One
of the basic teachings of the Law of Attraction (LOA) is that it’s important to
have an appreciation for what you have. Sometimes people misinterpret this to
mean that they’re settling for less. Therefore,
it’s important to understand that appreciating what you have in your life now doesn’t
restrict what you’ll have in the future.
It’s certainly understandable to feel like you’re
settling if you believe that by expressing appreciation for your current life, you’re
attracting more of the exact same circumstances in the future.
Fortunately, that’s not how the Law of Attraction works.
The confusion arises partly because the LOA works on
energy and vibrations.
These are things that you can’t see and because of that, they
can be a bit more challenging to explain and grasp.
Imagine a cowboy wants to rope a cow. He sets his eyes on
his target, picks up his rope, and lassos the animal. Of course, the cowboy has
had lots of time to practice roping, and he’s had his share of misses. Yet with
practice, his skill grows and it’s easier for him to consistently throw out his
rope and get what he wants.
In a way, the Law of Attraction is like the rope. With
practice, your skills at applying the LOA improve and you get what you want
more consistently and easily. Unlike the rope, the Universe will deliver your
quarry to you. You don’t have to pull the rope in to get it. Your job is merely
to throw the rope where you want it.
The cowboy appreciates where he is before he ever picks
up his rope. He may or may not be conscious of it in that precise moment, but
on a regular basis, he expresses gratitude for his current situation.
He’s grateful for his horse and expresses that in both
words and by caring for the steed. He’s grateful for good boots and a saddle
that make getting his job done easier. The cowboy is even grateful for the
weather, both rain and sunshine, knowing that both are needed for the grass to
grow. The grass that feeds those cows he’ll one day lasso.
Your life in this very moment is a result of your
thoughts, feelings, and actions you’ve taken in the past. You might even say
it’s a result of the hours you practice with your “rope,” and the times you
neglected your practice.
When you’re resentful of where you are today, you’re
therefore trying to change the past. This is something that you can’t do. You
can only change what you do right now. It’s precisely your current thoughts,
feelings, and actions that will give you results in the future, whether your bid
is successful or you come up empty.
When you express your appreciation for anything in your
life, you’re raising your vibration or your rope. Just like the cowboy, you
can’t get what you want without taking that first step. Appreciating his rope,
horse, and saddle don’t preclude the cowboy from getting the cow; they enable it. It doesn’t mean he can’t get
a faster horse or better saddle either -- his appreciation allows for more opportunities for things and experiences he will
appreciate.
Think about what you have in your life right now to be
thankful for. Speak words of appreciation for them. Show your gratitude with
your deeds. Be grateful for what you have, aim for what you want, and be open
to more opportunities in the future. The only settling you will find is the
dust.
