The Law of Attraction: Help for Addiction Recovery

I’ve come to realize that most people—myself included, at times—generally move through their days from beginning to end with no real plan, focus, or intention. They usually know the basics of what’s going to happen: wake up, groggily get ready for the day with hygiene and breakfast, get dressed in something appropriate, and head out the door for work or school.

Once they arrive at their destination, it’s usually the same old, same old. They see the same people, do the same kinds of tasks they did yesterday, think the same thoughts, and feel the same feelings—often just waiting until they can go home. Then comes another routine: changing into comfortable clothes, throwing a meal together, exchanging a few words with partners or family members, and turning on the TV until bedtime. The next day looks much the same.

The Law of Attraction

Many people move through life on autopilot and then wonder why time either seems to fly by or drag on—or both. But life doesn’t have to feel that way, and neither do you. There is another way to live, and there are tools that can help you create a more intentional and fulfilling life.

About a year ago, I was reintroduced to the Law of Attraction. I say reintroduced because the first time I encountered it, I was in very early recovery and simply trying to stay afloat.

Although the teachings resonated with me, I didn’t give them much attention at that stage of my life. Today, things are very different. I recently celebrated 30 years sober, and my life is amazing compared to what it was during active addiction. I understand now how radically life can change for the better in recovery—especially when we begin using this Law to our own advantage.

The Law of Attraction is similar to the Law of Gravity. We all know gravity exists, and we recognize that we’re powerless over it—even when people try to defy it. Gravity simply is. What goes up must come down.

If I hold a pen in my hand and decide that, once I let go, I want it to stay suspended in the air, it won’t. As soon as I open my hand, the pen will drop to the floor. There’s nothing I can do to change that.

The Law of Attraction works in much the same way. Its message is often summarized as “like attracts like,” whether we want that to be true or not. Because it’s a universal law, it operates regardless of whether we believe in it.

I actually find comfort in that. It simplifies my choices. I choose to accept this truth and live my life in accordance with it.

As the poet Robert Frost so simply said, that has made all the difference.

How the Law of Attraction Responds to Our Thinking

The easiest way to understand and practice the Law of Attraction is through our thoughts. When we begin paying attention to how we feel inside—and recognize the connection between our thoughts and emotions—we gain access to an inner guidance system that can help lead our lives. We can live with intention, or we can move through life feeling disconnected from ourselves.

The irony is that when we’re disconnected, we’re often unaware of it because we’re right in the middle of it. Whatever we consistently think about, whether positive or negative, tends to be reflected back to us in some form. That’s just how it works.

If we don’t like how we feel inside, we can shift our focus to something that feels better. Understanding and using the Law of Attraction intentionally can help bring us back to ourselves. Like many things in life, practicing the Law of Attraction is simple, but not always easy.

One of the most extreme ways people become disconnected is through addiction. Many individuals hold tightly to their addictive behaviors because they think that indulging in them will make them feel better. At the core, most of us do what we do because we hope it will relieve discomfort or pain. Often, it’s an attempt to escape a reality we don’t want to face. We may believe that staying intoxicated, chasing adrenaline, or numbing ourselves will protect us from disappointment or emotional pain. This is a horrible, hopeless way to live, and yet far more common than most people realize.

I know, because for many years, that is exactly how I lived.

When we begin to understand that like really does attract like, we can start to see what we’ve helped create in our lives. This can be a difficult realization, because it removes the tempting option of blame.

Many of us have been through genuinely painful experiences. I know I have, and I know many of you reading this have too. The harm was real, and much of it came from outside ourselves. I didn’t seek out people who hurt me. But when I began to understand the Law of Attraction, I also saw that I had a role to play. While I couldn’t change my past, I could stop living in it. I started focusing more on my present and future, looking forward instead of backward. I began using the Law of Attraction as a discipline—one that could help me create the life I truly wanted.

The results didn’t take long to show up. I began to feel different inside—lighter, more hopeful. This lifelong glass-half-empty person started to see the glass as more than half full. My physical health improved. My work with clients became more creative and fulfilling. I built relationships with people who truly matter to me. And even on days when familiar feelings of sadness, depression, or isolation appeared, I knew I could respond differently.

Thankfully, it no longer required substances or self-destructive behaviors. All I had to do was shift my thoughts toward something that felt better, and my emotional state followed.

Addiction, in any form, can be devastating. Today more than ever, it’s harming lives and, tragically, taking them. Using substances or behaviors to escape reality may feel like a solution in the short term, but it can’t be a long-term answer. Over time, it often takes over, leaving us in a far worse place than where we started.

You May Say I’m a Dreamer…

I know what I’m sharing will resonate with some people, while others may be skeptical. All I can do is share my experience, strength, and hope in the best way I know how. There is a way out of the struggle and suffering of addiction, and changing how you think can be a powerful part of that process.

If you’re currently struggling or in early recovery and reading this, you’re likely searching for answers. I know this approach can work. It isn’t magic, it’s a practice.

Many of us have spent a lifetime thinking negatively, and that doesn’t change overnight. But if you stay with it and genuinely try, you can experience the same kinds of shifts that countless others have. I sometimes wish I’d discovered this way of living earlier, but instead, I’m deeply grateful to understand it now.

Maybe you won’t have to wait as long as I did. And since you truly have nothing to lose, isn’t it worth a try?

If you’re looking for a new perspective, start by reading about the Law of Attraction or listening to talks and recordings online. Keep an open mind—some ideas may feel unfamiliar at first. If they resonate and help you make sense of long-standing confusion or negativity, keep going. Focus on how you feel inside. Let your emotions guide you toward a happier, more intentional, and addiction-free life.

Find Support That Aligns With Your Recovery Goals

If you’re ready to explore treatment options that support lasting recovery and personal growth, Recovery.com can help. Use our platform to find treatment centers that align with your needs, so you can take the next step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life with clarity and confidence.