There seems to be some confusion regarding how action fits into this whole law of attraction thing. And as such, whether or not to act, can produce quite a bit of anxiety. We are so used to taking action, and have spent a long time operating under the paradigm that action is what creates. Moving away from that can be challenging, and uncomfortable.
Many detractors of the law of attraction decry this idea that you don’t need to do anything to get what you want; and since many people mistakenly regard the LOA as some sort of tool, (remember you don’t ‘use’ the law of attraction, it just ‘is’ )there is this idea of doing things the ‘LOA’ way or doing things the ‘regular’ way and taking action to achieve your goals.
Clearly this is not how it works. Again, we don’t ‘use’ the LOA—it is not visualizing or affirmations. It is a way of explaining how reality works. The law of attraction is not magic…most things we want to manifest unfold over time as we clarify what we really want, clear out resistance and better embody the energy (at least most of the time) that is a match to what we want.
How these things come together, however, can seem as easy and magical as if they really did just fall out of the sky, when we are nice and aligned.
It is absolutely true the role of action carries less importance when we are aligned energetically with what we want. At least the type of action that we are typically accustomed to taking. You know the kind—the action taken from a space of fear, doubt, the need to control, a need to ensure some sort of result and with the belief that it is totally up to us to make it all happen.
The most ideal actions are ones coming from a space of inspiration—they feel good, right and light. Because they are taken from a space of being aligned, they are very effective, and they have a lot of leverage. At times, we may be doing a whole lot, but when it is inspired, it doesn’t feel hard. It doesn’t feel like ‘work.’
Because of our resistance, and the belief in the necessity of action, it can complicate things a bit. And we will typically engage in more action than we probably truly have to. In the purest vibration, we would have to do very little, and any action we did take would be fully inspired.
But because most of us are not walking around with said pure vibrations, getting a better handle on when to act and when it may not be good to act, will certainly be helpful. So here are a few of my thoughts on the role of action in the attraction process:
Remember Action is a Manifestation of Your Energy
Our energy (predominant thoughts, beliefs and feelings) is what truly creates our reality…that is something that has become increasingly clear to me as I have gained a better understanding of conscious creation and cleared out the gunk that was holding me back.
Everything we are doing is being inspired by our energy. That is the core driver. And as this begins to sink in more deeply, we begin to realize that this includes the actions we are taking.
The actions we are being driven to take at any given moment are not random. They did not just pop into our head out of nowhere.
Those actions are a manifestation of our energy. The actions you are thinking about taking in any given moment are an indicator of how you are feeling; they are an indicator of how aligned you are with whatever it is you hope to manifest.
So, if you are feeling the urge to take actions with the hopes of forcing some sort of outcome or with the idea you best do this thing, or getting what you want won’t happen, guess what? You are not aligned with what you want, and these actions really aren’t going to help much.
Sure, people get results with forced, shitty-feeling action all the time. And because we have observed this over and over again, we have a hard time buying into this whole ‘doing less’ thing; the idea that getting what we want can be fun and easier just doesn’t quite sit right.
We have not observed this way of doing things much at all, and as such,we have a hard time trusting that.
But remember, this way certainly exists, and you are working consciously with your energy so you can do things a better way.
You want to rid yourself of the belief that getting the good stuff means doing a whole lot of stuff that makes you feel crappy. You are starting to get a better understanding that the road to getting what you want has to feel good if you want to get the good-feeling results.
So, if actions are a manifestation of our energy, and the energy behind your actions doesn’t exactly smack of trust you will get what you want, and feeling good about what you are trying to manifest, pull back. Again, this is an indicator you are already out of alignment.
You will be much better served by stepping back from the action, and going within to examine how you are feeling, and what beliefs are surfacing right now. That is not ‘doing nothing’ by any means, and is the most important action you can take.
Don’t Take Actions That Your Belief System REALLY Can’t Support
Again, it is our energy that is running the show, and while getting what we want often involves being inspired to take actions that will probably feel a bit scary and uncomfortable, because we are treading new territory, we don’t want to do things that are just going to activate a ton of heavy resistance.
