Do you believe manifestation and Law of Attraction are a thing?

[Greyador]

So this might just be me but in recent years I've seen an explosion of books on manifestation or law of attraction?
It seems to be a hot topic on social media, along with spirituality.

I may be niave here, but I've always thought that working on your goals, having a loose life plan was this sort of thing...

Do you believe in manifestation and law of attraction?
I've found myself intrigued by it all....

A v good insight. I am interested in those that have used & played their hand of cards in life to effectively lead an interesting, fulfilling & unimaginable one, some might say.

I had quite a stark illustration about mindset and abundance when I went to Jamaica (couldn’t really afford it) to attend my cousin’s wedding out of season.

When I went to the beach I noticed there was no where for me to by or hire tat (I love beach tat), but there was a group of men - about ten, sitting around trying to solicit riding a jet ski at around $80 a throw. It was literally the only way I could spend money, apart from a woman who walked through selling fruit once a day. I hate jet skis, they are noisy and smelly and it just pissed me off every time my peace was ruined by the blokes zipping across the water to advertise, and the stink of petrol they spread across the surface.

I actually became friends with one of the guys and asked why someone didn’t sell tat. I said, if you hired out a sun umbrella and a lounger - i’d pay ten dollars a day and so would my mum. I’d spend more if there were sarongs and flip flops and all that other stuff. Instead there was all these guys taking none of my money because they were all holding out for the big win of selling a jet ski ride. My friend said that the way it works, is that if someone starts to make good money, they’ll get robbed, so they effectively need to become an armed and feared gangster (like the owner of the jet skis).

When I went into a market because I wanted to spend my money on souvenirs, the level of hostility was off the scale. I was obviously perceived as a rich, white arsehole, too tight to give money, I definitely was not a human being to them, and the grabbiness, the over-charging (I had spending money but not loads), I felt scorned at, was insulted for the temerity for wanting to browse, I exited quickly and never went back. It was so repellent and horrible- it was actually frightening.

It was absurd, that I couldn’t spend my money in a place where people wanted my money.

Anyway, the end of the story. There was a busker in the evening singing calypsos and he totally drew me in, so charming, he played a full set to us and some other tourists before asking for money and we were all happily gave. We were all so baffled and charmed by him, he was totally different from pretty much everyone else wanting to make money. Afterwards we all chatted and he was so sympathetic to everyone, he said “if you are hungry, don’t think about being hungry, make people smile”. And that was it. He saw as human beings, seeing the goodness in us, and by being positive, thinking of things to make people smile, he broke through all those barriers and was able to attract money, instead of repelling it.

@Peverellshire I don’t doubt it, but sometimes I build in a caveat. Eg, please make this happen unless it isn’t the right path for me. If it isn’t, please show me a better alternative. Eg. I went for my dream job but when I spoke to the Universe, I said if I am unsuccessful please help me get an even better job with more money very soon. I didn’t get it, but very shortly afterwards an old colleague phoned me and asked me to interview for a much better job which I then got. That is one example. I know that could have been a coincidence but there have been many.

Thanks, do you write things down? What’s your method?

The breakfast bit is baffling. Surely you just wake up hungry, noticed and go downstairs to make some toast — what is ‘manifesting’ about that?

There are some fascinating people who have turned things around.

Quincy Jones is an amazing one, he was a mentor to Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith, I think Oprah Winfrey played a role in mentoring Obama to become president.

Quincy Jones is definitely a believer in the Law of Attraction, as is Oprah. Her success in mind-boggling when you think about her start in life.

Less obvious examples I am fond of are Norman Wisdom and Louis Armstrong. NW was tiny because he was malnourished, his father was so abusive he once threw him so hard he hit the kitchen ceiling before falling to the floor. He needed to escape home so he lied and said he was older, in order to join the navy at I think 14 years old. He was able to make people smile and this pushed through so many barriers, that he became a global star, fondly loved in so many countries. Louis Armstrong was the son of a prostitute and largely grew up in a ‘waifs’ home, and he had such a sunny disposition he had a lot of fun there, even returning to lay in his bunk later to reflect on his fond memories. There is so much joy ringing out of his trumpet playing, it’s no surprise he ended up where he did - international star.

