The Science Behind the Law of Attraction Mindset & Manifesting Abundance

Manifesting abundance is a belief system that has gained popularity in recent years, particularly on social media. It centers on focusing on one’s desires with the goal of bringing them to fruition. Followers of this concept may believe that how a person thinks can help shape what life brings to them. For example, they may believe that positive thinking will attract abundance while negative thoughts or limiting beliefs will bring scarcity. 

While this concept may feel empowering, the direct positive impacts don’t have a strong evidence base in psychology. In other words, simply wishing for something may not bring it into your life. That said, although there may not be direct evidence supporting the idea of manifesting abundance, living with an abundance mindset may help improve mental health and emotional well-being in some ways. Below, we’ll examine the science behind the law of attraction and manifesting more abundance and explore some positive potential impacts of gratitude and an abundance mindset. 

Developing positivity and gratitude can be challenging

Connecting with a therapist may help

What is the law of attraction? 

Supporters of this idea tend to believe in a few core concepts, including: 

• Like attracts like, or the idea that positive thoughts attract positive outcomes and negative thoughts attract negative experiences. A person who believes in the law of attraction may feel that if they read more articles on positivity, for example, they may bring more positive experiences into their life. 
• Visualization and intention matter, or the idea that visualizing your goals or successes can help manifest them. For example, a person may start manifesting and visualizing working in a new job in the hope that this will make their goal come true. 
• The universe responds to your energy, or the idea that your mindset, emotions, and energy vibrations shape the opportunities and events around you 

Although the law of attraction is becoming increasingly popular, there are people who believe that these ideas oversimplify the complexity of life events. Opponents may argue that these ideas can lead to toxic positivity and blaming people for their real struggles because they were not thinking positively. There’s also a lack of scientific evidence to indicate that believing in the law of attraction or developing an abundance mindset today can lead to more actual abundance tomorrow. 

Potential mental health benefits when you pay attention to the abundance mindset

While it can be challenging to identify causation between an abundance mindset and real-life events, there may be a general connection between true abundance thinking and improved mental health. An abundance mindset grounded in some well-known psychology principles may help support emotional resilience and increase happiness when applied reasonably.

The impacts and benefits of an abundance mindset may vary from person to person depending on their unique life situation and personality factors. That said, some of the positive potential impacts of this way of thinking on mental health may include the following: 

• Reduced fear and anxiety. An abundance mindset focuses on what is possible, not what is lacking. This perspective may help reduce scarcity-driven anxiety and shift attention toward growth and opportunity.
• Increased gratitude and contentment. Abundance thinking may encourage gratitude, helping a person feel abundant by appreciating what they have rather than focusing on what they may be missing. 
• Increased resilience. Believing there are always new opportunities or resources available may help people bounce back from setbacks more quickly. Rather than seeing them as final, abundance thinkers may view them as temporary and solvable.
• More motivation and goal-setting behaviors. People with an abundance mindset may feel more motivated and in control of their personal goals and outcomes. This perspective may help them persist through challenges and try new things. 

Common strategies for manifesting abundance

Building a healthy abundance mindset can be achieved by implementing a number of strategies into your daily routine. How much benefit a person may receive can vary, but these practices and strategies may generally help build resilience and improve overall mental health—particularly when combined with other methods, like self-care and professional mental health care. Some common strategies for manifesting abundance may include the following: 

A gratitude practice

Being thankful and practicing gratitude can be beneficial for mental health, as it may help a person uncover the abundance that they already have. A daily gratitude practice may “rewire” your brain to focus on the good things in life, which can make it easier to recognize even small positives each day. Common strategies for cultivating a gratitude practice include journaling and meditation dedicated to focusing on identifying things a person is grateful for. 

Affirmations

Affirmations are positive, present-tense statements that may help reinforce a desired reality. Some common examples of affirmations for abundance include “I am capable of achieving my goals” and “I am open to receiving abundance in all forms,” though you can write whatever affirmations make sense for you. Regular repetition may help shift subconscious beliefs from limitation to possibility.

Visualization techniques 

Another strategy for manifesting abundance is visualization techniques. By visualizing their desired success in great detail, a person can see themselves without limitations, which may increase motivation. It may also help a person identify specific steps they need to take to work toward their goals.

Goal setting and the law of attraction

Goals can give a person a sense of purpose and motivation to move forward with their ambitions. Setting a goal can also cultivate a sense of accountability for a person’s actions, which can help them stay on track. A goal may have multiple parts and a specific timeline, which may help make a big ambition seem more achievable. 

Developing a “money mindset” for wealth and abundance

For some, the idea of abundance may center around financial abundance or financial freedom—sometimes called a “money mindset.” In some cases, a person adjusting the way they look at money can change the way that they see the world more generally, shifting from a scarcity perspective to one of abundance. 

What is a money mindset? 

The term “money mindset” may mean different things to different people. However, generally speaking, it’s a way of looking at money with an abundance mindset. One component of this mindset is challenging scarcity beliefs—such as shifting your internal dialogue from saying things like, “Money does not grow on trees” to positive mantras like, “There are always new ways to earn money.” This perspective may help a person reduce financial anxiety and cultivate creativity when it comes to earning money.

Potential benefits of a money mindset for wealth and abundance

A money mindset may include how a person thinks, feels, and makes decisions about money. It can involve moving from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, in which a person may practice gratitude for what they have and recognize small financial victories. A money mindset may also focus on learning and growth rather than an exact amount of perfection.

Potential psychological pitfalls of cultivating an abundance mindset

While cultivating an abundance mindset can be empowering, it can also be important to recognize potential psychological pitfalls and risks of “manifesting abundance.” One key potential pitfall is toxic positivity, which can be defined as the belief that if a person fails to achieve their goals, it’s due to a lack of positivity or a negative mindset. This can cause them to feel guilty for experiencing natural emotions like sadness, fear, or anger.

The idea of manifesting abundance can also lead to risky financial choices and a higher risk of negative financial situations, like bankruptcy. Individuals who believe in manifesting abundance may avoid saving money or creating a financial safety net because these are associated with scarcity rather than abundance. They may also take larger risks with the belief that the money will come back to them easily.  

Mindfulness-based strategies to increase gratitude and abundance of the mind

For individuals hoping to cultivate gratitude and a mindset of abundance, there are several mindfulness strategies that may help. Mindfulness involves focusing on the present moment with a nonjudgmental sense of awareness. Some common mindfulness practices include deep breathing and meditation. These may help a person become aware of their beliefs and self-imposed limitations—which can be the first step toward shifting them. 

Meditate or journal to refocus the mind on the positive

Meditation and journaling are two possible ways to refocus the mind on the positive elements of life. During mediation, a person might intentionally focus on what they are grateful for, putting their attention on the positive and, if applicable, reframing the negative. Additionally, journaling can be another way for a person to refocus their mind on the positives in their life. For example, they may make a list of things they are grateful for and how these things bring joy into their life. 

Pay attention to what you have rather than what you want

Increasing gratitude may involve paying attention to what you have rather than what you want. This change in focus could help a person feel grateful for the good things in their life and increase feelings of abundance. It may also help reduce anxiety and stress that may be caused by perceptions of scarcity. 

Developing positivity and gratitude can be challenging

Connecting with a therapist may help

Getting support from a mental health professional

Those who are looking for quality mental health care but don't have providers near them or can't commute to and from appointments might consider virtual therapy instead. With a platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched and then meet with a licensed therapist from anywhere you have an internet connection. 

Research suggests that online therapy may be an effective way to manage stress. In a virtual environment, a therapist can implement reflection strategies and therapeutic techniques to help shift a person’s perspective and potentially improve mental health.