I am reading a great book entitled The 28 Laws of Attraction by Thomas J. Leonard, and it has such valuable information on its covers that I thought I’d share it in a series of mini-reviews.
I’ve based my business model (and most of my life) on the Law of Attraction, so I was curious what Mr. Leonard had to say. This initial review of your book deals with the first chapter, Become incredibly selfish.
Selfishness doesn’t have to be negative. We can also consider it as ensuring that our needs are met in a reasonable and responsible manner; it doesn’t have to mean being self-centered or insensitive. You can start by making a list of what you think your needs are, realizing that there is a big difference between needs and wants. Needs can be defined as what you need to live and be fully yourself; wants to provide gratification. If you are interested in some basic but in-depth work on needs, Google ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy’.
Next, know what you want and don’t be afraid to say it. Probably, at some point in your life, you have put yourself in the position of trying to guess what someone else needs. It’s awkward, to say the least. Once we have clearly communicated who we are and what we want, everyone can relax and move on with the interaction that occurs. And, face it, creativity and excellence require a degree of selfishness!
It always amazes me how many people are genuinely reluctant to be selfish in a positive way. Pretend it’s your birthday if you have to, but have fun with this! Here’s a challenge: Spend the next seven days doing something very selfish every day. List seven things that you really want, or want to do, but haven’t been able to afford (sleep late, go to the movies, buy something you’ve been longing for). Decide that you deserve these things and go for them, one each day throughout the week. It really feels good to take care of yourself this way, so enjoy it!
The value of becoming selfish is giving your strengths room to grow. In one way or another, we are all gifted and talented people, but these attributes cannot flourish and expand without food. You owe it to yourself to create an environment in which they can thrive, and yes, that includes learning to say “noIt creates what Leonard calls “a positively selfish focus on balance, well-being and quality of life.”
The wellness you’re talking about, of course, includes reducing as much stress in your life as possible. Identify your stressors and eliminate them or find a constructive method to reduce the effects. Restructuring finances to reduce stress and a commitment to regular exercise are two other important areas. Leonard also mentions living in the present, a foreign concept to most Westerners. Only this moment, right now is real. The past is gone and the future hasn’t happened yet, so what have you got to lose by living in it NOW. It is an art to cultivate.
The 28 Laws of Attraction It has so much more to offer that I will continue to write about as I read. Essentially, we attract what we think about, so think about being good to yourself in all aspects of your life.