The Law of Attraction is commonly associated with New Age and New Thought theories. It states people experience the corresponding manifestations of their predominant thoughts, feelings, words, and actions and that people therefore have direct control over reality and their lives through thought alone. A person's thoughts (conscious and unconscious), emotions, beliefs and actions are said to attract corresponding positive and negative experiences "through the resonance of their energetic vibration." The "law of attraction" states "you get what you think about; your thoughts determine your destiny." Many proponents of the idea claim that with practice a person can use the law of attraction to change their lives.


History

The idea that thoughts introduced into reality can attract like energy dates back thousands of years. Buddha states, "What you have become is the result of what you have thought." It can be found in beliefs as ancient as Hinduism. In the West, the idea of "positive thinking" became popular during the 19th century. One of the earliest known formulations of the ideas now known as the Law of Attraction is contained in the 1906 book Thought Vibration or the Law of Attraction in the Thought World by William Walker Atkinson, editor of New Thought magazine. Dozens of books in the first half of the 20th century addressed the topic under various names of "positive thinking" and the "Law of Attraction."


Principles

Proponents of the modern 'Law of Attraction' claim that it has roots in Quantum Physics, though how the Law is supposed to arise from the laws of quantum physics is not explained. According to the 'law of attraction', thoughts have an energy that attracts like energy. In order to control this energy, proponents claim people must practice three things:

1. Know what one wants and ask the universe for it. (The "universe" is mentioned broadly, stating that it can be anything from a god to an unknown source of energy)

2. Feel and behave as if the object of one's desire is on its way.

3. Be open to receiving it.

Proponents say that by abiding by these, and avoiding "negative" thoughts, the Universe will manifest a person's desires.

(Information provided by Wikipedia)