The Power of Now and The Law of Attraction - Can the Two Be Reconciled?
71© Copyright 2010 Patrice Walker All rights reserved
Can Two Become One?
As I move through a radical restructuring of life as I've known it and taken for granted, I've been pondering whether or not two seemingly opposing philosophies can be reconciled into one. The first is the Law of Attraction as promulgated by the Abraham-Hicks teaching; the other is the Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle being the best writer I've found on the subject. Reading and commenting on a post at Ande Waggener's The Secret is Wags blog, prompted me to write this hub.
I say seemingly opposing points of view because one, the Law of Attraction, says that if we achieve vibrational alignment with our desires, they will manifest in the future. The Power of Now, on the other hand, says that the present moment is the only moment there is; the future (as well as the past) exists only in our minds.
Now the reconciliation I'm looking for has to do with happiness and discovering the most effective means of achieving it. Can we be happy now or do we have to wait until our desires manifest in order to be happy?
Here's my current understanding of "happiness" from these two points of view.
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The Law of Attraction
The Law of Attraction says that we can be, do, and have anything our heart desires. But when we desire something, believing that we don't have it, the foundation of that desire is lack, and this "lack" belief simply perpetuates the lack we're trying to get rid of with our desire.
But when we desire, knowing that we already are or have that which we desire, the foundation of this desire is fullness, completeness, wholeness. It's a desire to express rather than a desire to possess. We already are that which we desire to bring into manifestation.
It's easy then to let go of checking for results because the manifestation is assured; we've come into vibrational alignment with our desire. And we know this because we feel good. Checking for results, on the other hand, perpetuates the belief that we don't have it which, in turn, generates more "not having." And it doesn't feel good when we check for results and "see" that we don't have them yet.
Actually, results don't matter because we already are what we desire to be, and we simply want to experience the joy of expressing it. So what do we do while we wait for this particular desire to begin expressing through us? We enjoy expressing in the present moment, experiencing the fullness of who we are.
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The Power of Now
Suffering and sorrow ALWAYS follow pure joy and happiness when we look outside of ourselves for things to make us happy instead of recognizing the happiness, joy, peace, bliss, and ecstacy that already and always exist within us.
When we realize that a peace that passes all understanding (i.e., the mind can't understand it) is available right now and that who we REALLY are is that peace, then we don't need things to make us happy because we already are, if we can only become aware of it. We can certainly enjoy things, but things are impermanent. They are born, they live for a while, and then they die. This peace, on the other hand, is changeless, immortal, indestructable.
We're not aware of who we really are because we believe we are the mind, its thoughts, and external reality. But we are in fact consciousness (pure awareness, Presence, Being), the Source out of which all manifested reality is born and returns to. Things - as expressions of consciousness - come and go, including our bodies when we die, but this consciousness - which we can become aware of as ourselves - never dies. So we live our lives aware of who we are, and the only time/place that awareness can only be realized is in the present moment.
Can These Points of View Be Reconciled
See results without votingI'd like to know why you responded the way you did in the poll. I invite you to explain your response in the Comments section below.
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Thanks for your insights, must65gt! I agree, happiness is an "inside job."
PWalker281, I really don't understand it all. Most of it is based on biblical principles. I do believe that we attract what we are and if we desire to change what we are attracting, we ourselves have to change. Great thoughtful hub! 2 thumbs up! Pamela
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Pamela! And thanks for your positive feedback.
Yes, I too believe that change on the outside is a result of change on the inside. Eckhart Tolle says that change happens when we realize who we really are - Pure Awareness, Consciousness, Being, the Source of external reality. Abraham says it occurs when we're in vibrational alignment with who we really are and our desires -- Pure Positive Energy on the leading edge of thought. I think they're saying close to the same thing, just coming at it from two different perspectives.
Thank you!
You're welcome, tamlynken. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
This is interesting. I think the two lines of thought can be reconciled. I like the Hicks but I think when thinking about LOA only, it seems as getting something external, when in fact we need to tune in to ourselves, become our real selves, and the external changes, but in reality the external doesn't really matter. Abraham-Hicks say to tune in to ourselves, as to get in The Vortex, but I think it doesn't come out as clear, it seems focused on the external, on manifestations, not in the cause. I've been studying Ernest Holmes, and it's very similar to LOA (it's New Thought), but he says that we have the Divine Presence within us, and mentions I am. Other I am teachings go in that direction as well, some with a lot of mysticism in it, and also "A course in Miracles" helps clear the mind chatter, but it is also about aligning with our higher selves, changing our lives and getting things we want -"miracles".