The theory of how the law of attraction works, and how things play out in ‘real time’ can be drastically different because we have a lot of resistance in the forms of limiting beliefs, fears, doubts, skepticism about whether this is how it really works, etc…
And we have to honor all that, as we embark on our various manifesting journeys. Essentially, the bigger the action you take, the more life-altering it may be, the more trust you better have in this process. The more aligned you should be with the desired outcome.
Without that trust and alignment, acting will just complicate things even more. If you don’t have a lot of trust in this process, and that the good old U has your back always, any little unwanted thing that happens will freak you out big time.
The path unfolding in a way that you didn’t expect (expectations will get us every time) will trigger massive fear things aren’t going to work out for you. You will still always be moving toward what you want, no matter what.
You can’t really make a mistake. But taking bigger actions that your current belief system really can’t get on board with, will make things much more complicated and painful than they have to be.
So, if you don’t like your job for example, have very little in the way of savings, still have major money anxieties and you are still primarily focused on what you don’t want—worrying there aren’t better jobs for you out there,etc…quitting at the end of the week probably isn’t the best idea.
If you have decided you want out of your marriage, but you haven’t worked in 15 years, don’t know how in the hell you would support yourself right now, and you aren’t even close to being in an energy of being open to the possibility a better way exists, even if you can’t see it yet, calling up the divorce lawyer tomorrow may not be the ideal move.
Again, I have to stress that the law of attraction is not magic. Just deciding you want something is not enough to get it, no matter how badly that may be. You have to be a match to it, and it is really hard to become a match to what you want, when you take actions that you really don’t feel comfortable with, or will basically turn your whole world upside down.
Which brings me perfectly into my next point…
If You Feel Like Action Isn’t Feasible Right Now, It’s Okay…True Change Starts Within
I may start sounding like a broken record here, but have to say this again. It is our energy that truly creates our world, not the actions we are taking. When our energy is nice and aligned with what we want, the role of action diminishes because things start coming together more nicely and smoothly.
Being aligned means becoming a magnet for all sorts of ideas, inspirations, encounters and opportunities that are perfect for moving you towards what you want. You no longer need to try and control everything and force results.
Because this inner work is the crux, it is okay if you really feel like there is not much you can ‘do’ right now to change things. Taking actions when you aren’t aligned will just fuck things up anyway.
Acting from a space of desperation, or more with the idea of running away from something unwanted, rather than towards something wanted, is just counterproductive. Things can certainly start to take shape, but it will just be harder and more slow-going. It will be more painful.
You can start feeling better before anything changes—you kind of have to anyway as you have probably come to realize. All the things you don’t like now don’t have to go away first.
We get to choose where we put our focus and how we feel. We get to search for better-feeling perspectives on what is happening now—this doesn’t mean trying to adopt a better feeling perspective on things that suck.
You don’t have to find a way to feel good about not having money or your crappy marriage—you are entitled to not like those things. But you can choose to focus on the other forms of abundance in your life, like your health or having a place to live, or on your awesome kids or how good a father your husband is.
I know that it sucks if you feel like you just can’t immediately change your circumstances through taking actions. It sucks if you feel like there are things you want to do, but it just doesn’t seem like the right time.
But you have to remember you can start moving towards the life you want by going within and making yourself a better energetic match to what you want. This is the fastest, easiest way to accomplish this anyway, so don’t despair about not being able to mold outside circumstances just to your liking right at this moment.
We Have Certain Beliefs and It is Fine to Work Within Them
Like I mentioned earlier, we will probably do more than we truly have to, because we don’t have some perfect vibration where are are one million percent trusting and aligned. The belief that action is important for getting what we want is pretty deeply ingrained.
And it will be easier to manifest by working within certain beliefs rather than trying to fully shift them.
If you are trying to lose weight for example, you may have found serious self-worth issues may be at the root of your weight gain. Cleaning that up can lead to you losing weight without doing anything else…I know that may sound hard to believe, but it’s true.
