The Law of Detachment is the sixth of Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. It teaches that you keep your intention and your desire, but let go of your attachment to exactly how and when the result arrives, trusting what Chopra calls the wisdom of uncertainty.
Last updated: 31 October 2026
Reading time: about 16 minutes
How we wrote this guide: this guide was written by Saj Ali. Every claim below links to Deepak Chopra’s own writing, his publisher or his official videos.
Quick answer: what is the Law of Detachment?
- It is Chopra’s sixth spiritual law. It comes from The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, published in 1994 (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
- You keep the goal, not the grip. “You don’t give up the intention and you don’t give up the desire. You give up your attachment to the result” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
- It is detached involvement. You take part fully, but without fear about the outcome (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
- Uncertainty becomes an ally. Chopra says that in the wisdom of uncertainty “you will find the freedom to create anything you want” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
- It has three daily commitments. Allow, welcome uncertainty and stay open to all possibilities, with Friday as its focus day (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
Contents
- What Is the Law of Detachment?
- Who Created the Law of Detachment?
- Core Ideas of the Law of Detachment
- The Three Commitments of the Law of Detachment
- How to Practise the Law of Detachment: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How the Law of Detachment Works
- What People Use the Law of Detachment For
- The Law of Detachment Compared with Similar Methods
- Tips for Getting the Most from the Law of Detachment
- Watch, Listen and Follow
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Law of Detachment
- Key Takeaways
- Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
- Sources
What Is the Law of Detachment?
The Law of Detachment is a principle for achieving what you want without anxiety. It is the sixth of seven principles in Deepak Chopra‘s book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, a short guide that sets out “seven simple yet powerful principles that can easily be applied to create success in all areas of your life” (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
Chopra summarises the law in a few lines: “In order to acquire anything in the physical universe, you have to relinquish your attachment to it. This doesn’t mean you give up the intention to create your desire. You don’t give up the intention and you don’t give up the desire. You give up your attachment to the result” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
In other words, detachment is not about wanting less. It is about holding your goals lightly. You stay committed and involved, but you stop gripping one fixed idea of how, when or in what form things must happen.
The Law of Detachment at a Glance
| Created by | Deepak Chopra |
| Source | The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success (1994), the sixth law |
| Core idea | Keep the intention and desire, release attachment to the result |
| Key phrases | Detached involvement, the wisdom of uncertainty, the field of all possibilities |
| Daily focus | Friday, in Chopra’s weekly plan |
| Time | A few minutes of reflection plus mindful attention through the day |
Details are from Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library and Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net.
Who Created the Law of Detachment?
Deepak Chopra is a physician and author who became one of the best-known voices in mind-body medicine. In 1995 he founded The Chopra Center for Well Being in California, which offered training in mind-body healing (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
He published The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success in 1994 through Amber-Allen Publishing and New World Library. The book is 128 pages long, and its publisher describes it as distilling “the essence of his teachings into seven simple yet powerful principles” (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library). It argues that success does not have to come from hard work, exacting plans or driving ambition alone, but from understanding our true nature and living in harmony with natural law (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
The seven spiritual laws
The Law of Detachment sits within a set of seven laws, each with its own day of the week in Chopra’s plan (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library):
| Day | Law | Core idea |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Pure Potentiality | Connect with your true self through silence and meditation |
| Monday | Giving | Keep wealth and goodwill flowing by giving and receiving |
| Tuesday | Karma, or Cause and Effect | Make conscious choices |
| Wednesday | Least Effort | Accept, take responsibility and let go of defending your point of view |
| Thursday | Intention and Desire | Set clear intentions |
| Friday | Detachment | Release attachment to the result |
| Saturday | Dharma, or Purpose in Life | Express your unique talents in service |
Chopra introduces the seven laws in a short video on his official channel (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success video).
Core Ideas of the Law of Detachment
Detached involvement
Detachment does not mean stepping back from life. Chopra writes that “only from detached involvement can one have joy and laughter” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net). You stay fully engaged with your work, relationships and goals, but without the fear and tension that come from needing a certain outcome.
Attachment, fear and security
Chopra sees attachment as rooted in fear and insecurity. He describes detachment as “based on the unquestioning belief in the power of your true Self”, while attachment is “based on fear and insecurity” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net). Chasing the outer symbols of success, such as cars, houses or money, can leave us feeling empty, he says, because those symbols “come and go” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
The wisdom of uncertainty
A central phrase of the law is “the wisdom of uncertainty”. Chopra writes that to be grounded in true wealth consciousness “you have to be grounded in the wisdom of uncertainty. In this uncertainty you will find the freedom to create anything you want” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net). Rather than seeing the unknown as a threat, the law invites you to see it as open space for something new. Chopra explores this idea further in a short talk on The Chopra Well (The Chopra Well, the wisdom of uncertainty).
Not forcing solutions
“When you force solutions on problems, you only create new problems,” Chopra writes. Instead, he suggests putting your attention on the uncertainty and waiting, alert and expectant, for the solution to emerge. This state of preparedness in the present, he says, allows you to “seize each situation, problem, or challenge as an opportunity” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
Intention plus detachment
The Law of Detachment works hand in hand with the fifth law, Intention and Desire. Chopra describes the moment of power as “combining intention with detachment at the same time” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net). The intention gives direction, and detachment gives freedom.
