The “Vibe” part of the law of attraction conversation is both central to understanding how it works and the one aspect of this principle most criticized by skeptics and nay-Sayers.  Most authors I’ve read regarding the law of attraction offer a somewhat complicated description of quantum physics as an explanation for understanding the importance of “vibe” in the attraction process.  I think this effort has produced some good results, but often times, unless you understand quantum physics, having the knowledge doesn’t do much to prove helpful.

While I applaud the effort and the results of the quantum physics arguments in law of attraction, I believe their practical application in the lives of everyday people is questionable.  My question is this,

“What benefit is intended by offering a description of the quantum physics of vibration?”

If the idea is to make this and other universal principles more accessible and useful to more people, then perhaps cutting past the quantum physics, at least in the short term, can be more beneficial. 

At its heart the introduction of the quantum physics conversation can be understood as a device used to help your conscious mind grab hold of certain concepts that are useful in deliberately creating your life.  The quantum physics conversation is intended as a way to transform your consciousness helping you think in terms of the universal principles, like law of attraction. 

The transformation in consciousness implied is different from the kind of consciousness we typically associate with our waking hours.  The rational, selective processes distinguishing between who we are and who we are not; sifting through the data of our daily experience looking for that which we prefer versus that we dislike.  This is the consciousness of our identity, our ego, or sense of self, our personality.  This is what we are typically referring to when we’re talking about our mind.      

The education of our mind is what our process of education is all about.  But what we typically don’t realize is the extent to which our educational process is also training non-conscious levels of our experience such as our intuition.  The kind of intuition that informs a mechanic of what might be causing that strange sound coming from your car, or when your doctor offers several labels in response to a description of symptoms. 

Our education provides a context assisting in the formation of concepts out of an otherwise undifferentiated mass of data.  Our success as a species has been dependent upon our ability to effectively educate our minds.  The result has been the development of technologies that transform our interaction with the world and each other.  The changes brought by this process have been increasing in speed and intensity creating pressure to adapt to an ever-changing and sometimes uncertain world. 

The pressure created is forcing a new type of consciousness transformation.  Not a throw-back to an earlier stage in human development, as some have suggested, leaving behind the benefits reflected in our current state of mental development.  What is implied, and what many believe is occurring, is the development of a new and inclusive consciousness that embraces the best of the previous mental models in a new model that is more inclusive, conscientious of our connection with our environment [social, economic, and otherwise], and with one another.  

Thus, I see learning law of attraction and other universal principles as something more than just a technique to get a new job, more money, a better relationship, or whatever else.  I see its presence at this time in our human history as a reflection of our collective need for consciousness transformation, a reflection of our readiness to find a new level of existence to which we are evolving. 

In observing the results of those deliberately using universal principles to improve the quality of their lives I’ve noticed a change occurring in their consciousness.  My conclusion based on these observations is that you cannot deliberately use these principles to bring things into your life without also inviting a transformation in your consciousness; essentially moving yourself in the direction of a spiritual awakening. 

Deliberate use of universal principles draws your attention to your source, and seeking to create and experience more abundance in your life is a direct reflection of your connection to your source, the wellspring of the abundance you wish to experience in your outer life.  The greater the abundance in your outer life means the greater the strength of your connection to your abundant source within. 

 Your conscious mind is a conduit through which your source flows and is given form on its way into the world.  Recognizing that the conscious mind operates by rules that are different than your unconscious is an important first step to transforming your conscious thinking mind making it a better conduit through which energy flows, rather than a place where the energy stops.

Best wishes,

Dr. Ralph W.

I was watching a television show recently that featured people who are struggling with various kinds of addiction.  My heart goes out to these people.  Granted, their behavior can sometimes be very difficult to deal with, confronting, even abusive.  It’s important to keep in mind that this is the addiction, the disease talking.  Despite the sometimes challenging behavior, I can still see the pain these people are in.  The addiction is so often a means of self-medication, and I know that in addition to the physical pain they feel, there is the challenge of confronting the emotional pain their addiction has covered up for so long.

In this particular show, a young man was struggling with an addiction to heroin.  As is often the case, the first few days in recovery are the worst.  As he was speaking about the physical discomfort and pain he experienced, he then commented about his emotional and psychological struggle.  He said, “I don’t know why God put me on this planet.”

The look on his face revealed the pain and desolation he experienced at not knowing how to answer this question for himself.