But here’s the thing…there is a pretty strong belief that diet and exercise are crucial components of managing weight. And generally it is a belief that has served us pretty well. It makes us feel good to eat right and exercise. We believe we are keeping ourselves healthy, and that’s a good thing.
So, in addition to your inner work on self-worth, it would probably make you feel better to improve your eating habits and exercise more. There is a part of you that probably really can’t get fully on board with the idea this doesn’t matter, and as such, it will create a lot of resistance, if you attempt to continue eating in a way that is considered ‘unhealthy.’
If you are trying to build a successful business, it is probably hard for you to believe you can get clients without advertising, networking or engaging in other business-like activities. Taking these actions probably makes you feel good, and fosters the expectation you will get what you want.
The key is examining the energy behind the actions. You want to change your eating habits and exercise habits in a way that feels good to you—you don’t want to torture yourself.
You want to engage in the activities that you believe will help you build a successful business in a way that feels light and inspired, not forced.
Let’s face it…we are all guilty of acting from a space of force, fear and doubt. It will happen. But with an awareness of how things really work, it will help us do it less. It will help us recognize more quickly when we are acting from this space, and we can rectify the situation.
As you get more aligned with what you want, and gain more trust in the process, you will begin to see more clearly it truly is our energy that creates, and you will become more comfortable with not acting from a bad-feeling space; you will be a better match to inspired action.
Examining the Absence of Inspired Action
If there are things you want to accomplish, and the inspired action just isn’t there, it’s okay. Don’t feel forced to take action. But, if this ‘funk’ is going on for longer than you feel comfortable with, it is a good idea to take a look at what is happening.
If you really dream of starting a blog for example, but months have passed, and you still feel resistant to doing it, a mere lack of inspiration is not the primary culprit.
There is some fear around starting. There is some bigger resistance at play that is holding you back from doing things you believe would make you happy or help move your desires along.
It is one thing to pull back from your business for a week because you are feeling out of alignment, it is another to have not taken one single step towards a goal in a year, all the while lamenting you want this thing so badly.
It is important to remember that inspired action may not always feel totally comfortable. You may be stepping outside your comfort zone. You may be making big changes. You may still naturally be nervous or a bit scared.
Ultimately, only you can know what is going on inside of you, and whether you are simply waiting on inspiration, and generally feeling good about what you want, and good overall, or are just totally feeling stuck, overwhelmed, fearful or highly doubtful you can get what you want, so why bother trying?
Hope you enjoyed this and it gave you a better idea of when to act and when to not, and what types of actions will be most beneficial to your manifestations coming into the physical.
Your Turn…
What did you think of this post? Did it help clear up any action anxiety you may have had? Anything you would want to add here? Looking forward to your comments as always.
If you want to learn more about law of attraction, you can also find my Making Sense of the Law of Attraction series on Amazon. If you are a Kindle Unlimited member, they are free…sweet. And if you aren’t, no worries..they are super-cheap!
Hi, Kelli. It’s been awhile since I’ve commented; I was in yet another space of doubt, where I decided I didn’t believe in LOA anymore. But something told me to give it another go, so here I am. I was wondering, as a high school student, if one day I didn’t feel like writing my English essay, so I sent my teacher this article as an explanation for not writing the essay. Or not doing my algebra homework. Or not taking the biology quiz. I have no intention of doing this because I love school and want good grades, but I know many students who’d love this idea of not having to do their homework because they didn’t feel like it! Your thoughts please?
Hi Amy
Nice to ‘see’ you again. I am not quite sure what you are asking exactly but I’ll give my thoughts based on my interpretation of your question. If you mean that they were not feeling inspired to do their homework at a certain point, that doesn’t mean they never would. At some point, it they believed they needed to get this assignment done, they could create an ‘energy’ where they would feel that motivation. Whether or not it would be their best work would depend on how motivated and how important it was to do it well.
If you mean not doing it at all because ultimately it wouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things as far as finding success later in life, that is absolutely true and they could just choose not to do their work or even continue on with school at all. But most people probably wouldn’t really believe that, and they would feel they should at least graduate high school to stand any chance in the ‘real world.And as such, they would probably do their work, at least passably, so they don’t flunk out.
