You may have heard of the Law of Attraction, a concept that infers that similar attracts similar. But what does this mean? To me, it means that if you wholeheartedly want something (and do something to manifest it), you are likely to get it.

But does the concept really work?

As a Life Coach, I am passionate about thinking ahead and working towards what I call “ideals.” An ideal is simply something positive that you want to happen: it is a vision, a mission, a purpose, a goal.

A few years ago, I compiled a sheet of paper that contained my overall life purpose, my vision, my goals, and a list of projects that grew out of those goals. Everything I wrote came from deep within me and had been an integral part of me for years.

I’ve been looking at that sheet of paper almost daily since I compiled it without thinking too much about how things would manifest on the sheet.

The reason I refer to the leaf so often is simply because it makes me feel good. It guides me and moves me in a positive way. In short, it represents everything I want to manifest in my life.

More recently I attended a meeting with some colleagues and we talked about business development. As the discussions progressed, I realized that much of what we were talking about resembled what was on my sheet.

When I got home I looked at the sheet and laughed. Virtually everything he had written was covered at the meeting. This happened not because I was pushing my own agenda. It happened naturally because we all had the same mindset with similar aspirations and wanted to achieve similar business and life goals … like attracting similar people.

Now I have realized that everything I have aspired to can come to fruition by default if our business is successful.

So does this concept of attraction really work? Yes I think so!

Now you could say that nothing I have posted has yet materialized. This is true. However, the beginning of the meeting showed me that things are already going to change.

If I hadn’t presented this sheet, I doubt the conversation at that meeting would have gone the same way. It is possible that the others around the table guided me more easily, because I would not have had a real perspective of my own.

By clearly articulating my purpose, vision, goals, and projects, and referring to them on a daily basis, my subconscious mind is already recognizing opportunities that will help make them come true. That meeting (and the subsequent business idea) is one of those opportunities.

However, I think there are certain caveats about the concept:

Windows of opportunity

Once you have clearly and specifically established where you want to go, windows of opportunity begin to open for you. It is up to you to seize those opportunities and immediately take the necessary steps to achieve your goals. Otherwise, those windows eventually close and the opportunity is lost.

Letting go

I also think that an important element is that you set aside the result. Be okay with achieving your goals and aspirations, and not achieving them. This is because, in my opinion, being desperate for their achievements drives them away. Feeling more relaxed about them increases the chances that you will get them. For me, it’s also about acknowledging that your aspirations may not always manifest in the way you envision them, and agreeing to this.

Giving it time

I also believe that it is important to give yourself the time to manifest your ideal. Specific timelines focus and propel you to action. However, if those timelines are unrealistic, they could have the opposite effect. You may feel that if you haven’t reached your goal within the time frame you’ve set for yourself, you’ve somehow failed.

Allowing yourself the time to mature with your vision and grow into the type of person who can make this happen can increase the chances that you will be successful.

So yeah, I think the law of attraction works if:

You are clear and specific about exactly what you want

You focus on what you want every day

Make the most of opportunities that present themselves and get the work done

You let go of despair and …

You give it time