Basically, the right mindset and beliefs can completely overcome a difficult start in life and attract good things to you, but most people need to seriously work on deprogramming their negativity to do it. I think it is the most rational reason for believing in God or an ‘intelligent universe’ to change that mindset. You can’t think your way out of it, you need meditation, prayer, affirmation- spiritual/quasi spiritual practices to ‘know’ something different from what circumstances have led you to believe, deep down in your unconscious mind.

The breakfast bit is baffling. Surely you just wake up hungry, noticed and go downstairs to make some toast — what is ‘manifesting’ about that?

That was my point - manifesting and creating is something we do every day without even thinking about it. But we get ourselves in a pickle when we have limiting beliefs about what we’re able to do or with allowing ourselves to want, dream, ask for help etc.

I just looked her up, I don't understand is she Esther and Abraham?

@Greyador

I thought it was completely bonkers when I first started to listen to her! So she’s a woman called Esther Hicks who channels a spirit or collective consciousness of beings called Abraham (hence ‘they’ as it isn’t a single entity).

Esther was married to a man called Jerry and their story is quite interesting. Abraham talks about it (through Esther) in some of the talks that are free on YouTube. They were ‘business people’, very firmly not-woo, and they got into meditation in the 80s I think which is when Esther began experiencing this being talking to her/through her.

In a lot of the talks Abraham (through Esther) will use little stories or examples from Esther and Jerry’s daily life to illustrate what they’re talking about. Jerry died a few years ago from cancer.

Esther and Jerry must have made millions from taking Abraham on tour and writing books etc but they allow people to post up to 15 mins of clips on YouTube for free/without license.

Each 15 min talk tends to be someone from the audience asking a question or presenting something they’re struggling with and Abraham will talk to them about it and get them into a better place about it. So each snippet is like an example of how to soothe yourself into a better feeling place about things, which is exactly the skills you need to create and achieve what you want in life. It’s like positive affirmations but tiny baby step by step. She describes in some talks how you can’t jump too far in your feelings in one go (“you can’t get there from here”) and it’s about finding the next best feeling. Like walking up a ladder rung by rung. If you google “Abraham Hicks emotional guidance scale” you’ll find some articles explaining it. This is exactly what I’ve learned in (very expensive but totally worth it!) psychotherapy.

Look up Abraham Hicks Publications on YouTube as that’s Esther’s own channel and you’ll find some introductory videos explaining some of the terminology she uses like “vortex” and “co-creation” and the steps they talk about. Once you get what she’s talking about it all makes more sense.

The progression/creation through the talks is really fascinating to me because in a lot of the earlier videos people seem to ask a lot of the traditional life/universe questions eg why is there suffering, what’s religion all about, was Jesus real etc. But over time questions have morphed into people not carrying the weight of religious tradition and focusing more on finding contentment in life which I think is a representation of where the world is going now - moving from being submissive to authority figures like church holding the power, to finding our own power, responsibility and ability to create.

This. I totally agree and that's why I find this whole idea difficult even if I did want to manifest it.

It's a bit like religion and suffering/war/etc

@Peverellshire my method is very simple. I speak out loud when I am on my own. I say ‘hello universe’ and then list out loud all the things I already have that I am grateful for and say thank you. I then ask for the thing I need and explain why. When I am asking for it, I very much will it to happen also, kind of like really believing it will happen as I ask for it. I then thank the universe for listening and I often say that I know they will look after me and that I trust them. I repeat it a few times over different days. And that is all. Sometimes it happens right away, sometimes it takes a little while. I have asked for big things and small things. I actually can’t remember anything that hasn’t worked. I know it sounds crazy but there you go, not everything has an explanation.

