Robert Hruzek over at Middle Zone Musings recently wrote a post on serendipity, which is when life hands you a delightful surprise, especially when you’re looking for something else. Has that ever happened to you? It sure did to me once. I was ready to go back to work after staying at home with my daughter for 10 years. My first interview had been that morning, and the vibes had not been good. They had been so bad, as a matter of fact, that on the way home I had stopped to buy a book entitled, How to Interview For a Job.
Then that very evening when I went to the grocery store I saw a fellow who had told me many times to let him know if I were ever interested in going back to work. So in the course of a couple of days he got me an informal interview with his boss, who said as soon as we met, “I’ve been looking for someone like you for the past 20 years.” Yes, that was completely unexpected and a delightful surprise. It ended up being the best job I ever had, with plenty of challenges, a great salary and benefits, and travel, including trips to Europe.
Some people might say that was the law of attraction at work, but I don’t think so. I think it was past preparation and incredibly good luck. If it were the law of attraction, then what would I say about another friend of mine who a few years earlier was diligently looking for a job? After one particularly hard day she went out on the patio of our apartment building to relax and replenish her spirits. Instead a bird flew overhead and dropped a load on her. I still remember the look on her face when she said, “It’s hard not to take this personally.”
As I understand it, the basic idea of the L.O.A. is that our thoughts have energy that attracts like energy. Which means
- if we focus our thoughts and energy on what we want,
- transmit that energy to the universe in the form of great feeling and action, and
- are open to receiving what we’re focusing on,
then what we want will inevitably come to us. The process is as natural as the law of gravity.
The truth is, I wasn’t looking for the type of job I was offered. I had been taking some classes in computer science at our local branch college to bring me back up to speed… I was aiming for a challenging job using some of the more sophisticated computer languages. But my new boss was excited about my background in physics, not just in my ability in programming. When I told him I was thinking of getting a Master’s degree in Computer Science he said, “Frankly, I don’t have much respect for computer scientists.” So much for that idea. I just shrugged and answered, “Well, physicists are usually snobs.” It was clear we were a great match.
No, I’ve always believed in building a solid foundation, but I also believe in being flexible and open to serendipity, to the luck that comes my way. What about you? What do you think?
I believe in the Law of Attraction, with an asterisk. And that asterisk is that in addition to we need to actively work at getting what we want, once we’ve determined what it is. And that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. Or even what we had originally thought we wanted. I see it as a process. A process that will have highs and lows. But, if our thoughts remain on what it is we really want, we can eventually get there. It becomes a matter of how much work and effort we’re willing to put in. It reminds me of a quote by Thomas Jefferson – “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
The more I think about it, I’m not sure if this is really the Law of Attraction at all – but that’s how I would define it for me. It’s about having dreams, keeping them in the forefront, and working hard to make them come true.
Sounds like you really found what you were looking for, and that’s awesome!
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I think the Law of Attraction leaves out the hard work. Attraction = Attract + Action.
Opportunity favors the prepared mind – that is a tag line for Black Rock. I like that sentence since we are more open to what happens around us when we are prepared.
Personally I prefer The Manifestation Wheel to the Law of Attraction. The manifestation wheel does include preparations as well as action. Plus a nice dose of sustainability.
In my experience, I’ve always found this expression to be true – “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” If you pursue your dreams with passion and energy, good things happen.
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Hey, it’s great to know that you managed to find a job that sounds like a perfect fit. You may have simply attracted the vibes of the job that you are being offered, even though you aren’t really looking for it specifically. On the other hand, there may be some divine guidance to tell you to look this way!
Thanks, everyone. I think we all agree that work/preparation is an important part of the equation. It’s no guarantee, but it sure increases our chances. 🙂
Hi Jean,
Law of Attraction is something I believe in, though my understanding from the various sources I’ve studied on it, is that taking inspired action certainly speeds up the process of manifestation. Inspired action means sending our your visualisations with passion and enthusiasm, then taking steps toward your end-point with the same passion and enthusiasm. Of course there are some camps that belief that you only have to “put it out there” and sit back and wait, but my guess is that they’re also the people who chase after pots of gold at the end of the rainbow! Serendipity, for me at least, is the universes way of telling me I’m on the right track. Great work on the new job, may it be all that you want it to be.