His comment struck me and made me think about what his experience can teach.  Perhaps because I work as a therapist I see more than my share of people who struggle with a similar sense of personal desolation; not knowing what to do in the absence of a sense of meaning for one’s life.

I thought about what it might be like to talk to such a person about Law of Attraction.  It occurred to me that this may not be such a welcome conversation, particularly at such a low point in one’s life.  It occurred to me that before someone in such a situation would really welcome such a conversation there would need to be some personal healing (that seems obvious, doesn’t it…).  But beyond that, the statement itself, “I don’t know why God has put me on this planet” suggests a lack of control;  a perception that the circumstances of your life (his life, in this case, but really anyone who is trying to successfully apply these principles) are in control and you’re at the mercy of these powerful forces.

It’s like a pinball in a pinball machine, bouncing from one bumper to another.

Knowledge of the Law of Attraction holds the promise of realizing your dream life, but it also calls on those who want to deliberately apply it to take full responsibility of the circumstances of their lives.  It’s worth noting that this is much easier said than done in most cases.  The way we, humans, that is, tend to interpret experiences and attribute causes seems to reflect a stronger desire to avoid responsibility than to embrace it.  Yet being successful as a deliberate creator means owning what’s yours to be responsible for; embracing your responsibility and in the process recognizing that doing so demonstrates your awareness of yourself as a powerful deliberate creator.

Best wishes,

Dr. Ralph W.

Earlier today spiritual guru, James Arthur Ray was arrested and charged with 3 counts of man slaughter associated with tragic incidents that occurred in Arizona last fall.  This tragedy underscores the importance of recognizing the psychological challenges that can be faced when seeking consciousness transformation. 

I don’t mean to suggest that the individuals whose lives were tragically lost or those who were sick or injured suffered from psychological problems, rather I mean to direct my attention to the leaders of these events, and their need to be more aware of the challenges their attendees may experience. 

It seems quite clear to me that a transformation is occurring in the collective human consciousness.  The increasing popularity of the message James Arthur Ray and others are providing is itself evidence of this unfolding transformation.  Each individual’s readiness to participate in the exercises intended to bring about this transformation needs to be assessed carefully.  Assessing each individual’s readiness to participate occurs to me to be respectful of the individual as well as the process they are expected to go through; to say nothing of the importance of calling attention to the leader’s readiness to provide a safe space both physically as well as psychologically for their participants.

How it works

Have you felt frustrated trying to use the law of attraction?

Hearing about these principles that are supposed to help you get anything you want is exciting.  Then you try it, and your results are less than you expected. 

Has this been your experience?  It was mine when I first learned about the law of attraction.  I didn’t know what the heck was going on.  Here I thought I was going to be able to get whatever result I wanted, only to find there was still something missing. 

I felt frustrated.  I set it aside for a while thinking it just doesn’t work, or at least doesn’t work the way I had been told it would.

For me it’s always been the case that I want to know why things work.  I want to understand the principles.  I’ve always felt that doing this I’d be prepared to meet any challenge, any situation I might face.  After all, we never know what’s going to be happening next, and I for one, wanted to be sure I’d be able to keep moving in the direction of my goals, knowing that circumstances weren’t going to stop me. 

It took a long time before I really understood how to use these principles to achieve my desires consistently.  When I started I thought my lack of success, the lack of consistency I experience was because I either didn’t understand something, or the law just doesn’t work the way I was told. 

Sometimes it’s the simple things we miss, the simple ideas that make the biggest difference.  I had seen the law of attraction and abundance spoken of so many times and never really took the next step in my understanding.  I’d even had success in the past using the law without realizing all I what I was doing. 

Now what I was doing seems clearer to me, and I’m finally able to speak about what how this is working, the simple wins that illustrate the way this works. 

I can’t count how many times I went forth in my day proclaiming my intention to think positive thoughts, be grateful, and generate a felt sense of connection with the outcome I desired.  Terrific strategies to be sure, but ultimately I found they weren’t enough.  Deciding that failure wouldn’t stop me was also helpful, but again it wasn’t, by itself enough to get consistent results. 

“We cannot manifest what we want, we can only manifest what we already are” says Eckhard Tolle, the spiritual teacher and author.  This simple statement opened my eyes to a new way of seeing what I’d been doing, how I understood the law of attraction. 

As I said before, it’s something the simplest things that make the biggest difference.