The Three Commitments of the Law of Detachment
At the end of each chapter, Chopra offers simple steps for putting the law into practice. For the Law of Detachment there are three daily commitments, which can be summarised like this (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library):
| Commitment | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| 1. Allow | Give yourself and the people around you the freedom to be as they are. Do not rigidly impose your idea of how things should be, and practise detached involvement. |
| 2. Welcome uncertainty | Treat uncertainty as an essential part of experience. Trust that solutions can emerge out of confusion, and that security comes from the wisdom of uncertainty rather than from controlling everything. |
| 3. Stay open to all possibilities | Step into what Chopra calls the field of all possibilities. Keep many options open, so you can enjoy the fun, adventure and mystery of life. |
Because Chopra links each law to a day of the week, many readers make Friday their focus day for these three commitments (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
How to Practise the Law of Detachment: A Step-by-Step Guide
This simple daily routine turns Chopra’s ideas into practical steps. It takes a few minutes in the morning and evening, with gentle attention through the day. The steps draw on Chopra’s description of the law (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net) and the three commitments in his book (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
- Set a clear intention. Decide what you would like to create and write it down in a sentence or two. Detachment builds on intention: you are not giving up the goal, only the grip on it.
- Release your attachment to the result. Read your intention once, then consciously let it go. Keep the desire, but drop the need for a particular outcome, timing or route.
- Allow yourself and others to be as they are. Through the day, practise what Chopra calls detached involvement. Take part fully, but do not insist that people or situations match your idea of how things should be.
- Welcome uncertainty. When plans change or something unexpected happens, remind yourself that uncertainty is part of the path rather than a sign that something has gone wrong.
- Stay open to all possibilities. Instead of fixing on one answer, notice the other options a situation offers. Ask yourself what new possibility this moment could open up.
- Do not force solutions. When a problem appears, stay alert and present rather than pushing for an immediate fix. Give the answer room to emerge.
- End with a few minutes of silence. Close your day with five to ten minutes of quiet meditation, simply resting in awareness and letting go of the day’s outcomes.
Chopra’s guided meditation on the seven spiritual laws is a helpful way to finish the day, and takes about 18 minutes (Chopra, 7 Spiritual Laws guided meditation).
How the Law of Detachment Works
Chopra explains the law through the difference between the self and its symbols. In his view, the source of abundance is “the Self”, which he calls “the consciousness that knows how to fulfill every need”. Everything else, from bank notes to clothes, is a symbol, and “chasing symbols is like settling for the map instead of the territory” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
When we cling to the symbols, he says, we feel anxious. When we let go of attachment and rest in our true self, we become free to create, and “the symbols of wealth are created spontaneously and effortlessly” (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net). This is why Chopra connects detachment with what he calls wealth consciousness, and attachment with poverty consciousness (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
In practical terms, letting go of a fixed outcome often helps people relax, think more clearly and notice opportunities they would otherwise miss. Chopra describes this as a “profound state of alertness” that meets your goal and intention in the present moment (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net). He also discusses the deeper meaning of detachment, surrender and freedom in a short talk on The Chopra Well (The Chopra Well, the real meaning of detachment).
What People Use the Law of Detachment For
- Manifesting goals with less pressure. Pairing a clear intention with detachment is a popular way to work toward goals while staying calm (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
- Easing worry about outcomes. Welcoming uncertainty can soften the urge to control every detail, which many people find helpful for stress.
- Quieting overthinking. Letting go of a fixed result gives the mind less to replay and rehearse.
- Money and abundance. Chopra links detachment directly with what he calls wealth consciousness (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
- Relationships. Allowing others the freedom to be as they are is the first of the three commitments (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
- Creative work and decisions. Staying open to the field of all possibilities can help new ideas emerge (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
- Spiritual growth. Many readers use the seven laws as a weekly spiritual practice, with Friday given to detachment (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
The Law of Detachment Compared with Similar Methods
| Method | Main focus | How it relates to the Law of Detachment |
|---|---|---|
| The Law of Detachment | Keeping intention while releasing attachment to the result | One of seven spiritual laws, practised through three daily commitments |
| Law of Attraction | Thoughts and feelings shaping your experience | Many practitioners use detachment as the letting-go stage after setting an intention |
| The Sedona Method | Releasing feelings and wants through simple questions | Also centres on letting go, with a step-by-step releasing process |
| Reality Transurfing | Choosing your reality with ease | Shares the idea that holding goals too tightly gets in the way |
| Abraham-Hicks | Emotional alignment and allowing | Its idea of allowing is close to Chopra’s detached involvement |
| Vedic Meditation | Effortless mantra meditation | Supports the inner silence that Chopra’s first law, Pure Potentiality, is built on |
| Mindfulness | Present-moment awareness without judgement | Helps you notice when you are gripping an outcome |
Tips for Getting the Most from the Law of Detachment
- Remember it is not giving up. Chopra is clear that you keep the intention and the desire (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
- Write your intention first. Detachment is easier when you know exactly what you are letting go of.