Victim-blaming has nothing to do with it. I know someone who had an appallingly negative mindset who used the barely understood ideas to berate others. “Don’t be such a victim!” to someone going through a difficult, traumatic time.

People can’t be to blame or responsible for things they aren’t even conscious of doing, a little bit of compassion is in order.

The thing I found fascinating is that it is amoral. It amuses me that in Ancient Greece, Hermes wasn’t just the god of messages, travel and commerce - but of thieves and conmen too. The idea that criminals have a god working in their interests too, is quite out there in our post-Christian moral system, where virtue = worthy of reward.

The ancient Greeks had it down more accurately - a person does not need to be morally worthy in order to manifest greatly.

Thank you

Nope, load of rubbish. If you want something you have to work for it

I think it does, but for all the reasons people have talked about upthread. It's about being positive and looking for the opportunities.

You are right to be wary as MLM scammer bots routinely attempt to use Manifestation and Law of Attraction ideas to attract vulnerable victims to exploit. MLM bots lie about their success and wealth so are happy to con their potential victims using this ridiculous premise also. If (when) their victims fail, its because they didn't 'manifest' properly .

This!

It does worry me! People are very vulnerable and open to This sort of thing x

If you believe you are poor and unworthy then all the manifesting in the world won't improve your lot.

If you can change your beliefs to accept that you are worthy and you're living in an abundant world then you will attract wealth and happiness.

However you can't just decide to change your beliefs, it requires a huge amount of reflection, analysis, effort and time.

i keep getting sponsor ads on Facebook by someone called Noor Hibbert, she seems to have a cult following but it looks like some sort of money making thing, for her. There are even people getting in debt to pay for her courses with others encouraging them.

Its very popular amongst people like Will Smith, Jim Carey, Lady Gaga, Oprah and over here Noel Edmonds has written a book.

I try and live by positive thinking and passing good luck forward but who knows, I think as others say, you’re working towards it, buying the ticket etc which of course increases your chances. But I do believe in creating good karma and walking away from negativity to bring positivity.

You don’t need to spend any money. There’s loads of free content out there. Of course there are conners - there are people who will stoop low to get you to part with your cash - fake charities and all sorts. There are many very genuine people out there too.

If you are worried about being fooled, lead your own journey. Listen to free podcasts, watch free videos, buy yourself second-hand books from charity shops. Start meditating. Choose your own manifestation mantras and affirmations. It should be fun. Try it out.

Something I did when buying a second-hand car (absolutely dreading the process) was to say out loud that the process would be easy and I’d find the perfect car for me. Anyway after not much time spent online (maybe 20 minutes) I saw this car and just liked the look of it - the colour and everything. I wanted to go for it, but realised that one of my deal-breakers was about safety, so I googled “what are the safest cars [to my specifications]” the car I liked was up there - make, model and within the range of years. It was also an online purchase and was delivered to my door. Couldn’t have been more straightforward and perfect.

So start with that kind of thing to get into it.

Christ. So the ‘poor and unworthy’ just haven’t done enough reflection and analysis?

Who is ‘unworthy’ in your opinion @EmptyBedBlues ?

Not my phrase.

You described people as “the poor and unworthy”. @FunnyFunn said “If you believe you are poor and unworthy”. Talking about a belief, not a group of people. You changed the meaning to describe a group. So who do you mean?

Always gets me a parking space when I need one!

You need to ‘manifest’ reading comprehension. @FunnyFunn proposed a ‘you’, individual or plural, who believes he/she/they are ‘poor and unworthy’ and are hence unable to ‘manifest’ to improve their lot.

Should this ‘you’, single or plural, who believes this, change such beliefs to accepting their own ‘worthiness’ and that they are living in a world of ‘abundance’, with sufficient ‘reflection, analysis, effort and time, they will ‘attract wealth and happiness’, implying that they are poor and unhappy until or unless they have managed this belief change.

Therefore those who remain in the former category haven’t put in enough ‘reflection, analysis, effort and time’ to ‘attract wealth and happiness’.

This really isn’t difficult.