"I'm rubber, you're glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!"
You’ve heard that one before right? It’s an old saying that as kids we use to shout back to someone who was insulting or teasing us. It basically says whatever you call me doesn’t stick to me, it bounces right back to you instead!
While this saying has negative overtones, its basic premise is the same as one of the important laws of the universe – whatever you say or do comes right back to you at some point. Some call this ‘karma’ but I like to call it ‘the boomerang effect’.
How can you use the boomerang effect to create positive change in your life? It’s fairly easy but there are a few little catches to using it correctly. Let’s dive a bit deeper into these so you can find out how to use it in your life.
The 3 catches
For the boomerang effect to work well, the following three actions are all-important:
1. Look within: If you want love, then it stands to reason that you have to put love out there. But the catch here is you can’t do it half-assed. You must truly feel this love to be able to get it back. There ain’t no tricking the universe people! If you smile on the outside, but are complaining and hating on the inside then bam, guess what you’re getting back? You will attract what you are feeling.
2. Give without expectation: You want to be loved, then give love; you want respect, then give respect; you want affection, then be affectionate. But if you are giving purely to get something in return, think twice about what you are doing. I am not saying be a doormat. HELL NO! I am 100% about setting boundaries. What I am saying is to give without the expectation of getting back.
3. Be open to receive: In their international best-selling book, The Go Giver, Bob Burg and John David Mann talk about the five laws of success. One of them is the law of receptivity. Simply put, for your giving to be effective, you must also be open to receiving back. This one can be really hard, especially for women. Here’s a real-life example:
A few years ago, I felt terribly guilty if I bothered someone for something. I was always adamant about paying my way and doing things for myself. But I’d often catch myself thinking “Geez, what about me?” Looking back, it was pretty stupid because if I wasn’t letting anyone give to me, of course there was no help for me! But the light bulb flashed really bright and clear when a dear friend pulled me aside and said, “Grace, you know it gives me pleasure to give to you. But you never allow me that pleasure.” That moment helped me realize there is NOTHING wrong about receiving all of the beautiful things you put out there. There is no need to feel guilt or shame about it – just enjoy the feeling of being open to receive the abundance you deserve.
Boomerang it baby!
If you can put these three important things into practice – looking within, giving without expectation and being open to receive – before you know it, that boomerang will come flying straight back at you. Taking it a step further and practicing the attitude of gratitude will guarantee you all the love, kindness or affection you may be seeking. So what are you waiting for? Go bedazzle your boomerang!