Thanks, Kelli. That’s a good answer. It’s interesting because a lot of the papers I write are contradictory to LOA, such as how horrible the conditions for migrant farm workers are or how the American Dream doesn’t exist for poor people. Just writing what the teacher wants to hear. If I ever wrote an essay saying, “You can do whatever you want because of LOA” I’d probably be sent for psychological evaluation. Thanks for answering the question.
You’re funny. I do agree that many people wouldn’t really gel with this way of thinking. The good news is, it isn’t our job to ever convince anyone of any other point of view. You don’t need to worry about anyone else being on board for you to ultimately get whatever it is you want for yourself and your life. I think consciousness is changing but overall, there is still a lot of fear, scarcity, things are bad and getting worse, to gain one has to take from someone else, you really can’t change your circumstances,etc..So it is challenging to shift our thinking to a more positive, empowered view point. But it certainly gets easier as we gather more ‘proof’ our mindset helps shape our outside experience.
Thanks for this article and the many others you write. It resonated with me in a deep way. I have been a culprit of taking actions to get results, I mean that’s what I have been taught my whole life. Looking back, the results have always been messy but now I know better. I also got to understand energy and it’s relation to creation, especially where you explained what energy was (I was always confused and didn’t understand what energy meant because am new to LOA). I ended up in tears of joy after reading the article, I felt liberated. I have been stuck for a while on my business goals (had been feeling depressed and afraid too). I am ready to take inspired action. Thank you very much, I have been truly blessed by this.
Hi Christine
Thank you for your comment and I am glad to hear you found the post so helpful. It is always so wonderful when we have those realizations that help us get unstuck and that inspired action feels so good. Whether or not to act can be tricky sometimes but ultimately, it always comes down to how we are feeling…that can never steer us wrong. Good luck with the next steps in your business and please keep me posted on how things go!
Hi Kelli I have been thinking about starting a blog and realise now I have been going about it the wrong way. My head is about to explode because I have been scouring the web for information and it is ringing with words like marketing, back links and SEO! I’m not even sure it’s something I want to make money from as it requires so much work. So now I’m just going to take a step back and chill and see what happens. It will be interesting to see what manifests because I don’t even have a laptop. Thanks for the informative posts. Cheers Audrey
Hi Audrey
I know what you mean….I hate all that stuff! Learning about all of that can certainly be helpful but for now, I would just suggest starting the blog. I still pay very little attention to all that, and I have managed to get traffic and I have quite a few people tell me they found my blog through the search engines so I’m doing something right I guess, even never having paid any attention to SEO. Just get started and see where it takes you. Maybe you’ll keep blogging or maybe it will pave the way for something else and you’ll end up doing that. Just follow the feelings. Go to the library to write the posts if you have to…there is always a way!
Thanks Kelli Great idea about the library, as it so happens a brand spanking new state of the art library is being built just a five minute walk from my house!
Well, what do you know? If starting the blog feels right, just go with it and see where it leads.
Hi Kellie
Great post. Came just when I needed a bit of info about taking action. I’m in a job that is not suited to me at all. You know the type of job where you want to burst into tears Sunday night cos you know you have to go there the next day!
I imagine what it would be like to never go back and it feels great, like a weight has been lifted off of me. But is that taking the wrong action? I don’t worry about finding work. I always find something.
Any advice Kellie?
Hi Kim
Thanks for your comment. That imagining is great because it makes you feel good; it is creating the feelings that will make you a match to getting what you want, which is a different kind of job…just do your best to be open about what that can look like. Not being worried about finding work is great because that means less resistance around getting what you truly want, and clearly you are aligned if things always work out.
The most important thing you can do now is finding ways to feel better about your job now…focus in on the things you like about it, even if it is just a small thing. This doesn’t mean pretending to love a job you hate, but adopting a perspective on it that genuinely makes you feel better. Perhaps the commute is easy, the pay is pretty good, you like your boss…whatever. Doesn’t matter what it is. Then that positive focus will help align you more quickly with a job that will genuinely and truly feel good to you. Think about how you would want your new job to feel..what energy do you want to experience there? Don’t worry about conjuring up a job that meets this exact description–that is where a lot of resistance can kick in because it will be your mind trying to figure stuff out, and you have no idea the variety of jobs that fit the bill that you may not even be considering now.
