The Law of Attraction has become one of the most popular concepts in recent years, especially in the Arab world, where many influencers promote it on social media. The core idea that visualizing and truly believing in something can help turn it into reality has attracted a wide following.

With the release of the new Michael Jackson film in April, titled "Michael," it's clear that his artistic journey was driven by his desire to be the best in his field. The film highlights how he applied the Law of Attraction and used positive affirmations to achieve his artistic dreams. It also portrays Michael Jackson as someone who relied not just on talent, but on deep self-belief and the power of repeating positive thoughts.

This raises an important question: Was the Law of Attraction a genuine tool that helped Michael Jackson succeed, or is it simply a psychological comfort people turn to during tough times?

What is the Law of Attraction?

The Law of Attraction is the belief that people attract into their lives whatever they focus on, whether positive or negative. According to this idea, your thoughts can bring you closer to either success or failure.

The modern version of the Law of Attraction emerged in the 19th century among followers of the American New Thought movement. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Phineas P. Quimby is considered one of its earliest founders.

This movement teaches that the mind, thoughts, and beliefs shape a person's life and achievements. However, it's hard to say that New Thought is the sole origin of the Law of Attraction, since many cultures have similar philosophical beliefs. Examples include karma in Hinduism, harmony with energy in Chinese culture, and meditation in Buddhism.

The Law of Attraction reached peak popularity with the release of The Secret in 2006, a book by Australian author Rhonda Byrne. The book's central message is that a person's thoughts and feelings can attract similar events and experiences into their life.

The book became one of the most influential works in spreading the Law of Attraction worldwide.

Michael Jackson Film and the Law of Attraction

The new film "Michael" was released on April 24, 2026. This biopic explores Michael Jackson's life and career, with his nephew Jaafar Jackson playing the lead role. The film features several scenes depicting his use of the Law of Attraction and positive affirmations. One of the most notable moments focuses on the period before the release of his album Thriller, showing Michael repeating motivational phrases such as:

- You are Confident

- You are Strong

- You are Beautiful (meaning: "You are beautiful")

- You are the Greatest of All Time (meaning: "You are the greatest of all time")

These phrases are simple examples of the positive affirmations Michael Jackson was known for repeating. In his view, these affirmations played a key role in his ongoing pursuit to become the King of Pop.

Additionally, Jaafar Jackson discussed Michael Jackson's journals and his use of the Law of Attraction in a YouTube interview before the film's release, specifically at the 5:42 mark.

Jaafar Jackson said: "While filming, what surprised me most was being given access to so many of his personal notes. I realized he would say mantras and affirmations, and his belief in the Law of Attraction was incredible. I didn't fully understand it until I really dug into it. He would write down everything he wanted to achieve, repeating it over and over. He would meditate for 30 minutes, just focusing on those affirmations, repeating them constantly. He put these affirmations on mirrors, on the ceiling—anywhere he could see them every day. It was truly like he was on a quest for greatness."

Positive Affirmations in His Real Life

Michael Jackson was known for using positive affirmations, often writing notes and messages to himself and placing them in various spots as constant reminders of his goals and ambitions. One of his most famous notes was written in 1979, when he was 21 years old:

"My new name will be MJ. There will be no more Michael Jackson. I want a completely new persona, a totally new look. I must become a different person entirely. People should never remember me as the kid who sang 'ABC' and 'I Want You Back.' I must be a new, amazing actor/singer/dancer who shocks the world. I won't do interviews. I will be magical. I will be perfect, a researcher, a trainer, accomplished. I will be better than any great actor who has ever played this role."

His mother, Katherine Jackson, confirmed this, saying: "Michael was always writing notes to himself and would mark a target date on his mirror for when he wanted his album to top the charts, so he could see it every day as a constant reminder of his goal. Before the massive success of Thriller, Michael made it clear he wanted to create the best-selling album in history. He truly had a visionary mindset."

A few of his mirror notes included: "I am so grateful that I am a magnet for miracles."

