Religion and the Law of Attraction
This new approach to personal development brought about through “The Secret” and the Law of Attraction seem fascinating. If you are like me, however, you are wondering how these new teachings fit into your religious beliefs. At first I was concerned. For example, if I could get whatever I wanted stepping right into my life through positive thoughts and feelings, what about all of the less than mentally healthy people out there attracting victims into theirs?! And does God just give everything we desire if we believe it? Or is there a purpose to trials and suffering?
I have discovered after researching the topic for months now that my thoughts and concerns were not unique. My purpose in this article is to be concise in what Ive found to hold true to my traditional Christian beliefs and the Law of Attraction as it has been portrayed in so much media lately.
First of all, what about all of those things I (you) sincerely wanted, and even prayed for that never materialized? Well, according to religious beliefs-God saw a higher, better purpose. According to the Law of Attraction, your unconscious beliefs may have been getting in the way, or your desires were not in alignment with our true self. It took me a while to realize that these beliefs or principles are in perfect sync with each other. If your desires come from your ego, you either wont get what you desire, or when you do, you will be greatly disappointed.
Second, The Secret says basically to fake it till you make it in regard to your emotional state. At first glance this too seems a little backward. After a deeper look, it goes right along with the age old teaching of gratitude. Be grateful for where you are, and what you have, and you will receive more. Use your talents, abilities, and gifts to serve and be happy and God provides more. Hey, Im starting to like this whole new aged approach to timeless principles!
Third, faith. Yes we’ve all heard of it. Some grasp it and practice it daily. Even the new Law of Attraction teachers agree that this is the key component. Whatever the Mind can conceive and believe it can achieve. An age old concept that I think we all realize to a certain extent. If you don’t believe something it will never happen. And believing it, and allowing the feelings of hope, love, joy and anticipation in while believing or having faith will spur our desires on toward us. As you can see these too are in direct alignment.
Finally, isn’t the whole point, the goal at hand in this life to find joy. Joy looks different for everyone. Some are happy to live alone in a shack. Some want loads of friends. Some money…you get the picture. So, learning to enjoy the journey and not get caught up in the end result is really what its all about. If you learn to enjoy the journey, being grateful, and serving others you have actually found your peace and may not need that end result you were seeking. Ironically, that is probably when you will receive. Both Biblical and new aged woo woo teach this. How nice to observe that the Biblical/Christian beliefs this country were founded on are actually getting some more media and attention through what has been dubbed as a secret or a universal law that none of us knew consciously how to use until recently.
It’s surprisingly refreshing that however you find this fitting into your beliefs, the teachings are really the same…God/universe, gratitude/positive thought, talents/source energy, child of God/part of the universe. Truth is truth is truth.