One morning, while sitting on my patio after a deep meditation, I started to ponder this question: Is there a deeper kind of life than the one you are currently living? is there more to life than acquiring all the material things you could possibly get your hands on?

The truth is, when things are going well in our lives, we don’t give it any thought. We seldom stop to think about life’s meaning when things are great. Let’s face it, most people out there are waiting for “the next big thing” to come up, so that they can be the first person to get it.

It’s the whole principle of “keeping up with the Joneses.” If the Joneses have it, I have to have it, too, or something better. Nowadays it’s easier to get sidetracked and distracted by the media and what we see on TV. Everybody wants what the people on TV have. Society has taught us to live in a world of fantasy; therefore, we find ourselves living in a superficial world without any substance and without any love for ourselves and others. The belief is, “If I don’t own this thing, I am nothing.” We start identifying ourselves with material things. Do you feel you need to acquire material things in order to feel loved and satisfied?

Understand, there is nothing wrong with having nice things, and always aiming at having better. However, if you only find happiness by having instead of being, you may want to look at your life and consider shifting your focus. Instead of focusing on finding fulfillment through external things, try to focus on the happiness that comes from within. Feeling the need to accumulate things in life in order to feel loved and satisfied will only leave you craving for more, because when the excitement wears off, you will likely find yourself empty and dissatisfied.

It’s like being thirsty and drinking only soda or coffee to quench your thirst. Nothing can quench your thirst better than water. You cannot rely on soda or other liquids to do an adequate job, because you will always be thirsty. Take the time to breathe and to reflect on what’s important in your life. If you do this, I guarantee you will find the bigger reason behind why you are only focusing on having instead of being.

This concept doesn’t apply to just physically acquired things or financial reward. It also applies to the need to constantly collect accomplishments or recognition. You have to ask yourself why you are constantly seeking this recognition. Does it make you feel better somehow? Why is that? Do you think people will like you because of this recognition? Why do you want to be liked? Keep exploring the “Why’s,” and at the bottom you are going to find that you are searching for something externally that you need to fill yourself first by connecting to the Universal intelligence. Make taking care of your true self a priority, and you will likely see that the superficial life for what it really is.

Stress is a feeling that’s created when we react to particular events. It’s true that there are certain situations where stress is good, and even critical — slamming on the brakes, for instance. That acute reaction to stress is what keeps you from colliding with another car.

Another more mild form of stress is where you feel the pressure is on, but there is no imminent danger, like stepping up to score the winning penalty kick in a soccer game. In this case, stress is good because it keeps you on point and ready to rise up to a challenge. Any good athlete uses stress to drive them forward to overcome any obstacle they may face.

However, we all have known times when stress doesn’t happen in response to something immediate. It may occur as a result of long-term events, like coping with divorce, moving to a new neighborhood, starting a new job, or worrying about losing a job. That is the type of stress we don’t want, as it can have a significant impact on the Law of Attraction.

Why is that? Because, as we know, thoughts are things and what we cultivate in our subconscious mind is what we manifest into our reality. In other words, when we let negative or stressful thoughts into our conscious mind, these thoughts become firmly entrenched in our subconscious mind.

The more we believe an idea to be true, the more we tap into that energy in the Universe, creating more of what we do not want in our lives. That is, if we focus on stressful things, we essentially bring more of those stressful things to us.

You may notice a snowball effect, like seeing someone’s stress begin as something very minor, but then watching it grow. As it gets bigger, it continues to create more and more of that chaotic energy in their lives.

We are psycho-physical entities, meaning the mind affects the body, and the body affects the mind. Therefore, when faced with a stressful situation, your body doesn’t know what the facts are — it’s reacting to your thoughts and moods in order to find that balance between mind and body.

A great example is people who are overweight. They may focus on the fact that they are heavy, that they feel heavy, and they can’t do the things they want to do in their lives. By manifesting this idea within their subconscious, they are, in fact, keeping themselves heavy.

Instead, they should focus on the lightness of being, and the freedom of their body moving through the world, whatever size it may be. The more you think the negative thoughts, the more your subconscious is going to bring those negative things into your life.

There are many myths around the Internet regarding the Law of Attraction. Buying into some of these ideas can actually hamper your success. What’s at the core of the Law of Attraction? What are the best practices you should follow?

