Why The Law of Attraction May Not Always Work

The Law of Attraction is a powerful principle. In essence, the Law of Attraction means that what we think about becomes our reality; we attract into our lives things and people by the powerful nature of our thoughts. Perhaps you have recently seen the movie "The Secret," a movie I highly recommend (www.whatisthesecret.tv), which outlines and explores how you can create your life experiences with your thoughts.

It is true that often what you think becomes your reality. "Thoughts become things" according to one of the philosophers in "The Secret." The movie is an awesome guide to teach an individual to train his/her thoughts, and also to help one learn to manifest his/her desires on a level that includes everything from lining up parking spaces at the mall to creating the right home to relationship issues.

However, the movie placed great emphasis on manifesting material goods, and explored only a portion of what we experience as spirits in the material world. It also provoked a greater question in me: why doesn't EVERY thought manifest?
Truly, if we are living in a universe in which the law of attraction is a powerful, if not dominant, principle, then every thought would manifest; perhaps not immediately, as is explained in the movie, but manifestation would still occur with each powerful thought.

I believe, quite simply, that although many thoughts can and will manifest into reality after repeated, habitual, emotionally-charged desire, not all will manifest for a multitude of reasons:

1) We are on this planet to learn through life lessons, and as part of our life lessons, not all of the things we desire are in the realm of possibility for us in this life time at a given time. As an example, if you are here to learn patience, and you desire manifestation to occur at a rapid rate, then you are butting up against your own life path;

2) Your subconscious may be in conflict with your conscious desires. Perhaps you have a fear of failure or a fear of success or an issue with deserving more that conflicts directly with you conscious ability to manifest; and

3) There is a life force greater than ourselves and our earthly desires. This force, whether you call it God or the Universe or Allah or the Almighty, may not go along with your program.

In retrospect, I am grateful that not all of my thoughts manifested into reality. In the past, I have had emotionally-charged, negative thoughts about the outcomes of situations that were completely the opposite of the actual outcomes. In reality, things turned out better tha
I had thought! This is how I know there is a Higher Power that guides and directs us, and how I also know that not every thought will, or is meant to, become a reality.

If we are to believe that we can manifest anything we desire, we set ourselves up for a lot of self-recrimination and frustration. While it is great to think more positively, and to create an abundant life, it is not good to be so self-centered that we think that were are only here to bring stuff into our lives.
Only in a world wrapped up in the greed and self-centeredness of industrial prosperity would we call a principle such as the Law of Attraction, which is designed primarily to bring physical desires into physical reality, “spiritual.”

Being on this planet is about learning; sometimes, that is a painful process for the highest possible growth. Sometimes, you don’t get the “stuff” you want, but you get the things that you need. Often, the items you receive are on a higher order, not tangible to the naked eye, such as strength, trust in yourself and in God, guidance and an inner peace or knowing that all is in order. How can you put a price on those items?

Therefore, do not judge another's experience if they do not seem to be manifesting what they desire. Likewise, do not judge yourself too harshly, either, if what you THINK you desire is not coming to fruition. There is more to life than just manifesting stuff or lining up parking spots.