves with optimal timing.
Or maybe I'm full of crap.
My Dad, with a bit of irritation, instructed, "It didn't move because you didn't believe that it would move. You have to grab ahold, and lift as if you expect it to move."
Well, I grabbed ahold, and pulled with the expectation that it would lift, and lo and behold, it did.
The problem with the law is in #2. It should read, "Take action to achieve your desire, with the attitude that you will be successful." Taking action is the way you "Ask the Universe"
And you don't do 3 and 4 until you do #2.
And there's so many reasons why it's untrue. Just one example from the IM world, Frank Kern succeeded in his niche businesses despite being fairly miserable. I'm sure he didn't "attract" success as per LoA, but just focused on supplying a demand.
Chris
I whole-heartedly agree with "action". I think that this was also missing from movies like "The Secret".
However, "The Power of Now" completely changed my life. It wasn't just Eckhart Tolle's work either. Various accomplished and dare I say "enlightened" to "almost enlightened" (or on the path to enlightement) writers such as Ken Wilbur also see the mind as being just a tool - something that my partner and I have experienced to be true through meditation.
The mind is powerful and of course needed, that goes without saying! However, "acceptance" of what is, i.e. a non-judgmental outcome of any situation, is in essense, being "mindless" where there is no thought given to it - no internal mind-made dialogue. Appreciation is given in either outcome.
This is a spiritual as well as psychological topic and I'm glad you brought it up :)
This is a big focus of mine right now since you of course know I'm all about personal development & personal growth both mentally and spiritually. I've always believed the power in the Law of Attraction however there has always been a flaw in the fact it's not the total required package.
I believe of course in the fact that Action is as well required. There's nothing metaphysical about it. Plan Do then Review. Yes it all does begin with "Thoughts Are Things."
One of the big issues for many people is they won't take action because of what Joe Vitale calls counter intentions. I would say it goes even deeper than just counter intentions. The masses won't take action based on their deeper and darker shadows as Debbie Ford calls them.
I've personally started shadow work a few months ago and it's opened doors and allowed me to "finally" use the law of attraction. There are so many people attempting to use "programs" like the Law of Attraction and overwrite it on top of negative programs that cancel out any positive action or thought.
I go much deeper into this on my blog but it's a topic I feel is so necessary for people to become aware of because so many people have "unresolved emotional issues" that keep them from a) believing in the law of attraction and b) even if they did they would self sabotage themselves from taking the action based on their shadow beliefs.
Deep subject but very much a reality for many people.
Thanks as always for you candid insights.
It's a subtle game. Until you get the mind right you'll most likely be spinning your wheels.
The formula is 1.) Choose Thoughts 2.) Which Generate Feelings 3.) Which Move You Into Action 4.) Which Lead To Results
So many say to move into action, but what are they moving toward? More busy work, which leads to more of the same thought, more busy work. A vicious circle, cradle to grave. This is the average person.
One NEEDS to do some thinking before starting the process, or else they move into mindless, action, aka busy work, aka, keeping busy to stay out of trouble, aka you get the idea.
I agree that you need to move into action. If you want to get the desired results, you actually need a desire in the first place. It makes so sense to get off of your butt if you don't know why you're getting up.
Thanks for sharing your insight.
RB
Greetings from rural Australia.
I love your choice with this topic! And it’s right up your alley. The ‘Can Do Man’ challenging the ‘New Thought’ thinkers/writers.
I’m a master at eavesdropping, an ardent voyeur and a keen observer. This is my take on what oils the wheels of the go-getters.
We are what we are. And what we are is staggeringly varied and diverse.
Some are thinkers, but couch potatoes when it comes to taking action. Some leap before they look, taking plenty of action: - but it lands them far away from their ‘X Marks The Spot’. Some are wanna-be's, who stop at nothing to get to their target. Some are lazy and justify their lethargy by believing that everything is impossible. Some doubt themselves, but also have a strong thirst for success and overcome everything to reach the top. Some are naturally optimistic doers, who think everything is achievable and do just that. While some are scaredy-cats, living in prisons of their own making. And some just don’t care and don’t understand why you’d want to make an effort to achieve anything.
What we all have in common is this. Very few of us ever think we’re anything other than optimistic. A recent study of men and women who are considered to be very pessimistic by experts, show that 99.9% of them view themselves as optimists. They view themselves as positive people with a sunny attitude who expect good things to happen. Unfortunately, good things are just not happening now.
So we are not only what we are. But what we perceive we are. And life toddles along accordingly.
Those who think most things are impossible, live a life within narrow boundaries. Those who doubt themselves, but who yearn for something better, jump sky high hurdles and overcome humungous obstacles to give themselves a very fulfilling and envious life. While others seem to go through life attracting abundance and success with little effort. And the optimist - who’s negative - and still waiting for something to happen, has sooooo many reasons why it’s just not happening for them right now. And the master of ‘I could care less’ just takes what comes along.
But what’s true is this. The Original Law of Attraction, which has been in force since the beginning of time, and taught to me by my parents, never fails to work.
What you attract into your life is directly related to what you do to make it happen.
Dreamers, wanna-be’s, scaredy-cats, go-getters, all have different levels of commitment to making things happen. And their lives reflect this.
You can tell people until you’re blue in the face that nothing happens without taking action. And some still won’t budge.
Why?
It’s widely assumed that many people fear success and the change it will make to their lives. They prefer living in their present comfort zone far more than they desire tackling a new challenge with an uncertain outcome.
Or.
They absolutely love and embrace the Rhonda Byrne concept in her New Law Of Attraction, as written in The Secret, where they blow a wish into the universe and patiently wait for it to happen. Very much a case of … ‘all care and no responsibility’. And the perfect way to become a zillionaire. Promise them everything and position yourself to take no responsibility when it doesn’t happen.
I voluntarily mentor one young woman in business every year. Because my only reward is their success, I’m quick to assess their attitude. The nanosecond I detect any excuse for not taking action, I withdraw. Their perception that something is always easier for someone else, or that other people are luckier than them, or something can’t be done because of… tells me they live in a world of wishful dreaming; of someone not yet prepared to be a high achiever by taking action.
Again, it’s the Original Law Of Attraction at work. You attract to you exactly what you’re prepared to take action to achieve.
Taking action is as natural as breathing for those who really want to be successful.
At anything. A hobby, their business, relationships, parenting, snorting coke or winning the Tour de France. Commitment traverses all boundaries. Pete Doherty is as committed to his coke addiction as Lance Armstrong is committed to winning the next Tour de France.
So I’m no longer unforgiving of those who’d rather wish than do. It’s just who they are and I now know they’re happier in the comfort zone that allows them to dream and hope without having to busy themselves with taking action.
This is a great topic, David, with diverse, and sometimes divisive, viewpoints!
Take care,
CAROL
Carol Jones
Director
Interface Pty Ltd
ILFORD NSW 2850 Australia
http://www.interfaceaustralia.com