[coder25]

I saw a post about this on reddit.com and thought it'd be an interesting question to post here.

How many of you feel that if you feel really really strongly about something, you can affect it either through a higher power helping you or because the universe "knows" you want it ?

This does not mean that simply sitting idle and wanting something will make it happen. Rather I'm talking about those situations where you've done your part, you're so damn desperate and have no control over the situation. Small things like bumping into an old friend who now works at a place where you'd like to work, or meeting a new person who knows someone you'd like to meet etc.
Anyone have any interesting experiences to share ?

[bigtalljay]

I wouldn't think you are going to cause something to happen by "pure will," so to speak. Here is where the bigger questions come in, such as, "Do you believe in God?" Personally, I do believe in God, and I believe that he listens to us and is able to affect things. Oddly enough, the notion of the universe "knowing" doesn't sound too removed from the concept of God. And to some, maybe the universe is one big ol' collective consciousness or something. Maybe in that framework you can actually affect things just by willing it. My goodness, I don't have the answers, man! I know what I believe, but I'm far from claiming I have a firm grasp on how this all works.

[boredToDeath]

Well, I think that the "higher power" (for me it's God) will never make your efforts go to waste, so as long as you do your best then you'll get what you worked for. In general, you get a quality/quantity fair to how much effort you put in to achieve what you want.

I think that sometimes you can affect something by pure will, like hoping so much for it, or something like that, because your actions subconsciously change in favor of achieving what is hoped for, and in taking decisions that would be more evident.

[Master Wolf]

Well I can yell at the top of my lungs, if I really care.

If I dont really care, why would I yell at the top of my lungs though?

Can I control what I care about?

Dont think so, but I can control based on the level of my understanding and exprerience, whether I will face something I care about and how to face it or not.

[demonfart]

no i dont think so. things won't happen the way we expect it, just expect the unexpected when you know you prepared for it :) that way there will be no faults in your part. (or mine XD)

[unico]

I believe in synchronicity and things happening for a reason, learning lessons from what goes on in your life, etc. but I don't believe pure will is enough to change something. I think maybe it might seem that way, but that we are receiving help from others in some way that maybe we are unaware of, or that things were meant to go a certain way for some deeper purpose. I definitely believe in free will -- I just don't think will on its own is enough to change something most of the time.

[lews_t]

I think this is a variation of "if there is a will, there is a way". If you want something bad enough, you'll do things or put yourself in positions where things have a chance of working out. Sometimes you just need to persevere and keep at it which would only happen if you want it THAT badly. If you're undecided, you'd probably give up much earlier. There is also a saying that lucky people make their own luck. IMO its about being able to see opportunities and taking advantage of it.

So to answer your question, yes, I do believe that its possible because if you want something so much, you'll try to do whatever it takes to get it.

[Tridentus]

i believe there is a method to achieving everything. it's just a question of motivation- how much you want something.

if i wanted to badly enough i could be a billionaire; it's just a matter of finding out the persona and skills of current billionaires, developing them inside yourself, developing the mentality that it is all you want and working hard enough.

of course i don't have that will because it wouldn't fulfill many of my other wants and needs. but that could be demonstrated as an example that i COULDN'T be a billionaire in a way- do you see?

success goes where focus goes. negative people focus on not being able to do things, and therefore they are unable to do them.

but there is a limit of course, things such as IQ (if it's low) and sporting prowess (if you want to be an athlete) is of course permanent.

[lothweneriniel]

Well, will gives way to all sorts of things, conscious and not.

[Beverly]

I call bullshit on this whenever I see it. No offense!