The Law of Attraction and Mundane Concerns

Posted on May 10, 2008 
Filed Under Effective Thinking, Following the Path, The Law of Attraction

Concerns are thoughts, worries, or situations that give rise to thoughts and worries. The word, “mundane,” simply means, “Worldly,” “common,” or “commonplace.” The concept of “mundane concerns” should interest anyone interested in the Law of Attraction for the simple reason that our concerns are thoughts; and thoughts are at the heart of attraction. If, in other words, you get what you think about, it is your mundane concerns causing your mundane life. And we do get what we think about – in one way or another.

Though most famously known as, “The Eight Mundane Concerns,” written about by a Buddhist monk; the mundane concerns are quite simply an easily observable part of human existence. The Old Testament story of Job, in which he laments, “The thing I greatly feared has come upon me,” is a perfect example of what is hidden coming to light and identifying its roots as Job’s own “fear-thoughts,” or mundane concerns about personal loss. The teaching, “As a man thinketh, so it is done unto him,” is a warning to those who spend their time entertaining themselves with, “What-if-that-bad-thing-happens” thinking.

The mundane concerns, as written about for hundreds of years, are based on our attachments to: Money; Comfort; Praise; and Recognition. Practically every living person thinks about these things to some degree – in one way or another. The basic idea is that these things are simply things we experience, and they should not be things that control us – or our emotional state – because we have allowed ourselves to become attached, or overly concerned, with them. For instance, if someone giving you a great deal of money causes you to be excited and elated, then the absence of money is likely to cause you to be stressed or depressed – perhaps even worried and afraid. In both cases, money is controlling you; and it should be the other way around – you should be controlling money.

Likewise, if your personal comfort buoys your spirits, you’re likely to be beside yourself with disappointment should your living conditions deteriorate. The problem is that it takes a positive attitude to make positive changes; and, if your “negative” conditions are driving your mood, there is no way out of them – there’s no way to get the “boost” you need to get up and going. And, if people singing your praises, or heaping accolades upon you, lifts you up, then you are likely to be depressed when that fame or recognition changes, or fades away – as all things ultimately do. By the same token, if flattery or pleasing words and sounds is the cause for your joy, then criticism or someone speaking unkindly of you can just as easily steal your joy.

Freeing yourself from mundane concerns requires attention and effort to remain conscious of your tendencies to feed your ego’s concerns. When you catch yourself reaching for, or worrying about, a mundane concern, you can stop and reflect – trusting the wisdom that tells you that you will survive letting this opportunity for you to react pass by without upsetting you. This is a full-time job; but, the incentive is self-mastery and a very effective and rewarding relationship with the Law of Attraction – both very worthwhile pursuits. Those who have mastered the Law of Attraction, or “The Secret,” have learned to control – at least to a great extent – the mundane thoughts that control the average person. They aren’t different; they have simply discovered, practiced, and cultivated a particular skill, or way of thinking. And you can, too.

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