About the law of AttrACTION

Sarah Jenkins, MC, LPC is available for therapy and training services. She can be reached at 480-370-7630, on the web at www.dragonflyinternationaltherapy.com or email: sajenkins@mac.com  Sarah is an Arizona Board Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified EMDR therapist. Her private practice is located in Tempe, AZ. She specializes in helping women and men with histories of trauma. Sarah often works with clients to address trauma issues as they relate to their substance abuse treatment goals, and coordinates care with Inner-Work Counseling, a substance abuse IOP. She has served as a Clinical Supervisor for an EMDR based trauma treatment program, and is an instructor for the University of Phoenix and Arizona State University.

Maybe you can relate to this. I know a lot of folks who are learning about or working the law of attraction into their lives. The principles, just like the law itself, have been around for many years; they do work to manifest our intentions. I would also bet many of you have read the books, focused your thoughts, and written them down. How many of you have felt disappointed if those goals didn’t manifest as you had hoped?

Maybe this sounds familiar: "this law of attraction stuff doesn’t work." Well, it really does work. But, isn’t it interesting that it is also a Law of Attraction? You still have to do something. The universe still needs to see that you believe in it. Focusing on the law of attraction, alone, to manifest goals is just one piece of the puzzle.

Action As The Energy
I believe the universe listens to thoughts and feelings, as well as the actions that follow from your intention. If you want something, show the universe you are doing all you can, really can, to get there. Action is the energy behind your intention; it’s the gas that drives the law of attraction. In other words, it is not enough to solely focus your intention. You must also act from a place of "what I want is on its way." Even if you have fear, move in the direction of doing it anyway, to challenge it.

As you would probably agree, focused positive intention to reach a goal is necessary. Yes, we must focus on thinking positively, write down our goals, and stay future focused. You must also take action, demonstrate you believe in it, by doing whatever must be done to reach that goal in reality.

Unfortunately, folks may believe the universe has not heard them if they fail. Then it becomes "something is wrong with me," "I can’t do it," "I’m not important enough." Then, ironically, those beliefs are fed back into the universe, via the law of attraction. The negative experiences, sense of lack, and struggle to manifest continues—because the perception is, "I thought positively, and it didn’t work." Then the cycle of negatively continues. Unfortunately, we can’t just receive; we must also balance it with doing something as well. This is also how we manifest a healthy balance between our masculine and feminine energies.

I Think I Am A Little Like YouYou may be thinking this is easier said than done, right? What do I know? But, I may be a little like you. I had a goal and knew I had to put my "money where my mouth is" about this law of attraction stuff. I had believed in it for years, and saw life through that lens. But, when it came to my largest goal, I was afraid the fear would take over.

I desperately wanted to be in private practice. I finished my graduate degree, got my licenses, and worked in the public health system. But for me, it wasn’t where I wanted to be.

I’m sure you can relate to this, too, no matter what your job is. I sat in my small dingy office (that I shared with every other damn therapist), stared at the mismatched furniture, and the piles of ridiculous paperwork. I started getting burned out. I dreamed of my private practice and the freedom it would give me. I could see what my practice would look and feel like. I had the intention—and a ton of fear.

Finding Freedom
I did have enough self-awareness to know something wasn’t working for me anymore. I knew I could experience a sense of freedom, and enjoy my life like those private practice therapists I knew. So, I finally got off of my butt, and decided to jump in with what little information I had. I made the silly choice to tell my supervisor I was going to start a part-time practice. We had budget cuts. I got laid off the next month, along with many others. To make it worse, the small practice I started...tanked!

It was a dreadful time. In hindsight, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. In that moment, I realized I had passively expected my goal to just "arrive" because I wanted it. Ironically, that assumption was completely driven by ego, and not based in reality. I hadn’t done what I needed to do to make it work, completely. It was my responsibility that I failed, not the universes. I had to own my part in it.

My goal kept nagging at me. I tried again. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t think I’m any different from you. I was still terrified. I also knew a lot more because I had failed once. But I had to make the decision to really, I mean truly, dive in, wholeheartedly. I had to create action, even with fear. Then I was free, and I knew it.

It was when I actually dove in, completely terrified, that the universe saw my true intention. It paid attention to my doing it anyway, despite the fear. For example, even when I looked at my bank account, fearing it wouldn’t fill up again, I still paid myself. Otherwise, I was telling the universe I wouldn’t be successful.

I won’t bore you with all of the experiences I had to go through, resources I had to find, risks I had to take, the ups and downs, and the mistakes I had to make. I mean, who really wants to know all of that stuff? But, I must have done something right. I made it, successfully, and have my freedom. So can you, whatever it is.

Oh yeah, just in case you are one of those therapists who want to do what I did, to start a private practice, and feel that freedom, drop me an email. I have some free stuff for you!