Does Dr. Phil Believe in the Law of Attraction?
OK, I admit it. I’ve been known to watch Dr. Phil on occasion. It’s not appointment TV, but between 8 and 9 o’clock in the evening when I’m relaxing after a day of work and then dinner, it can be entertaining.
So I caught part of last night’s show that featured a husband who was obsessed with spying on his wife. Spy-cams, GPS - whatever technology is available, he used it. He just didn’t trust his wife, although she had not had an affair - or at least that wasn’t revealed in the show. After he admitted to yet another way that he had spied on her, and said he just feels that she is having an affair and is going to leave him, Dr. Phil turns to the guy and says “Have you ever heard that old saying, ‘What I fear I create’?â€
At first I thought ‘yeah, everyone’s heard that before’. But then it hit me that that was a very “law of attraction” thing to say. Very unscientific from the standpoint of mainstream science. And yet, intuitively, we know it to be true.
It’s a good question to ask ourselves, even in the little things. How often does fear come up in our lives over things that we really don’t know for sure will happen? This also includes Fear’s cousin, Worry.
When you get in the car, do you worry that you might get in a wreck?
Do you worry that someone close to you is up to no good?
Do you worry that people are always out to cheat you?
Do you worry that others treat you differently because of your ethnicity?
Or maybe you don’t “worry” per se, but you just know that these things are true, and so you expect it. Better to be prepared, you might think, I don’t want to get caught off guard. But the mindset is the same - it has a basis in fear. True, a little preparedness is good, but at what point is the fear or worry really not justified?
Remember, “What you fear, you create”.
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Yes, fear though, is not justified. But it is ingrained in the human psyche. We should be ever watchful of this and try to be fearless as much as possible.
Good luck
Thanks for the comment, surjit. Struggle and fear do go hand in hand. We can live a life of struggle, or a life of surrender and fearlessness. The choice is ours.
You are about to be exposed to some Matt think.
I cannot accept the “law of attraction” for the following reasons.
1. It has been called a “law” but a law requires an authority to enforce it. The teaching of the “law” is always presented as without any external authority than oneself. Thus we can conclude that the wool is being pulled somewhere.
2. It is never directly called a principle but it is described as if it were one. This suggests a marketing ploy. Yes sales technique. follow the money and we see that the best teachers make the best money from books on the subject.
3. It is a redressing of an 1960’s “new age” / “cult” following on the topic of “the sleeping god” where people were encouraged to awaken the god within themselves. It was a great meme for selling LSD. The jargon has been changed but the form remains clear.
4. Why is so much money being pumped into “selling” this idea? This causes me to worry all on its own and again I look for hidden motives.
5. It plays on human greed - “have whatever you want”. The answer to having whatever you want is often to buy a book (see point 2 on following the money). But more importantly it promises power without effort. In doing so it offers a great reward like a dangling carrot. I have to ask who is dangling the carrot and why.
Perhaps I have seen too many scams but perhaps I am on to something…
Hi Lord Matt. Matt-think is welcome here any time.
I agree with much of what you have posted - but not the conclusion. I believe that you are reacting to the presentation of this concept and closing your mind to any reality of it.
Overall it does work. It certainly explains much of what I’ve experienced with regard to prayer and faith. Maybe that’s why I don’t feel the need to spend money on online courses in order to learn about it.
So don’t spend your money on things that you feel are a scam. But I would advise against completely dismissing a concept that could help you in your life. As many easter spiritual traditions encourage - “test it in the laboratory of your own life”.
I gave a fuller response as a comment to your post
The 7 flaws of “the law of attraction”, by Lord Matt
True statement, what we think about expands, therefore what we fear we create. It is amazing how much power our thoughts have on everything.