I recently found a blog post on the Law of Attraction Tutor about Five Things to know about the Law of Attraction, which got me to thinking about what I believe about it.

Here are five important things I think everyone needs to know about the Law of Attraction:

1) Awareness

You cannot do ANYTHING until you take control of your mind. It’s really the only quality we have that nobody else has, that nobody can take that away from us. We can decide what we choose to listen to, or not. That is the power of awareness. You need to be conscious of the thoughts that you are letting into your subconscious mind.

2) Avoid Limiting Beliefs

The LOA Tutor lists this as his #5 belief, but I think it’s one of the most important ones: Once you become aware, you are able to neutralize the limited beliefs. You know when something bad comes into your mind, you can diffuse it by not letting it set in your mind. Many times, this means that you need to get rid of the perceptions and preconceived notions things you were exposed to early in your life.

3) Setting Clear Intention

The next step in applying the law of attraction is knowing exactly what you want. When you set an intention, you need to be very specific. You also need to be very positive. If you are visualizing something and simultaneously feeling negative energy about something surrounding that thing, you are actually giving power to the negative thought. By telling the Universe exactly what you want, you are instructing it on where you are headed and how it can support you in getting there.

4) Taking Action

You have the Law of Attraction, but you also must consider the Law of Actions. You have to take action. I can sit here and talk about all the things I want to be, such as, “I want to be an Olympic champion.” Unfortunately, there is no way I’m going to become an Olympic champion if I don’t lift any weights. It’s just not going to happen. I’m not going to make the Olympics if I’m not practicing any sports. I can visualize myself playing basketball and making three-pointers every time, but if I never go to the court to put in some time and effort into what I want to be, it will not come to be.

5) History of Law of Attraction

The LOA Tutor reminds us that the true Law of Attraction is not a flash-in-the-pan idea. It has actually been around for quite a while, some say as far as 100 years back. Self-help books from 50 – 75 years ago teach the principles of the Law of Attraction that are presented today as being brand new. The long history behind the Law of Attraction is a testament to the success that people have found with it, when they’ve learned how to apply it correctly in their lives.

How can meditation help me? How can it improve the results of the Law of Attraction?

At its heart, meditation brings us awareness. By being fully aware of your thoughts, you can direct your life consciously and subconsciously. The Law of Attraction only works if you are consistently feeding your mind with the things you wish to experience. You can only affect your life in a positive way if your aware of what’s going on in your mind.

There was a medieval Jewish scholar named Rashi who said, “Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you.”

Most aspects of our lives are out of our control. You have to deal with life as it happens and keep focused on what you want. What IS in your control are your thoughts. Negative thoughts spawn from negative or uncertain circumstances. And, you can respond to those thoughts with simplicity. You can brush them away more readily by being more aware.

Meditation expands your awareness. Keeping the negative thoughts out is the primary goal to keep you focused on your intended path.

What should we be meditating on?

The best meditation for the beginner is to simply focus on your breath. Close your eyes and take in the room. This is part of a method called mindfulness meditation. There’s also concentrative meditation and others. It’s worth a trip to the library to explore the right practice for you. There are many resources out there: books, guided audio, dvds. Find the right one for you and find more awareness!

What do you do if the Law of Attraction isn’t working? You’ve visualized, you’ve stated intentionally, you’ve practiced the five steps, but you’re not seeing the results you hoped for.

In order to apply the Law of Attraction to your life and see results, you need to get rid of the negative clutter. You need to see the world in a different light and that starts with awareness. Achieve awareness with meditation.

If you feel you’re not getting anywhere, then you need to take a step back and change your thoughts. Find a method of mediation that you’re comfortable with and practice regularly.

Then, once you set in motion the essential steps to tapping into the Law of Attraction, practice patience and discipline, but also allow the Universe to take over. Let go and let God handle it. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you. Period. You may get something in life that you wanted, but that doesn’t mean that’s its something you should have.

I knew a guy who was really passionate about cars. He wanted a particular BMW with all of his heart. He set his intention to get it. He visualized it, took actions to make it happen, and finally he was driving his dream car. Two months later, he lost his job and that $800 car payment was way too much, which means he lost the car. I don’t think he was ever supposed to have it.