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Jean, all I can say is, “What they said!” 😀
Seriously, I’m glad you were in the right place at the right time. It’s happened to me as well. But without the preparation, and literally everything that went before, it would have probably passed you by.
The so-called “Law of Attraction” is simply the name some folks give it because they don’t understand it. (People tend to do that, you know…)
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I believe that serendipity is the LOA! Let me give a true story. I am now in retirement and getting bored. I can easily get a job, but I will have to shift to another town from where I now reside, as for my area of speciality, I have no opportunities here. I have been looking for some kind of work that will allow me to stay here.
Recently, I have joined a social network of people with common backgrounds. In one group mail, one member asked for someone with my background. I responded and asked if my age would be acceptable. It was not only acceptable, matters have moved quite a bit since that exchange of mails and I am very likely to get engaged in something useful shortly, in the same town that I live in.
There were just too many ‘coincidences’ in this development. It has to be the LOA in action.
Tracey,
The great job didn’t last forever, of course. Eventually it was time to move on. I wrote about that over at Transforming Stress: What I Learned From Being Downsized.
Robert,
Yes, luck happens. In a couple of weeks I’ll write about how to increase our chances of having good luck.
rummuser,
I’m happy for your good fortune. But I still don’t believe in the LOA. See below.
Everyone,
Luck happens, both good and bad. There are no guarantees in life. I’ve known too many people who have worked hard, had positive attitudes and still have had bad luck. The story closest to me is my sister-in-law. She was internationally famous for her work in phonology, but when she died of MS this past July 18th she could communicate only by blinking her eyelids. One of her obituaries said:
“Cathe was a person of enormous determination and spirit. When she was diagnosed with MS in 1987, she refused to tell anyone except for close friends and family, as she did not want it to interfere with the pursuit of her work and her passions. Knowledge did not begin to become public until the Laboratory Phonology meeting in Oxford in 1993. Her speech, which ironically was one of the earliest motor systems affected by the disease, disintegrated during her commentary at that meeting, much to the shock and dismay of her friends and colleagues. This was the last talk she was to present. She did nevertheless continue working, with increasing difficulty, from home. Determined as ever, she worked out clever strategies for sliding from bed to her computer, so she could, with failing eyesight, work on grant proposals. ”
Nope, I don’t believe in the LOA, but that’s no reason not to give life your best shot and to enjoy the process.
I believe that LOA may have *some* truth to it – but not nearly as much as books such as “The Secret” convey. No way.
What about people with horrible attitudes and yet do great in this world? I could go on and on – there is obviously things that happen in this world that are completely and utterly independent of our negative or positive thoughts. Period.
Either way, serendipity is wonderful!
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Jean, I can understand your angst and the logic for not believing in LOA. I did not for a moment suggest that I believed in LOA. If you see my comment I said that serendipity is LOA. There is a great deal of difference between the two statements.
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rummuser,
Thanks for the clarification. Again, I’m so happy for you. You deserve a hefty dose of serendipity! 🙂
Hi! I am just returning the blog visit. I really like your posts. I do believe there is some type of law of attraction. Maybe we don’t understand it correctly but maybe it also has to do with being more open. But I also agree there is some work involved. I don’t think people can turn it into the law of hope where all you do is hope for something to land in your lap. You have to work in the direction you want to go in. I feel a little bad but had to laugh at your friend’s funny story with the bird droppings.
Am I the only one out here who DOESN’T believe hard work has much to do with luck? I know plenty of people, myself included, who have worked with wild passion and determination….and failed (this is particularly true of writers).
