Law of Attraction

Senior Member Joined: Mar 05 2009 Posts: 223

obviously making yourself into a kli requires action as well, but the mindset comes first.

Posted: Tue, Dec 06 2011, 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: re: Law of Attraction

Senior Member Joined: Mar 05 2009 Posts: 223

So not being familiar with the law of attraction, my previous post did not address it, I was just sharing an approach to life that I believe very much to be true and torahdik, and allowing the other posters to see if that meshed at all with the law of attraction. From what you are saying though, the law of attraction totally eliminates hishtadlus. The approach that I have mentioned dictates that you have to totally embrace a belief in order for it to be real, and obviously one would have to think and do to make that happen. If we really do think things, it has to affect our actions. At the very least subconsciously. I think our lives are very much expressions of our values and what we believe, even the stuff that just "happens" to us or that we ourselves cannot consciously control- is all an expression of the reality we defined for ourselves.

This just determines how Hashem interacts with us, it doesn't define what He interacts with. Like you said with the lottery, just because we think it, or even get a ticket believing Hashem will let us win won't necessarily. Hashem still has the choice about what to give us. However believing that Hashem can give us in any or every way, to the extent that we even expect Him to, I think opens up our Kli wider, for Hashem to send stuff.

Senior Member Joined: Oct 27 2011 Posts: 186

Dont know much about the law of attraction, and also dont know if im adding anything new to this conversation, but here's my thoughts from reading this thread-
Making yourself a keili for brochos involves doing things. thinking about crops growing is very nice, and yes, one should tracht gut vet zein gut- develop the positive attitude that hashem will bless your fields that the crops should grow. but that has to come after you've planted the field. You gotta "help Hashem out"- give Him a planted field to pour His brochos into. and then think positively that yes He will respond in kind to your efforts.

Senior Member Joined: Oct 27 2011 Posts: 186

actually, the tracht gut vet zein gut thought process really should start WHILE doing the planting, not only after you've finished it.

Platinum Member Joined: May 07 2008 Posts: 8963

The only "laws of Attraction" I know of are as follows:

1. Particles of opposite electrical charge are attracted to each other.
2. Lighter particles are attracted to heavier ones (law of gravitation).
3. Animals of reproductive age (and sometimes beyond it) are attracted to members of the same species (and sometimes other species) of the opposite gender (and sometimes the same gender).
4. Money attracts money.
4. White fabric attracts dark lint; dark fabric attracts white lint; and everything attracts cat hairs.

Moderator Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 3378

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 12 2009 Posts: 13203

Once you start talking about "the universe" and "vibrations", well, you lost me.
Unless, maybe, it's sourced in the Rambam. But not if it's being espoused in the local alternative monthly or something.
_________________
The righteous praise and honor people for every good quality that is found in them while the wicked seek out faults in others to pull them down, even if they repented those deeds. (Rabbeinu Yonah, from Partners in Kindness)

Moderator Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 3378

Posted: Wed, Dec 07 2011, 1:44 am Post subject: Re: re: Law of Attraction

Gold Member Joined: Dec 21 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 1519

I've read an article on this very topic with sources from sefarim.So I believe there is a basis for this in yiddishkeit. I cannot quote since I don't have the article in front of me but if I can find it tomorrow I'll be happy to come back here and share it.

Diamond Member Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 3592

Optimism is good. Positive thinking is good. I realize this, even though I am a negative person.

However, the most optimistic, positive person I knew still got killed in a bus bombing.

We do our hishtadlut but we do not have total control over major issues in our life.

I'm not going to argue with the Rebbe, who was of course on a much higher madrega than I can ever hope to be, but he must have meant something other than that thinking good will get you everything you want. Maybe more along the lines of "thinking good will help you understand and appreciate that what Hashem sends you is what's good for you."

Or maybe I just don't understand anything.

Moderator Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 3378

Moderator Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 3378