Some advice I like to pass along to clients is to add a little extra to your daily affirmations. “I will have ____ or better.” Better doesn’t mean bigger, it means you will trust in God to give what is best for YOU. Better doesn’t mean that if you want a BMW, the universe will present a Rolls-Royce. It might mean that it presents you with a lesson in humility. Or a deal on a Chevy that you couldn’t pass up, that you find affordable when you’re suddenly out of work.

So, don’t lose faith in the Law of Attraction, or in what God is willing to provide. Clear your negative thoughts, meditate and start over.

Most importantly, let go.

Let’s look at Newton’s Law. Can you drop an apple from the top of a tree and mid-flight make it fall faster?

Nope.

The apple will find its way to the ground, but cannot be influenced by your will. Gravity will do the work. Now, that shouldn’t keep you from deciding to climb the tree. You should still make your way, limb to limb, keeping your eye on the prize. You shouldn’t doubt yourself or look down with apprehension. And when you get there, when you reach out to pluck it from the stem, there’s no use in wishing it or forcing it to the ground faster. At some point you have to let go, and what will be will be.

• You want an apple – With strong feelings, set your intention.
• Start the climb – Take actions necessary to take you from where you are to where you want to be.
• Branch by branch – Focus on the now. By engaging your focus in the present and taking care of what you have at hand, it becomes evident that you are creating the path to your final destination. You’re doing it concsicously rather than acting on autopilot. And you’re doing it without letting unwanted thoughts to take over your destiny.
• It is key to keep that focus with meditation. It brings you to the present. The present is the only thing you can affect. You can’t control the past or the future. The only time you can act in, is the here and now. Daily practice will put you in the right mindset to negate those unwanted thoughts, and you will expand your awareness to reinforce your belief and make the path clearer.
• Make the final reach for the apple – At this point, realization give you the ability to truly find Experience in the now. At this point the Universe has no option but to materialize what you desire. by allowing you to live out the experience in this dimension.
• Accept and let it go – In the apple’s case, you did your part and gravity will take it to its destination. Maybe bruised, maybe a groundhog took a bite or maybe the most divine piece of fruit you’ve ever tasted.

But, enough metaphor. Accept and let go. Surrender your desire to the Laws of the Universe. God knows what is best for us. Everything comes at the perfect time.

What’s stopping you from awareness? The short answer is…YOU.

Your head is in the sand.

People often do everything in their power to limit new experiences or new information. This occurs in varying degrees. The logic may be, “if I don’t know what’s happening in the news, I don’t have to be bummed out about it.” Or “if I take the long way home, I won’t pass by the gym and feel guilty about not working out.”

Some people don’t purposely limit experience or awareness, but they’re still oblivious to the world around them. I’m honestly not sure which is worse, but neither gets you closer to your goals. For both, it takes a significant life changing event to snap you out of it. Maybe you are laid off from work, you turn 50, or you lose someone close to you. This rude awakening makes you realize what you’ve missed and what you’re missing. Life becomes more precious.

Live more “aware” now.
You don’t have to wait for one of those life altering events to start living with the power of awareness. You start simple. Read a subject you’ve never read about, get out of the house more, pay attention to your food as you chew it, plant a flower and keep it alive, pay attention to your breath, find compassion for your neighbor. Or make a list just like this. Think of the character Amelie from “Chocolat,” dipping her hand into the sack of grain just to feel its texture (if you haven’t seen the movie, find it). This is a girl who truly celebrates her surroundings.

Keep in mind that awareness builds upon itself. It is an ongoing thing, and you can’t hit a ceiling or reach a cap. Your level of awareness will always evolve into something bigger and better. It’s a moving target, so you can’t stop. There is always room for improvement.

Don’t get in the way of your own fulfillment. This is a hard-learned lesson which can be resolved by living an aware life and tapping into the Law of Attraction.

Well, there’s the red pill or the blue pill…

Of course, it’s not that easy. You have to seek out methods to tap into the Power of Awareness. It is a journey that you have to customize for yourself and follow through with. Here are a few methods I teach my clients in my life coaching practice.

