To reach a goal or manifest a vision, attract or pull like a magnet, and you’ll feel like life is effortless. Conversely, chasing, pushing yourself, or grasping is exhausting and unsustainable.
Being “magnetic” starts with aligning your own words and actions to be completely okay with you, so that you have a foundation of integrity and clarity to stand on. People and opportunities will not be strongly attracted until you feel worthy and strong in yourself.
The other pulling power you can use can be thought of as a vacuum—a way to either pull yourself forward or pull things to you. It’s not what we’re used to—achievement has been associated with pushing yourself to accomplish more and then more, no matter how much effort must be expended.
One of the first steps to focus on is streamlining your life and yourself. This means eliminating clutter, chronic annoyances, negative relationships, and unresolved inner issues that may require working with a therapist. Think “law of aerodynamics.” The more streamlined you become, the less resistance there will be to hinder you from being pulled toward your highest goals and vision. You’ll be free to be in the present moment instead of stuck in the past or worrying about the future. And that freedom brings clarity.
Velocity is a function of clarity.
An extraordinary way (that always works) to create the desired vacuum is to surround yourself with the right people. These people naturally perform at their best and seem highly magnetic to success. You feel inspired to be your best self just by being around them, and they are reliable in both acknowledging and supporting you. If you keep finding yourself around someone who has a negative effect on your progress, why are you putting up with this?
Other people can pull you up, down, or keep you stuck. You get to choose what relationships to invest in.
Here’s one of my favorite vacuum or magnet-makers: Have you heard the phrase “throw your hat over the fence”? That creates a problem to solve, like a vacuum to fill. A client of mine wanted to improve her fitness level, but her efforts to jog every day or go to the gym failed quickly. She tried hiring a personal trainer, buying a FitBit, and ginning up “more willpower.” So much effort, all in vain. Then she decided to sign up for the Peachtree Road Race, a fun and super popular 10K run in Atlanta, Georgia.
This “hat over the fence” commitment also gave her the idea to get a running buddy and the next thing she knew, she was training by running 3X a week—significantly “improving her fitness level.” She created a bigger way to look at things, and it catalyzed the change she wanted and propelled her forward.
W.H. Murray wrote, in reference to his extraordinary 1950 expedition over the Himalayan Mountains:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”
Let’s read that again:
Whatever you can do, or dream you can—begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
What comes to mind? Even a hint of a vision? A BIG goal? Have the courage to toss your favorite hat out of reach, having faith you’ll discover how to get to it.
Because of what I’ve seen firsthand, I can say that one of the most exciting and growth-expanding commitments one can make is to start writing a book. Feel free to contact me to find out how to approach that, and I will answer any question, such as “what type of hat should I pitch over the fence?”