At the level of our being, the limitless self within, there is no time and no lack.  All things exist as pure potential.  That which I want, the success I desire, I must see as already existing, because at the level of my being it already does.  The things I interpret as mistakes, failures, short comings, are nothing of the sort.  My own mind interprets them as such because my mental apparatus, my ego, needs them to continue existing.

It almost seems like I’m saying we don’t need the ego, or at least we don’t need to have a strong ego, doesn’t it? 

In one sense I would have to say, yes.  But we have one nonetheless, so we have to learn to live with it, or better yet, work with it. 

Consider this…, you already are the things and situations you want.  There is nothing separating you from your desire other than your mind’s insistence that it hasn’t happened yet.  Imagine what you desire and realize that it already is, it already exists.  From there, all you need do is allow yourself to follow your inspiration to take action.  This becomes easier when the chatter of your mind isn’t clouding your vision, and cutting you off from the source of your inspiration. 

In this way, learning about the mental mechanisms that so frequently separates us from what we desire can be very useful, although ultimately not necessary.  If that seems a bit confusing, don’t worry.  It gets easier as you go along.  I’ll tell you how in my next post.

Achieving success and manifesting abundance in your life can sometimes seem like a difficult task to accomplish.  Please not that I’m saying, “seems” like a difficult task.  As many who have achieves success will tell you, manifesting a million dollars is as easy as manifesting ten thousand.  At first glance the reactions that typically make it difficult for those who don’t have a million dollars to achieve such a goal are readily apparent and usually occur as one question, “How?”  This question stops many would be millionaires from taking the steps necessary to attain the abundance they desire.  Faith and trust become the commodities that are in need, quelling the ego’s inevitable question of “how?” 

Throughout your life the ego functions to answer the question, “Who or What am I?”  This question differentiates who we believe ourselves to be from everything and everyone else.  The activity is consistent with its nature, yet it is also what makes it difficult to quite the mental chatter long enough to hear the sometimes subtle voices of inspiration that would direct us to the kinds of activities that can support our efforts to be successful, to attract the kind of abundance we desire. 

Having made the decision to change the circumstances of your life by increasing your income, or the status of your financial resources, you only need to quiet your mind and listen for the guidance that is waiting for an opportunity to come forth.  If you think about it, moments of creativity and insight usually occur when we’ve relaxed and focused our attention on something other than the challenge we’re seeking to meet.  Practicing relaxation on a regular basis can be beneficial to creating the kind mental space that will allow for your higher self to communicate with your ego, giving it the answers it’s been seeking…, how. 

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Theories about how you can expand your consciousness, break free of limiting beliefs and experience greater abundance and wealth abound. Recently I’ve seen articles that recommend an expansion of your beliefs in an effort to increase your “comfort zone.” The idea of expanding my comfort zone in order to experience greater wealth certainly appeals to me as I’m sure it appeals to many. However, there seems to be something missing. I’ve felt compelled to ask questions that get at the underside of issues, exposing the threads of the tapestry if you will, for most of my life. In this case my desire is to understand what exactly a “comfort zone” actually is so that we might better understand how efforts to expand it occur.

Essentially, the articles I’ve seen are speaking of mental issues. In this case, we’re not just speaking of expanding your mind to incorporate more in your vision, what’s also being discussed is the feeling component, actually feeling more comfortable with something different in your experience. The objective, of course, seems to be helping those seeking this information to find greater happiness and fulfillment in their lives regardless of what it might take to achieve that goal. One of the challenges I see, however, is that many only present part of the information necessary to support those seeking this information to actually attain their goal.

For instance, let’s take happiness as an example. There are many who spend a great deal of time and effort seeking after a sense of increased happiness. Yet then never seem to realize one of the most fundamental things to know about happiness… that happiness is dependent upon your perception of the circumstances of your life as positive. Let me say that again, your experience of happiness depends upon your perception of the circumstances of your life as positive.

Does this seem somewhat contradictory to what you’ve know to this point, or to what you believe you’re working toward? If it does, don’t worry. You’re not alone. If you’re like most, however, you may be asking what the implications of this information are. The significance of this information will be discussed in just a few minutes, but for the present time, there is expanding your comfort zone.

Enlightenment traditions tell us of an indwelling Self, a soul or indwelling being that is the divine animating spark of all life upon which rests the ego-based self. The ego-bases self is that part of ourselves that we typically think of when we consider who we know ourselves to be, the history, the potential future, the husband, son, daughter, father, mother, wife, the part of us that knows and occupies these roles. It is the self that gets created through our history of experience and or expectation for our future.

