Many talk about the law of attraction. Surely it was made famous by the movie, “The Secret.” But what is it actually? Here is a definition in the book, Serenity: Steps for Recovering Peace of Mind, Real Happiness, and Great Relationships:

The law of attraction applies whether it is coming from your heart and soul or your thought system. You attract into your life the exact energy you send out into the universe–whether negative or positive. This has been said in many ways through the ages, for example: “You reap what you sow.”

Thoughts are energy. The energy of your thoughts vibrates through your feelings. Those vibrations go out into the universe and attract like vibrations. You get back what you send out. When you send out negative thoughts and feelings, that is what you get back. When you send out positive thoughts and feelings, that is what you get back. The law of attraction gives deeper meaning to the importance of dismissing thoughts that create negativity and allowing positive feelings to surface and attract more positive energy from the universe.

There is a principle inherent in the law of attraction that helps you stay out of your thought system–the fact that you don’t have to figure out how to accomplish goals that come from your inner passion. The universe will provide. You will attract ideas and people who will help you accomplish these goals.

Understanding that goals do not need to include pressure, try doing a meditation and have fun thinking of magnificent goals. Then just let go of all these goals and give up all attachment–having faith that those that keep coming back to you will be in alignment with your inner joy rather than your thought system. Acting on these ideas is fun and exciting instead of burdensome and overwhelming. It is interesting to note that it doesn’t really matter whether or not you achieve these goals. That is the paradox of the law of attraction. The happier you are in the present, the more likely you are to attract more happiness and to do the things that will attract anything you want.

Understanding the law of attraction can help you gain a deeper understanding of using your feelings as your compass. Many people try to use the law of attraction from their heads instead of their hearts. They focus too much on material gain as a means to happiness. As you might predict, they feel disillusioned when they don’t attract what they “think” they want. They miss the point that they are more likely to achieve material gain when they are following a passion from their hearts. The real secret is to follow your heart and to enjoy the abundance of your natural good feelings.

Adapted from Serenity: Simple Steps for Recovering Peace of Mind, Real Happiness, and Great Relationships, by Jane Nelsen (Conari Press, 2008).