The Law of Attraction: A Writer's Secret Weapon

The Law of Attraction: A Writer's Secret Weapon

This week we’re going to be talking about how you can not only improve your writing but rocket your chances of becoming a bestselling author. 

If you've ever found yourself drawn to the idea that your thoughts can shape your reality, you're not alone. The Law of Attraction, a concept as intriguing as it is controversial, suggests that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring positive or negative experiences into their life. This philosophy has been around for centuries but gained modern popularity through books like "The Secret." As an author, harnessing this concept can be a game-changer. Let’s explore how writers can use the Law of Attraction to their advantage and look at some experiments that have tested its validity.

Now before your inner sceptic dismisses the idea entirely, I want to tell you about some experiments that prove how the law of attraction works.

The Rice Experiment: Dr Maseru Emoto was a Japanese scientist who revolutionised the idea that our thoughts and intentions impact the physical realm. His rice experiment demonstrated the power of words. He had three containers of rice which he covered with water. Every day for a month, he said ‘thank you’ to one container, said ‘you’re an idiot’ to another, and completely ignored the third. The rice that received positive attention remained white longer and began to ferment, giving off a strong but pleasant smell, while the rice that was berated turned black while the rice that was ignored began to rot. Now, there have been many such experiments. One man carried it on for two years using three sealed jars of rice. While the jar he spoke loving words to kept the rice white, the jar he spoke negatively to quickly grew mold. But interestingly enough, the jar he neglected was the worst of all. It’s an important lesson in how we should not only treat each other, but treat ourselves. Literally, food for thought.

The Plant Experiment: Similar to the rice experiment, and there have been many of them recorded online.  5^th grader Samantha Petraglia and her classmates took part in the experiment to highlight the effects of bullying. They bought two peace lillies from the same nursery, and kept them in the same conditions in their school. Every day the students said kind and loving things to one plant, but bullied the other, saying things like ‘you’re fat,’ and ‘you’re ugly’. After only 6 days, the bullied plant died, while the other plant thrived. There have been many such experiments conducted including one by Ikea, to demonstrate the effects of bullying on children. The same goes for how you speak to yourself. There is nothing wrong with looking in the mirror and telling yourself just how amazing you are. And I know, we’re conditioned to shy away from it, but it’s actually very empowering. Mel Robbin is the author of The High Five habit it's a great book! She recommends that you begin every morning by giving yourself a high five in the mirror.

Dr. Masaru Emoto’s water experiment

Dr Emoto was one of the most important water researchers the world has known (who knew that was a thing!). For over twenty years, he studied the molecular structure of water and how it is transformed when exposed to human words, thoughts sounds and intentions. The images of his findings are profound.

In his book, Dr. Emoto demonstrated how water exposed to kind and compassionate human intention resulted in aesthetically pleasing molecular formations, while water exposed to fearful and negative human energy results in disconnected, disfigured, and “unpleasant” physical molecular formations. His research was conducted using Magnetic Resonance Analysis technology and high-speed photographs.

How to make the law of attraction work for you.

Manifestation Journals: Many authors keep manifestation journals, detailing their goals as if they have already been achieved. Anecdotal evidence suggests that writers who practice this tend to see more success, from completing manuscripts to getting published. Many believe that it's a form of self-fulfilling prophecy powered by belief and action.

The Gratitude Experiment: Studies on gratitude have shown that people who consciously count their blessings tend to be happier and more successful. Authors who practice gratitude for their writing craft often report increased motivation and breakthroughs. I never let a day go by without consciously being grateful for everything around me.

Scientists working at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at the Institute of Neurology in London have discovered that people who visualize a better future are more likely to make it happen. In the publication of their findings, the neurologists wrote that “The ability to construct a hypothetical scenario in one’s imagination prior to it actually occurring, may afford greater accuracy in predicting its eventual outcome.” And it makes sense, doesn’t it? If you’re open and positive to possibilities then you’ll make more of an effort to make it happen. When I worked in the police, I used to deal with people caught in a cycle of abuse all the time. One woman asked me why her life was such a car crash. She’d just finished with one man who ended up in prison for beating her up, then her next relationship was going the same way. Now I’m not victim blaming in any way, shape, or form. Nobody deserves such treatment but my point is that this woman’s childhood was not a good one as she watched her father beat up her mum, so subconsciously, her life choices were making her attracted to men who were more likely to abuse her in return. Sometimes it worked the opposite way and people became abusers. But it is possible to break the cycle and reprogram your thoughts where ever you are in life. It’s about being aware of what you’re thinking. And I’m not saying you should go around like the Cheshire cat all day, with a forced grin on your face. That’s not what the law of attraction is about. This is such a huge subject that I will be covering in a lot more depth in my writing course, so if you’re interested, subscribe for updates and you’ll be notified when the early bird deal becomes available.