The indwelling and limitless Self (designated with a capitol “S”) is truly limitless. In contrast, the ego-based self (designated with the lower-case “s”) is limited in scope and perspective. The limitless Self, the level of our being, cannot be understood by the ego, the small-s self. No matter how we might stretch, push, or pull, we’ll never be able to expand our ego to a size large enough to understand Being, the true Self. In this fashion, all beliefs are limiting. Because beliefs are structures of the mind, the province of the ego, they can do nothing but to limit that which is formless and without limit, the true Self or Being part of our own human condition.

Thus, if wealth is what you seek and you are told to simply replace limiting, and “negative” beliefs with less limiting “positive” beliefs, recognize that all beliefs are limiting and the “negative” or “positive” qualities of a belief (or anything else, for that matter) depend upon the context in which they occur for the meaning to the individual. The “negative” and “positive” are two sides of the same mental coin that are both equally limiting.

So what might be the solution? Recognizing that the ego-based self is not the true you, it is not your true Self. At the level of your Being, the unconscious part of you there are no limits; there is no time. Visualize what you desire with great clarity and emotional intensity, and then allow it come into your experience. Detach yourself from the anticipation and expectation of your desire. You will recognize quickly that your mind, your ego, will want to know “how.” It will want to know how your desire will come into your experience. Notice this urge, but do not dwell upon it. Be alert and ready to take action you are inspired to take in support of your desire. With practice you will sharpen your skills.

As for the issue of happiness it is possible to say that happiness is dependent upon our perception of the circumstances of our lives as positive. At least, this is what author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle says. What might be the significance of this…? To realize that we can influence our ability to feel happy simply by changing where we have our attention focused. This will require some discipline which will be discussed in another article.

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I’ve spent a good deal of my time over the past 20 years working with the concepts associated with the Law of Attraction.  I was first introduced to the idea back in the late 1970s when I was exposed to the Unity Church.  At first I didn’t think much of the “thought for the day” program I used to see daily on my local television.  I just thought it was just another “church thing,” that is, another of the familiar ministries of the common mainstream religious groups.  I’ve got nothing against these groups at all, mind you.  I was a member for many years. I grew up as a Lutheran and recall quite fondly my interest in going to church each weekend as a child.  I simply found my interests changing over the years.  I wanted a message that revealed the underside of life, the inner-workings of what it means to be human.  That motivation has been strong with me ever since I was a teen. 

In 1980 I received a book for my birthday.  It was the “Metaphysical Bible Dictionary” put out by the Unity Church.  I found myself reading it much like may might read a novel.  Every day after school I would spend an hour or two reading from its pages.  It was this experience, I believe, that galvanized my since of direction and interest in philosophy and other forms of mysticism and mystery religion, and of course what I would come to find later were the principles related to the Law of Attraction. 

I didn’t know about the Law of Attraction under that name until I met Esther and Jerry Hicks in the late 1980s.  by then I had already started my journey toward getting my degree in psychology, and was a student at the University of Michigan.  The message that Jerry and Esther presented was mind-altering.  I immediately recognized the clarity of their message and found it attractive (no pun intended).  That the information was “channeled” didn’t trouble me.  As a child I had grown up with both my parents seeing spiritual mediums, readers, astrologers, and the like.  It occurred to me as common even exciting.  I myself had spent time in my late teens learning astrology and later I started to learn about Kabbalah.  I had long been interested in these topics when my parents would speak of them.  I would sit and listen as often as I could. 

Now my interest has changed again.  I’ve completed 4 degrees in psychology and have a considerable amount of knowledge about the mechanisms of human experience.  My interest in the Law of Attraction and other topics has never wavered.  It is this steadfast interest that supports my desire now.  I’ve decided I want to take what I’ve learned and begin sharing with others in the hope that there are others who can benefit from my experience.  It’s my desire to offer comments on other sites related the Law of Attraction and other principles.  There is a great deal of information in the public domain regarding this topic and not all of it is clear and not all of it is beneficial.  I’d like to try to help sort out what I and my clients and students have found helpful and useful, and what’s been less useful.  I encourage your comments and look forward to our ongoing dialogue. 

Dr. Ralph

How many times have you heard a statement like “unleash the power of your mind” in self-empowerment, personal growth and development literature?  I can’t even count myself.  There was a time when I used to accept these statements believing who ever said them was really on to something.  Don’t get me wrong, I still think this is a valuable sentiment.  I just think our understanding has evolved some and it’s helpful to try to keep up. 