I think if we only change external thought and keep thinking about attracting things, things, things, nothing changes, and no amount of stuff can make anyone happy. Happiness is now, but now is also part of a journey, and part of the fun is becoming who we are and manifesting it. I think life is action, movement, and achieving things is part of the natural cycle of life, wanting to bloom, expand and be recognized is part of life. A tree grows, bears fruit, everything in nature expands, grows, achieves more than it is just now (I'm paraphrasing Holmes very badly here), so I think looking forward to good things and wanting to manifest good things is natural and doesn't mean there's anything wrong with now. I'm not sure I'm making much sense. Kudos to you to make a readable hub out of it. Still, I think you nailed it in your comment: "I think they're saying close to the same thing, just coming at it from two different perspectives." So in the end it's the same, so you can reconcile both lines of thought (and keep writing about it, because you are good at it).
Hey loveyourpath, I see what you're getting at. For me, many people use the LOA as a way to get the things that they think will make them happy when happiness is an inside job. Abraham says to get into the Vortex. Eckhart says dis-identify from the ego so that you can become aware of who you really are, i.e., pure consciousness, formless awareness, Being. And the only "time" you can become aware of this or be in the Vortex is in the present moment.
So the LOA can pull you out of the present moment if you're not careful because you're focused on what you want which hasn't manifested yet. That's why it's important, once you're clear about what you want, to spend most of your time in the Vortex, in the present moment and allow what you want to come to you.
And when you learn to be happy in the present, your need for things to make you happy begins to dissipate, and your manifestations are more an unfolding from the inside out, an expression, as you say, of who you really are, as opposed to a grasping for external things.
Hope that made sense. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I appreciate it!
Yes, I think LOA can easily be misused and misunderstood, but the real essence of it is the same. Great Hub, it's good to think about those things. Thanks for replying.
Hi Patrice!
What a fabulous hub and question. As a fan of Esther and Jerry Hicks, Abraham and Eckhardt Tolle too, I humbly submit my thoughts.
There is one other author I would like to include here because of his incredible coining of the phrase "One Eternal Now," Dr. Tony Campolo.
My answer is, they can be combined perfectly as a paradox. Isn't that true of all life form? There are those who consider the Yin and Yang as one. In its description of creation of man in the Bible (Gen 1:27) man was created in the image God, both male and female were created in His image. Isn't this the same paradoxical anecdote? I think so.
So in my humble opinion the Law of Attraction and the Power of Now are two sides of the same coin. It is incomprehensible to me in so many ways that an all powerful, all knowing, ever present source of being would choose to endow such a paradox on an unenlightened being without reason. So I suggest that we are here to seek understanding about how to meld the two into one and the simplest answer for me is to elevate my vibration in the now and let go of every potential obstacle to being that which I already am!
May Peace Be With You!
Voted up across the board and sharing!
"... the simplest answer for me is to elevate my vibration in the now and let go of every potential obstacle to being that which I already am."
What a profound insight! Clearly, the present moment is where the action is, but it's a different kind of action than what we're used to.
Thanks so much for adding your wisdom to the discussion. You've given me a lot to think about.
must65gt Level 4 Commenter 22 months ago
Hi PWalker, interesting thoughts you've expressed But, when reading this I couldn't help but notice you may have answered the question that brought you to the mindset offering the inspiration for the hub. The answer lies within your query. You are searching for an answer to a yearning desire that we all at some tine have difficulty understanding and therefore we struggle with the issue. Having dealt with these very preponderances, I discovered that I was also struggling with moral issues at the same time. Am I happy with myself and am I secure enough with myself that I can offer someone else that same sense of comfort when they are with me? Without delving deep into the spiritual aspects may I simply state: Until we are happy within ourselves, we can not offer someone else the comfort and peace they are longing for. Strength comes from within and is subliminally visible to others. When we turn to God and place our trust in him, he, he promises to provide for us all Our Needs. We must decide if we are looking for a need or trying to fill a desire. One leads to happiness, one leads to false and temporary satisfaction. we must decide which we are willing to sacrifice. God bless you and bring you peace.