I believe the key element in your discovery of that job opportunity after 10 years being an at-home father was your flexibility. Something came along, and that something was quite different from what you were imagining for yourself. Yet you simply answered YES.
I believe in saying YES.
Good examples can often be found in the search for romantic love, especially when it’s the second or third time around and you’re using a service like Match.com. All too often, people are rigid about who they feel is their correct match. I first said NO to the man I’m now with, then a second NO. Until, finally, I saw the light and said YES. My perfect mate!
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teeni,
She saw the humor in it, too. It reminds me of a birthday card my daughter sent to my husband once:
Oh, life is so like a bluebird
The poet Omar hath said.
Sometimes it sings at your window,
And sometimes it dumps on your head.
I always think of those lines when life starts dumping on me. 🙂
Jody,
I certainly believe in being flexible. The hard work part depends on what you want. People who want to be professional or Olympic athletes need hard work as well as luck.
I’m glad you found your perfect mate! I do think great marriages sometimes need to be worked at. They also shake up some of our preconceived notions and so require flexibility. What do you think?
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I’m not a believer in the law of attraction. I don’t see much evidence for it.
I do believe it can help people feel optimistic, bringing some good results – and so leading to belief in it.
I’m all for positive action, but I think it is action and serendipity rather than a ‘law’ of the universe.
Evan,
I agree. Thanks for coming by. 🙂
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I completely believe in the law of attraction.
wholly.
vision board here.
gratitude board here.
oh and a whole lotta hard work here to boot 🙂
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MizFit,
🙂 I’m glad it works for you. Please keep us posted on what you’re doing and how it turns out.
Personally I love it all….that is all your posts…here on the subject.
Personally I love the Divine Intervention statement….
Though I think many of this is heading in the right direction eventually.
And the comment on consideration of presence of negative thoughts yet a life lived in success and achievement.
Life is like a bird…
I do believe in your awareness promotes certain possibilities to occur. And active pursuit….of it.
As if natures dumping its waste says see I told you so…
Though it can delay you if you let it.
Maybe its about staying open and one of my favorite words flexibilty… to embrace what comes during your plan and actiivity and that ever present examining and feeling out the fit for your highest good and those others with you in it?
Some times revision is needed.
Diane,
It sounds as if we’re on the same wavelength. My basic philosophy is “Stay curious and open to life. No matter what happens keep learning and growing. Find what you love to do and find a way to share it with others.” It’s a good balance between being open and still having a sense of direction.
I’d like to know more details about how it all works in your life.
Jean,
That seems to be true! I would say my focus is love and spontaneity. To be unbound at least from the ties yet completely grounded to the now. I am still in discovery!
Yet it is in the details of what I listen to though it seems far out there to many. It has its relevancy I guess to feeling right though not acceptable by many standards.
Jean.
It more like paying attention like knowing but not.
It is always hard to put into words….
I am glad you experienced serendipity. I truly believe that serendipity is LOA. While you are living your life, discovering through experience the contrast that defines what you want, even if you are not openly expressing it, you will attract it. How else would you get something that fits you so perfectly? The event was serendipitious, yes, but happens frequently when LOA is expressed to us daily.
John,
My trouble with that idea was I didn’t really want that job to change the way it did later. And a lot of people who do the right thing don’t wind up with what they want.
To see what happened to that job see Making Hay While the Sun Shines: http://cheerfulmonk.com/2008/09/08/making-hay-while-the-sun-shines/.
It makes more sense to me to assume we won’t always get what we want, so keep working, appreciate the good times when they come and learn and grow from the “not so good times”.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Loving this blog, really usefull for me.
hmmm. very very interesting.
i’m inclined to think that if you’re thinking in your mind that the whole world is pooping on you…
then a little bird will come along and finish the job.
i do believe a bit in the law of attraction… but to a degree.
i just relate better to positive people than to negative. and i do feel there are auras of positive energy or negative around us. i don’t presume to know if it works somehow with the universe though!
but very interesting discussions!