Hi Kellie. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I am trying to find things to focus on but there really isn’t. I am very grateful they gave me this opportunity but I feel it’s one I should have passed. The commute is an hour and a half each way. Money is not great. Colleagues are take em or leave em. Work is tedious. I am really trying to focus on other things that make me happy outside of work but if I’m honest the thing that would make really happy is to leave.
You are welcome
There are a couple of things
1. Examine why you took a job that didn’t seem great…what beliefs made you do that, what fears,etc…What was your thought process in the moment you took the job?
2. It’s okay if you don’t like anything about it, but at the very least, you do have to work on getting to at least a ‘neutral’ space about it as much as you can.
3. Start flowing some more energy towards getting a job you like…that inner work becomes more important when we find it harder to focus positively on our current circumstances
4. Start flowing more appreciation towards other things in your life…that will always raise your overall vibe and makes it easier to attract anything that will make us happier.
wonderful article, you have a great way with words as well.
Thanks so much Natalie. Glad you liked it!
Hey Kelli, What if you are taking action but it’s not working? Few months ago I was taking action and getting clients on a regular basis. However, recently I felt like I’m giving too much info or should be doing things for my self instead of for my clients. If I can make them money, why not start something for myself?. Then I started lead generation again and for weird reasons, my client started dropping out (Although they were getting results). Then the same action (Lead generation) I took to replace these clients and it all just stopped working (Like I couldn’t close anyone) or have a desire to find new clients. I feel like I’m worth more and my work speaks for itself that I need to find a better way to get them or even better, they should find me. So I started working on my own project during this downtime, organized my side of things more and will be doing lead generation again this month. Just curios about what the universe is trying to tell me? Thx!
Hi Eric
When we remember action is a manifestation of energy–thoughts, feelings, beliefs–and not separate from it, we realize the importance of examining our motivations for our actions. Are they being taken from a space of inspiration, ease,joy,etc…or are we trying to force a result, force something through a specific channel,etc…? If our energy is a bit screwy and not really in alignment with what we want, we will probably not see the expected results, or we may eventually but it will be a lot harder than it needs to be, and we will do a lot more than we probably need to. Manifestations are very personal so I wouldn’t be able to tell you why something is happening. The best way to figure that out is to give some thought to how what is happening is making you feel, what sorts of beliefs it is triggering, and you will get a better sense of what is being mirrored back to you.
Hey Kelli,
What a great detailed and insightful article. I have been researching so much about action related posts so I’m glad I stumbled upon your article.
When you mentioned that inspired action can also be action stepping out of your comfort zone, could it also mean that you don’t necessarily feel like doing it?
For example, I am a makeup artist and I need to advertise myself more in order to bring more clients. The action I know I have to take is to send my portfolio to agencies, companies etc. But for some reason I have been procrastinating doing this and it feels more like ‘work’ when I get down to doing it. Is this because my energy is not aligned yet and if so how can I get my energy in a way where I feel inspired to do this?
Your input would be of great help! Thanks x
Hi Anna
In a perfect world, all our action would be pure inspiration and everything we do is with joy and detachment. But in reality, it can be a bit messier, especially when it comes to business, because of its natural link to money, which we are very, very scared we are not going to manifest. Or perhaps we don’t DESERVE to manifest unless we work for it.
Technically, you don’t have to do any of those things. You could meet someone tomorrow that can refer you 10 steady clients. But, we have a belief certain things are necessary–like having a portfolio for your line work–and doing them can help create positive expectation. So in these instances, it can be helpful to do a bit of energetic ‘housecleaning’ before we attempt these actions. It may not feel 1000 percent great, and perhaps a bit uncomfortable, but for the most part, the action is taken from a generally lighter, more detached space.