The Basics of the Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction is basically built on the principle that like attracts like. This is not just in terms of relationships and material wealth, but also in the creative and emotional realms. For writers, this means that your mindset can dramatically affect your author journey.

As Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is the preview of life's coming attractions.”

Imagine the emotion around your thoughts as magnetic signals, what you consistently think about and pour energy into, whether it's your dream of becoming a bestselling author or fear of rejection, is more likely to manifest. Your perception of the world has a huge influence on your outcomes, and I often say to authors that before they start writing, it’s important that they work on their mindset first. It’s not a case of sitting cross legged on the floor and waiting for everything to come to you (although meditation is very good for your mind and body).

If you get up in the morning with the will to achieve everything you’ve dreamed of, you’re more likely to put in the work. And it takes time, you know? It’s not going to happen overnight. Which is why a lot of people give up when things get hard. But most of the time when things get tough, that’s just resistance getting in your way. Break through that, and you’ll see real change. Believe me, I know. I’ve been using the law of attraction for years. And everything else aside, who is happier, the person who complains all day, or the one who’s grateful for what they have and is focused on positive things?

Harnessing the Law Of Attraction for Writing Success

As an author, the Law of Attraction really can be your secret weapon. Visualisation is such a powerful tool. Close your eyes and imagine your book on the bestseller lists, visualize readers engrossed in your pages, and see yourself signing books at a crowded event. This practice doesn't just boost morale; it aligns your subconscious mind with your goals. Now, I want you to really get into it, use all the senses to make it real. What’s the weather like? What time of year is it? Are you cold or warm? What are you wearing? What does the room smell like? Is it loud? Are there people chatting? Imagine a line of people holding your book in their hands, waiting for you to sign. If you struggle to imagine this, then it’s even more important to work on your mindset. If you have aphantasia, it means that you think differently and can’t see things play out like a movie in your mind. But it’s not to say that you can’t make it work. Get a journal and write down what you want. Not as if it’s in the future though, write it in the now. You’re a writer, you can do this! Which ever way you do it, I want you to get so deep into this joyful emotion that a little smile creeps onto your face. That’s the real magic. It’s not just going through the motions. It’s feeling those good feelings, that the magnetic pull.

Positive Affirmations

It’s been proven that using daily positive affirmations can rewire your brain. Start your writing sessions with affirmations like “I am a talented writer,” or “my words flow easily onto the page.” For me, when I was starting out, the most important thing was my freedom. I wanted to work for myself and have the choice of when and where to work, as well as being able to spend more time with my family. So my affirmation was ‘thank you for my freedom’. I carried it around in a post it note in my purse so I saw it every day. Some people prefer vision boards, and if you like being online, then you can have a secret board on Pinterest for your eyes only.

Gratitude is also hugely important as it invokes all those lovely positive feelings and emotions. Be grateful, not just for what you want, but what you already have. Be thankful for the progress you’ve made, the words you’ve written, and the ideas that flow to you. Gratitude can create a positive feedback loop, bringing more to be thankful for, including writing opportunities. It’s amazing, the people you can attract into your life when you have a positive outlook.

The Law of Attraction For Writing

If you’re an aspiring author or a seasoned writer hitting a creative block, here’s how you can use the Law of Attraction in your writing:

Set Your Intentions. Write down your goals. Be specific. Want to finish your novel? Put a completion date on it. Looking to get published? Envision the acceptance letter.

Cultivate a Positive Writing Environment. Surround yourself with positivity. This could mean motivational quotes on your wall, a comfortable writing space, or joining a supportive writing group. The people you mix with can have a profound effect on your vibrational energy.

Mindset Shift. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Instead of saying “I’ll never finish this chapter,” say “I’m excited to see where my characters take me today.”

Reflect and Release. At the end of each writing session, reflect on how far you’ve come. Even if it’s one paragraph, it’s progress. Release your worries and replace them with hopeful thoughts. If you can dream it, you can do it. 

Well, I hope I’ve persuaded you that the law of attraction and the power of positivity are powerful author tools. I’m not saying everything in life is perfect, everything passes, the good times and the bad. But it’s how you cope with it that matters. And if you’d like to pass on the positivity perhaps you could share this on social media with someone who could benefit from a little positivity today. 

Taken from episode 9 of The Motivated Author Podcast.

Thanks to:

Video: The Two Year Rice Experiment

Video: The Plant Experiment

Video: The Water Experiment