“Contrast” and the Law of Attraction
–James Mick Nolan, Ph.D.
The Law of Attraction literature talks much about “Contrast”, which on my better days I can see for the gift it is. Contrast is the felt difference between what I WANT and what I am experiencing in the actual. Contrast, handled incorrectly, can lead me to discontent, frustration, resentment, and the emotions in the direction of “feeling worse.” But used correctly, contrast is great information. It is my internal GPS telling me I’m heading in the wrong direction. My inner voice, my higher self, my more aligned and connected being.
As I move into another period of transition and evolution, I have been experiencing much contrast in the form of negative people/interactions, dull, soul-numbing meetings, over-regulation and control measures from external sources, which I allow to lead me toward not enough self-care, not feeling as physically fit as I would prefer, which I allow to lead me toward negative emotions and inner dialogue.
Crap.
None of that is anybody’s “fault.”
It is just the ever-evolving journey of life. Though not my “fault”, it is my responsibility to notice my own experience, explore my contributions to creating the contrast, and set intentions for creating something different—that which I want in my life.
As we tend to vibrate toward and attract that upon which we focus, it is a lot less helpful to spend time and energy on “I don’t want this experience, and I don’t want to be around these people, and I don’t want to feel crappy, and I don’t want to live here anymore.” Those are all legitimate thoughts and observations, but they tend to keep me stuck, attracting/creating more of the same, and they tend to lean me into blaming others and feeling victim-y.
Not helpful. Feels good for like one minute. But not helpful in the least.
For me (and this is pretty much straight Principle of Attraction stuff), the better strategy is to focus my attention, energy, and vision toward what I do want, what I believe would bring me satisfaction, comfort, joy, abundance, or whatever it is I’m looking for.
- What are the feelings I want to feel? Positive, optimistic, unpressured, free-flow, calm…
- What kinds of people do I want to be around? Positive, optimistic, energized, visionary….
- What kind of environment do I want to be in? Positive, free-flowing, lots of water and sun, a work environment that is as stress free as possible…
- What kinds of thoughts do I want to prevail in my days? “I love this life”, “I look forward to my days”, “I feel energized and fit”, “I like the direction of things in my life.”
Summary
I could go on and on. You get the idea. Pretty simple stuff, right? Less simple to put into practice. So many people bond around shared gripes, around hating Trump, or the Yankees, or airport travel, or, whatever else there is to gripe about. It’s not hard to get caught in that whirling vortex of don’t-go-there.
People (not me and you, but people) blame somebody else and feel like they’ve gained the moral high ground in so doing. Of course I do it too. Every day. I just try to to catch myself, write stuff like this to remind myself to shine my light of appreciation on Contrast, which, if I receive it correctly, points me pretty speedily in the direction of the life, the experiences, the people, and the emotions I want in my life. Catching it up front is the key, then turning intentionally in a different direction.
And these days I think Contrast is pointing me toward a big blue sea…
10.23.18
6:17 AM
Ojo Caliente, New Mexico
The Fireplace by the Wine Bar