Misconceptions about the Law of Attraction August 24, 2014
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Concept of personal growth, Law of Attraction.Tags: achieving goals, goal setting, intention and manifestation, philosophy, positive thinking, self-improvement
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One of the more prominent recent concepts within the discipline of personal growth and development is the concept of the Law of Attraction.
One of the basic “principles” behind the Law of Attraction is that whatever we focus on strongly (such as thinking about something a lot) the Universe will take notice of and will help enable.
This applies to negative focusing as well as positive.
If we spend most of our thinking time focusing on the existing negatives and the potential negatives (our current and future problems; lack now, and future lack; what’s wrong now and what will be wrong with our lives) chances are that not much if any positive good will result.
Conversely, if we spend most of our thinking time on the positives of our lives and the potential positives, the likelihood is that favorable outcomes will occur.
At least that’s the theory. But there are two components missing.
Unless we believe in an interventionist Universe and interventionist God, then how does the Law of Attraction actually operate?
It works by coupling: (1) the concept of Intention (2) with Action.
If we look at any particular Intention as a goal, it is clear that to achieve it, we will need to have an action plan.
Stating, or writing out our Intentions and reviewing them constantly is a sound practice. It reinforces what we want out of life now and in the future.
But without related goal-oriented actions however, our Intentions will be little more than positive reinforcement, or at worst, wishful thinking.
Personal growth: Evolving from intention to doing April 24, 2014
Posted by Dennis Mellersh in Concept of personal development, Goal Setting and Realization.Tags: achieving goals, Analects, Confucius, David Hinton, intention and manifestation, personal development, personal growth, philosophy, self-improvement
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In our pursuit of improving ourselves through the principles of personal growth, we sometimes need to remind ourselves that achieving something we want requires more than good intentions and the study of principles.
It requires changing our mental approach and transmuting aspiration/intention into a concrete goal.
And, as we know, achieving a goal requires action – often a lot of action.
Especially if the goal involves significantly improving our personal status or well-being; or achieving a major lifetime objective.
In many ways, this is what the concept of personal development is all about – realizing our potential by using a programmed and action-oriented approach that converts desire into reality.
The ancient Chinese sage Confucius brings this to our attention with two suggestions:
“Don`t worry if you have no position: worry about making yourself worthy of one.”
And;
“Don’t worry if you aren’t known and admired: devote yourself to a life that deserves admiration.” (1)
In other words, if we want to make a difference in our lives, we have to put in the work.
(1) Confucius, Analects, as translated and interpreted by David Hinton in his book, The Four Chinese Classics
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