If you find my work on LOA helpful, you might consider my LOA and Your Business Program since it obviously tackles applying these principles in this specific context. It could be a sound investment.
Generally speaking, just always be aware of energy first and foremost, and if things are getting hairy there, don’t be afraid to step back from action to get things back on track internally–feeling good about your business, having clarity on what you want, doing it in a way you enjoy,etc…and when you have cleared the air a bit vibrationally, see what you feel inspired to do.
Thank you so much for this amazing piece, your angle on things is always so interesting.
You made things much clearer for me, and I appreciate it.
I can’t thank you enough for many, many articles you have written which have inspired me and helped me with the law of attraction.
I love that you remind us that the law of attraction just is, it s not a tool that we can use whenever we want, it is always there doing its thing.
Christelle
Hi Christelle
Thanks so much for your comment and I am glad you enjoyed the post. I am so happy to hear the site is such a helpful resource for you!
Hi Kelly ! I am very confused with the action part regarding the LOA. I purchased 3 of your Audible books and I loved them ! I have a question for you . I am a makeup artist as well as the other lady mentioned above … I feel the need to advertise more , take pictures of myself showcasing my work and post them on social media etc etc … I have a 3 month baby and a 5 year old … so I’m kinda always tired and sleepy lol when I think about having to put makeup on and take pictures , although I love to do it , feels a lot like a chore ( because I’d rather be taking a nap when the baby is sleeping ) So I don’t know if I’m being lazy or I should “sacrifice “ a little to make it work … I also feel like time will pass by and I need to hurry up with doing these things . I recently downloaded an app called Gaia and their programs really make me feel light , positive and just overall good but have nothing to do with making my business better … anything you can tell me will be a great help !
Hi Carolina
Thanks for your comment and I am so glad you enjoyed the books. I can only go VERY general with my advice since on one hand, we all kind of have similar issues with our energy ‘blocks’ especially when it comes to actions around business and money, but on the other hand, the blend of ‘stuff’ that is making you resistant to action is VERY unique to each person. Lack of action–especially when we believe there are things we can do that will ultimately help–is often a symptom of some underlying energetic ‘conflict’ around what we want to achieve. The lack of action really isn’t the true problem with why we aren’t succeeding, it is a symptom of the real issue, which is something internal.
Some examples include lack of confidence around our offering, not actually wanting to do the thing we are doing or perhaps even some negative association with achieving something we want on the most surface level of our mind but another part of our mind feels very differently. Or it could be something more ‘general’ or ‘broad’ and it is just manifesting in this area of your life. If you take your focus off what you are doing or not doing, and go a bit more inward to the energy, you will see what is going on. You always want to go to the energy first, because by time you are taking action, you are already on the level of ‘effect.’ Something internally motivates us–fears, beliefs, thoughts, feelings,etc… If you enjoy my teachings I do have a program that is all about the LOA and business which obviously explores these principles in this specific context–it is very inward focused, meaning it is not just a bunch of tools and techniques and telling you what to ‘do.’ It is a series of call recordings so if you like audio content, you will probably enjoy it. Check it out and if it resonates, I am actually running a product special where everything is half-off through the evening of the 3rd…code happyholidays. I also offer coaching so if that appeals, a session may be helpful for some more personalized insight. Good luck!
Hi kelli,
This is a wonderful article..I was trying to find out about the relationship between our dreams and our action and I soon found your article and gave it a read…
But what I want to know is that, do these dreams manifest if we don’t really perform any action at all? like for instance.. am having an exam and am expecting great grades. but would it really make any sense if i don’t put an effort to study?? I mean that doesn’t make any sense to me!!…C an you please give me a clarification about the same
Hi Daisy
Aligning energetically with our goals does not mean we won’t take any actions. Some actions are ‘necessary’ or we can’t open the door to creating the ‘thing.’–I had to take the action of creating this website for example to let people know I even exist and what I do. You would probably study for your exam for example to learn the info you need to learn…the information just wouldn’t get in your head. The key with action is remembering it’s not the true level of ’cause’ it’s a manifestation of energy so you want to check the motivations behind your actions to see what energy is playing out with them.