Many pages attributed to his journals and personal notes have been published. In one of them, Michael wrote:

To MJ - June 1994

Current occupation: songwriter, artist, singer, actor, dancer, director

Current weekly income: $1 million

Occupation after 45 weeks: same as now

Weekly income after 45 weeks: $15 million

In another note, he wrote: "I've learned that what you plant in your mind—what you think about and act on—is what shapes you. You can plant any idea in your mind, and it will become reality. This means we can program ourselves to be whoever we want to be, in any field, and live it through a mental program or system of learning and practice. Study the work of the greats in your field, and you can become the greatest."

In one of his leaked audio recordings dated October 25, 2001, he said: "Always believe in yourself. No matter how many people around you spread negativity or give off negative energy, ignore them completely. Because you become what you believe."

In his journals, Michael Jackson also sketched out a roadmap for programming his mind to achieve his dreams, titled "Mental Program – Subconscious Mind Ideas to Become the Best," which he wrote in the early 1980s at his home in Encino, California.

Dream: To be the greatest actor, singer, and dancer of all time—a true all-around artist, the best ever.

Confidence, faith, perseverance, belief.

Study the greats in your field and rise to their level.

Uncover the secrets behind your goals, the 'method.'

Mental goal: Master and influence your subconscious mind.

Be the best in your field.

Be a scholar ,know the methods of the greats.

Experiment, then master your craft.

Move mountains.

Relentless perseverance to achieve or surpass the performance you envision.

Michael also spoke in many interviews about the subconscious mind, achieving dreams, and bringing them into reality. Some of his most famous quotes are about this topic.

Here are the following quotes:

"I believe in wishes and in our ability to make them come true. A wish is more than just a hope, it's a goal your subconscious mind can help turn into reality."

"Every time I watched the sunset, I would quietly whisper my wish before the sun disappeared behind the western horizon. It felt as if the sun was taking my wish with it. I would say it just before that last fleeting ray of light vanished."

"I would stretch out my arms as if sending my thoughts into the universe. After whispering my wish, I would dive into the water and tell myself: 'This is my dream, this is my wish,' every time I went under."

The Law of Attraction: Belief and Criticism

Michael Jackson's success story can be linked to the Law of Attraction through his immense ambition and deep belief in his ability to become the best in his field. According to the principles of the Law of Attraction, Michael embodied the idea of intense focus on a goal. He had a clear vision of what he wanted, and this was evident in his self-belief. However, this doesn't necessarily mean the Law of Attraction is absolutely true. Critics argue that while strong belief in success can boost confidence and courage, it can also create an illusion of complete control over one's life.

Thoughts alone aren't enough to change reality; sometimes, they're just a temporary way to feel in control.

Still, optimism can be helpful when it motivates action and effort , not when it leads to waiting for miracles. This is clear in Michael Jackson's story: his self-belief wasn't the only factor behind his success. His extraordinary talent, relentless work ethic, discipline, and ambition all played a role in making him one of the greatest names in music history.

So, the Law of Attraction can be seen as an unscientific psychological tool that helps people focus their energy and attention on their goals, but it's not enough on its own to guarantee success. Dreams may be the starting point, but real achievement requires effort, hard work, and persistence.

In the end, although the film highlights this aspect of Michael Jackson's life, his belief in the Law of Attraction and positive affirmations, it didn't give him complete control over his destiny. Despite his strong faith in himself and his dreams, his life was far from free of controversy and hardship. He endured a tough childhood, lived under the pressures of fame from an early age, faced relentless media scrutiny, and became associated with highly publicized legal battles. Many of these challenges were largely beyond his control, raising important questions about how realistic the Law of Attraction truly is and its actual power to shape a person's life.

This leads to an important question: Was the Law of Attraction a real force that changed Michael Jackson's life, or simply a psychological boost that gave him the optimism and confidence to keep moving forward?

Regardless, the Law of Attraction remains a popular and controversial topic, especially in a world where many people long for hope and dream of a better life. Perhaps its real power lies not just in changing reality, but in giving people the motivation to keep striving for what they want.