Learn it. Check out your local bookstore or library for books, DVDs and audio programs that help you understand mindful living. There is a lot out there. You might say you’re becoming more aware of awareness this way.

Consider it. Put an hourly reminder on your office calendar or mobile device to take 30 seconds and really take in your surroundings: sights, sounds, smells, emotion, etc. Don’t just glance around, really take the time to consider your surroundings and be hyper-aware of them. You’ll soon find that you’re anticipating the alarm and doing it regardless.

Eat it. Join the slow food movement. Become aware of what you’re eating.

Remember it. Put sticky notes around your house that remind you to stop and take stock.
The laundry room: Where did the fabric you’re about to wash come from? What is the texture like wet?
The kid’s room: The smell of the baby’s room (when not soured by diapers) makes you feel how?
The remote control: What were the advertisers trying to accomplish in these commercials? Did it work?
Think of your own and post a couple different ones every Sunday afternoon.

Do it. Join a yoga class, practice tai-chi, take a long walk without your mp3 player, and meditate while you’re doing it. Be aware of your breathing, the noises and sights around you.

Support it. Find a good life coach. They’re a great asset if you seek to find a better quality of life overall, and they’re great sounding boards. These are people who objectively guide you, answer your questions, and clarify the proper practices of mindfulness. A coach is also a good person to get you back on track when you get stuck back in auto-pilot.

Discover and practice the power of awareness and soon implementing the Law of Attraction will be much easier.

It is entirely possible to manifest physical healing using the principles of the Law of Attraction.

1. Intend – set clear intentions
2. Believe – desire and trust to follow through
3. Connect – through meditation find power

I hope you’ve noticed that meditation has been a consistent element in tapping into the power of the Law of Attraction. Through meditation you are accomplishing many things at once. You align yourself with the Universal Mind and achieve a state of oneness with the spirit of God. You find yourself vibrating on a frequency where something profound can be felt. You become aware that God is around you, all around you, and within you. So, within the presence of God and acknowledging in a elemental way His love, you start to experience the healing you’re looking for.

Thinking positive, visualizing and the other steps to tapping into LOA are great, but they’re just tools. You must meditate and find a connection to God, because only on that frequency do you find the source of real power.

You may assume my repeated mention of God or Universal Mind implies a connection to religion. Maybe you see your lack of connection to an established religion a hindrance to tapping into LOA. Not true. I am not a religious person, but I’m spiritual. A belief in something greater is the only requirement to discovering its power. This power is essential to healing.

The “Other Than Conscious” mind is another way of describing your unconscious. We’ve talked about how the unconscious plays a key role in the Law of Attraction. How do you tap into this influential part of your brain? My experience has been that there are only two ways to tap into the unconscious — through meditation or deep prayer.

When you meditate, you lower your brain wave frequency, which is where the unconscious mind operates. For example, when you are awake your brain is operating on the Alpha and Beta brain wave frequency. When you are completely asleep, your brain waves drop all the way to Delta. But, when you meditate or go into deep prayer, you tap into Theta and Delta brain waves and create a bridge between the hemisphere of your brain.

Right now, when we’re awake, we’re operating on Beta brain waves. You’re reading this and processing it with your rational mind. If you were to close your eyes right now, you wouldn’t instantly slip into meditation. You might relax and become reflective. Your mind might immediately go to your to do list, sounds would distract you, or you might review parts of your day. When you’re in this relaxed state, your brain is operating on Alpha brain waves.

When you’re in Theta, however, you’re mind is quiet. You’re experiencing the moment, but you’re not thinking of anything. You’re awake, but your mind is blank. This is not an easy thing to accomplish. There are many methods of meditation and its been practiced for thousands of years. This is why I mentioned deep prayer. In many religions, a mantra is recited over and over to quiet the mind and open yourself to a spiritual experience. The mantra originated in Hinduism, but is practiced in many religions. Praying the Rosary, or the Quakers’ silent prayer, are its Western equivalents.

The end result of practicing meditation is to identify those thoughts in the unconscious mind that prohibit our success. When you’re in the moment and your mind is quiet, you are mindful of the negativity that springs up – not from life – but from inside YOU. There you can negate these thoughts and move it past it. According to the Law of Attraction, letting go of these negative thoughts will put you one step closer to making your intentions become reality.