"Kehte hain agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho, toh puri kaynaat usse tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai."
This dialogue from the movie “Om Shanti Om” beautifully encapsulates the essence of the “Law of Attraction” — a belief that our thoughts and emotions shape our reality. Rooted in the new thought of Philosophy, the Law of Attraction suggests that “like energy attracts like energy", meaning positive thoughts bring positive experiences, while negativity attracts challenges.
This idea has captivated minds across cultures, influencing self-improvement, spirituality, and even psychology. But does simply thinking positively guarantee success? What if someone spends days and nights visualizing success but doesn't lift a finger to make it happen, will the Universe still deliver.
Before we move on to dissecting that, let's understand how the Law of Attraction works. According to LOA proponents, it works in three steps:
Step 1. ASK - Make a command to the universe. Let the universe know what you want.
Step 2: BELIEVE - Believe that it's already yours. It involves acting, speaking and thinking as though you have already received it. When you do so, the LOA moves people, events and circumstances for you to receive.
Step 3: RECEIVE - Start feeling the way you will feel once it arrives. Cultivate the emotions and gratitude that will come along with it.
Now the question is: does it really work as claimed? Let’s take a scientific approach to better understand how this actually works.
What Science says about the Law of Attraction:
The Law of Attraction (LOA) is often marketed as a universal principle that guarantees success, happiness, and fulfilment. However, it reveals that LOA is based on pseudoscience, lacks empirical support, and can lead to harmful consequences.
It claims that “like always attracts like” whereas in physics opposites attract each other. For instance, in magnetism, the south pole attracts the north pole and like pole repels. Similarly in electricity, positive attracts negative and like charges repel.
It emphasizes attracting material wealth which is based on personal desires rather than meaningful value, principles which reduces motivation for long term achievement. LOA suggests that our belief and visualization are sufficient for it to succeed, which contradicts with psychological and motivational theories that emphasizes the need of actions in goal achievement.
For instance, much psychological research has shown that goal achievement requires planning, consistent efforts and dedication which contradicts the idea of LOA.
"A goal without a plan is just a wish."
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
"I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance."
— Steve Jobs
Further, it also says planning supposedly signals doubt in the universe’s ability to manifest desires. Research consistently has proven that clear timelines enhance goal achievement but living as if goals are already achieved, LOA lets down the idea of setting deadlines.
For instance, a person in the middle of a forest on an island, trusts the universe to guide him/her and refuses to carry a map and compass because it will make him/her look like he/she is doubting the Universe. This shows negligence of planning and deadline to him reaching home.
Moreover, the LOA can lead to harmful consequences such as self-blame, victim-blaming, and disengagement from social contributions. Imagine a person recovering from a deadly accident or mishap being told that they invited this accident by their negative thoughts. Also, they might think engagement to social centres in communities, NGO, Welfare programs can attract those things in their life.
However, beyond the realm of science many turn to spirituality to make sense of the Law of Attraction—not through evidence, but through experience and inner understanding.
What Spirituality says about LOA:
From a spiritual perspective, the idea of "attracting" something from the universe assumes a separation between the self and the universe, which is questionable. From many philosophies, Samkhya to Zen emphasizes oneness- there is no external universe to ask, it's within oneself.
If everything is interconnected, what is there to be "attracted"? Rather than an external force responding to our thoughts we should shape our experience from within.
True power is not about controlling the circumstances, it lies within mastering oneself and achieving inner bliss, regardless of external outcomes. Also, we can't control the external factors entirely, so the idea of designing your own destiny can be said as an illusion.
Moreover, the universe is not something that we can have a conversation with. And those seeking connection often fail to engage with their immediate world. They practice Mindlessness over Mindfulness which is to manifest and obsess about things they don't have and ignore the contentment of the present moment.
Ultimately, the message isn't that one can't shape their destiny, but that true control comes from within rather than from an external force bending reality to our wishes. So, a more balanced approach combining optimism, action, and realism is essential for genuine success and well-being.
Key Takeaways –
- Positive thinking is important, and studies have shown it improves health, relationships and many more but it must be supported by actions.
- Planning and goal setting increases more chances of being successful than visualizing alone.
- Mastery of oneself is key to inner bliss and fulfilment than entirely relying on external force.
So, instead next time asking the Universe for something, why not ask yourself first “What effort I am taking to make it happen?”
Neil Farber (2024) The truth about the law of attraction. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-blame-game/201609/the-truth-about-the-law-of-attraction
Sadhguru (2023). The truth about the law of attraction - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxq1xzLhNgw
Byrne, R. (2006). The Secret. Atria Books.
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