There is reason to believe that the universe is on your side.

In essence, the Law of Attraction is the belief that the energy you put into the universe is the energy that you will receive back. Positive thoughts and energy manifest into positive outcomes, and if you duly focus on something, you will attract it into your life. In summary, like attracts like.

While the movement, originating in the 19th century, pulls from Hermeticism, Transcendentalism, Christianity, and Hinduism, a lot of the scientific reasoning behind this practice falls into the realm of pseudoscience.

Overall, this practice is harmless, but any discipline taken to the extreme is dangerous. It is a privileged viewpoint to believe you have complete control over the circumstances of your life. One should never be accused of bringing tragedies upon themselves, such as in instances of illness or financial hardships outside of individual control. Most situations have far too many systemic and outside factors to be significantly influenced by positive thinking.

While the Law of Attraction’s “scientific” basis and explanations should be regarded skeptically, the fundamental ideas and practices that serve as its foundation can greatly improve individual happiness and general wellbeing when applied to everyday life.

It is in your best interests to develop the habit of facing life with a positive attitude. 

When one believes that only positive things will be coming into their life, those are the experiences and people they will be looking out for. When you are already convinced that you are “stuck” in any one routine or situation, you will be ignorant of the beneficial opportunities around you. Followers of the Law of Attraction can more easily achieve their desires because they are actively looking for and seizing the opportunities that will manifest their wishes.

The positive affirmations and thinking encouraged by the Law of Attraction can improve individual quality of life without any circumstances having to change. When you focus on what is going right instead of going wrong, you can better appreciate and be grateful for the joy in your life. Practicing optimism can improve mental health and make day-to-day situations happier occasions.

Positivity is the foundation for resiliency. While feelings of sadness and negativity are valid and expected in unfortunate situations, optimism can lead to more productive mindsets. Instead of wallowing in negative feelings, one can pick themselves up, utilizing a more hopeful attitude to problem solve and improve difficult situations. 

Of course, no one is expected to always be happy, but why be sad about something when you could not be?

The Law of Attraction’s practice of positivity can be extremely beneficial, but there are more ways to increase the positivity in your life outside of believing that the universe will return your positive thoughts to you.

One can surround themselves with positive people that will match their desired energy. Many can attest to the mood-dampening effect of spending too much time with someone who is always complaining and chronically negative. Your environment greatly impacts your mood–being around happy people will make you happier.

On top of this, even if you are not quite feeling positive, project positivity and happiness. As corny as it sounds, the phrase “fake it till you make it” has a lot of merit to it. Use kindness when interacting with others. 

Every day, try to be the reason someone smiles. Become the type of person that makes the people around you happier, and you will attract people and experiences that will enrich your life.