The Law of Opposites—How Backward Thinking Can Change Your Life
How do you respond when things go wrong? Is your response reactionary or is it empowering in a way that makes the situation better? I learned a principle when I was just a teenager that, although can be difficult to implement, can change one’s life for the better. Let me know in the comments section below if you have had any experience with the Law of Opposites.
When I was competing with off-road motorcycles as a teenager I used to get SO frustrated. I had the worst attitude ever. If any little thing went wrong I could have blown up the world. But once I read the Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale I began to realize that when a circumstance tries to irritate me, the way I conquer it is to do exactly the opposite—find the good in it.
When I did anything that didn’t work out according to my plan, sure I might have been irritated at first, but I would get over it quick and substitute a “thank you.” I expressed thankfulness that I wasn’t hurt and that I had the opportunity to learn a way that didn’t work. It did kinda suck but it also got me closer to figuring out the “right” way.
And you know what happened? My performance improved dramatically. Instead of something unwanted happening and reacting with a negative response that would only bring me down further, I felt more and more empowered.
It’s All About The Response
Years ago, just after I graduated high school, a leader in a bible group I was in gave me a book about praise. It’s been so many years ago that I don’t really remember anything about it except one thing—the most important thing—that no matter what happens give God praise and watch the miraculous ensue.
Give praise when the natural thing would be to find yourself seething with anger or bitterness.
Lose your job? Praise. Lose a loved one? Praise. Lose your leg? Praise.
It’s 100% backward, isn’t it? It sounds absurd, doesn’t it? People would laugh at you, wouldn’t they? But that’s exactly what God calls us to—to be opposites.
Romans 12:2 (ESV) says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” We are cautioned to stand out, to be different, to not act (or react) the same as everyone else.
And as we do give this backward response, by law we can make it better.
The Law of Opposites
The Law of Opposites says that I can always make a bad situation better by inputting positive energy into it as opposed to negative. Positivity can always overcome negativity like light overcomes darkness.
The principle works in so many ways.
Angry at someone? Love them! Love conquers all and will absolutely change a situation for the better. It’s an energy that can be felt and that changes hearts.
Down on yourself because you made a mistake? Choose joy or gratitude! Forgive yourself. By doing so you will lift your expectation and rise to fulfill it. We usually get what we are looking for.
Feel like you have no way of winning? Take action anyway! By setting your intention to do your best you can surprise yourself with the results.
This insight goes from just having thoughts to having strategies. You make a decision to change your mind and then you act on it.
It’s so easy in concept yet difficult to execute. Why? Because it goes against the grain of our natural tendencies.
But if we can master it we can alter our lives drastically. We can be truly empowered toward success because nothing can stop us.
Take Away
No doubt you know how to respond negatively to negative situations—that’s just human nature. Surely you’ve found that more negativity will only fuel the fire you already have and make it worse. As you do, the outcome brings you further down and you find yourself in a death spiral of sorts.
But we can ALWAYS turn that cycle around. We can choose to respond in opposite and bring new life and opportunity.
Responses are habits and can be hard to break. But if you begin now, in the smallest things, to recognize your negative reactions and replace them with positive, more empowering ones you can begin to create change.
Make this your goal for the next 30 days to seek and replace. As you begin to implement the Law of Opposites, your “backward” thinking will begin to forever change your life.
H
ello, my name is Aaron Force. I’m a blogger based in Seattle, Washington. I’ve been spiritually-minded for most of my life. Unfortunately, I’ve also lost my way during much of that time. I felt a seed of greatness hidden somewhere deep down inside but was blinded from it. That is until I experienced an honest-to-goodness calling and moment of awakening. I would be lying if I told you I had it all figured out. But I’m here to tell my story and maybe, just maybe, help you become aware of an even more amazing universe than the one your rational mind already knows.
Aaron Force is a blogger from Seattle, Washington. He writes to educate others about the nature of an expanded consciousness to evolve humanity. Aaron unexpectedly experienced his own profound awakening and ego transcendence in 2015 and soon understood that the qualities of his own experience (a greater expansion and evolution in his life) could be applied to mankind collectively.