Personally, I don’t think our mind has any creative power of its own.  It’s simply a filter, a pass-through point for the creative power.  Granted it channels that creative power by virtue of the thoughts one thinks, beliefs one holds, and attitudes one finds oneself in, but the creative power we seem to speak of so frequently is not its own.  So where does this “power” come from would be a reasonable question. 

The same animating force that gives life to the body is the source of the creative power the ego wields.  Yet the ego, the mind, seems to get the credit so often for the apparent creative ability of the mind.  This is a little like saying the hose is the same as the water that comes out of it.  Both work together to bring the water (life giving and vitalizing energy) through the conduit that gives direction and form to the unlimited and abundant life force within (the mind, the ego, or identity) resulting in the manifestations we experience.     

Could this change one’s perception of the Law of Attraction?  Possibly, it depends upon what you’re image of the way in which the Law operates has been.  I’ve found many who say they “believe in” the law of attraction also say they have not seen consistent results from its application.  However, one’s belief in the Law of Attraction and reference to it as “working” in their lives seems to reflect something else.  As a law, it is operative all the time.  Like gravity.  One wouldn’t say that the law of gravity operates only when one chooses to use it, or believe it doesn’t work for someone unless they believe in the law of gravity.  To “believe in” the Law of Attraction because one sees it “working” is really a reflection of the difference between the conscious and deliberate use of the law, creating deliberately, and an unconscious application of the principles resulting in a haphazard and inconsistent outcome.  This is a process of creating by default, as Esther and Jerry Hicks say. 

So what might be an alternative?  Operating from an understanding that abundance is the natural state of affairs in the universe.  There is nothing to “believe in” when approaching the Law of Attraction from this perspective.  Just as you “know” the law of gravity is present and works for everyone, so too does the Law of Attraction.  Starting from an awareness and knowledge that abundance IS the natural state of affairs, you need only decide what you wish to bring into your direct experience at this time. 

Keep in mind that the abundant nature of the universe includes the presence of those things you may not want to experience now, or at any time, for that matter.  However, saying “NO” to what you don’t want is simply inviting more of what you DON’T want into your experience.  The universe operates on the basis of inclusion.  That which gets included in your awareness is drawn to you. 

All beliefs are limiting.  It’s in their nature to be so.  Just like the hose is limiting the water, so too our consciousness limits and regulates the flow of energy into the world through our beliefs and where we happen to have our attention focused. 

Try operating from an understanding that the natural state of affairs in the universe is abundance, and then chip away at the conversation in your head that tries to get you not to believe it.  It’s just your ego trying to convince you that its input is necessary, and the only thing you need to consider.  Its input is valuable, but it’s not the only player in the game. 

Last week I worked doing interviews for a product I’ll have out sometime in early April. It’s called, “How Getting What You Get is No Secret: Abundance, Psychology, and the Law of Attraction.”

I can’t wait to get it out and start getting input back from the public. Something else happened last week that shows how this process works.

I finished the audio taping on Thursday last week and was focusing on writing some articles to promote my new product when I received a call from a friend who asked if I wanted to be on television. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I’ve never been on television before, and my first reaction was, of course, to say yes, but I was also quite nervous. I didn’t know what to say or how to prepare. I recognized that I’d become very anxious about what I might do.

Such emotional states just don’t help. They distract us from seeing the opportunities that are right in front of us. They also take a lot of energy to manage. I focused on just allowing the process to unfold. Each time I found myself feeling anxious or nervous, I just stepped back trying to see what I was really getting reacted to.

Old patterns that tell me “I’m not good enough” or “Why would anyone want to listen to what you have to say” just find their way up. This is just old thinking, and it’s grounded in an ego-based mindset that just doesn’t serve me very well any more (more about that in the next post).

Once calmed down, I found I had a lot of information available. The interview went well and although a little nervous during the taping, I was able to get my message out. What’s more, this is just the beginning. This has already started to blossom into other opportunities and the piece hasn’t even aired yet.

This, I felt, was an excellent demonstration of how the process works, and how we can find our own habits of thought and behavior interfering with the unfolding of this process.

As I’m writing this it’s Friday, March 13, 2009. The news piece will air on Monday, March 16. Abundance is around us all the time, all you need to do is let it into your experience. This is really the message of the Law of Attraction.