- Use Friday as a reminder. Chopra’s weekly plan makes Friday the day to focus on detachment (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
- Catch the urge to force. When you notice yourself pushing for a fix, pause and ask what might emerge if you waited a little longer (Chopra, Detachment, Healthy.net).
- Practise on small things first. Let go of how a meeting, a meal or a conversation should go, then build up to bigger goals.
- Add meditation. Chopra’s guided meditations make a calm start or end to the day (Chopra, 7 Spiritual Laws guided meditation).
- Read the whole book. The seven laws support each other, and the book is short enough to read in an evening (Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, New World Library).
Watch, Listen and Follow
Follow Deepak Chopra’s own guided meditation on the seven spiritual laws, hear him explain detachment and the wisdom of uncertainty, and learn from teachers who put the law into everyday practice.
Videos
- Deepak Chopra: 7 Spiritual Laws of Success : A Guided Meditation – Chopra. A guided meditation on the seven spiritual laws, led by Deepak Chopra.
- The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success – Chopra. A short introduction to The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success from the official Chopra channel.
- The Seven Laws of Yoga: Law 6 – Law of Detachment – Intent. The Law of Detachment as the sixth of the Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga.
- Spiritual Law of Detachment – Deepak Chopra, MD & Sarah Finger #IshtaYoga – Jiyo4life. Deepak Chopra and Sarah Finger on the spiritual Law of Detachment, with a short practice.
- Revelation & Awakening: The real meaning of detachment, surrender and freedom. – The Chopra Well. Deepak Chopra on the real meaning of detachment, surrender and freedom.
- Revelation & Awakening: The Wisdom of Uncertainty and the Longevity Experiment. – The Chopra Well. Deepak Chopra on the wisdom of uncertainty.
- Living Carefree – A Meditation with Deepak Chopra – Chopra. A guided meditation for letting go and living carefree, led by Deepak Chopra.
- Deepak Chopra on the seven spiritual laws of success – Fox Business. Deepak Chopra discusses the seven spiritual laws of success in a TV interview.
- The Law of Detachment—Full Lesson – The Unity Center San Diego. A full lesson on the Law of Detachment from The Unity Center San Diego.
- The Law of Detachment: Expect Nothing, Gain Everything – Clark Kegley. Clark Kegley explains the Law of Detachment and how to use it day to day.
- How Mastering Detachment will change your life (my method) – Aaron Doughty. Aaron Doughty shares his approach to practising detachment.
- Detachment is truly The Key to Manifesting Your Desires Faster Than Ever – Devi Sietaram. Devi Sietaram on detachment and manifesting your desires.
Podcasts
- Master the Law of Detachment & Learn How To Manifest The Life You Want – Getting Open with Andrea Miller.
- Mastering The Law of Detachment – The Divine Mind Podcast.
- Embracing the Law of Detachment for Manifestation Mastery – Empowerment Evolution.
Books and apps
- The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success – Deepak Chopra. The original 1994 book, $18.00 (USD) list price for the hardcover.
- The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga – Deepak Chopra and David Simon. Pairs each law with yoga, breath and meditation, $21.99 (USD) list price for the paperback.
- Deepak Chopra app, App Store – the official Deepak Chopra app, free to download.
- Deepak Chopra books – the full list of Chopra’s books on his official site.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Law of Detachment
What is the Law of Detachment?
The Law of Detachment is the sixth of the seven laws in Deepak Chopra’s 1994 book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. It says that to acquire anything you have to let go of your attachment to it, while keeping both your intention and your desire.
Does detachment mean not caring?
No. Chopra is clear that you do not give up the intention or the desire. You give up your attachment to the result. He describes the ideal as detached involvement: taking part fully while staying free of fear about the outcome.
What is the wisdom of uncertainty?
It is Chopra’s phrase for trusting the unknown. He suggests that being grounded in uncertainty gives you the freedom to create, and helps you meet each challenge as an opportunity rather than forcing a solution.
What are the three steps of the Law of Detachment?
Chopra offers three daily commitments: allow yourself and others the freedom to be as they are, factor in uncertainty as a natural part of experience, and step into the field of all possibilities by staying open to many solutions.
Which day of the week is linked to the Law of Detachment?
In The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Chopra suggests focusing on one law each day. Friday is the day for the Law of Detachment.
How does the Law of Detachment relate to manifesting?
Chopra pairs it with the Law of Intention and Desire, which comes just before it. You set a clear intention, then release your attachment to how and when it happens. Many people who practise the Law of Attraction use detachment in the same way.
Where can I learn more?
Start with Chopra’s short book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, which has a chapter on each law. His official YouTube channel also has a guided meditation on the seven laws, and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga pairs each law with yoga and breathing practice.
Key Takeaways
- The Law of Detachment is the sixth of Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, published in 1994.
- You keep your intention and desire, but let go of attachment to the result.
- Chopra describes the ideal as detached involvement, not indifference.
- The wisdom of uncertainty means trusting the unknown as a source of freedom and creativity.
- Its three daily commitments are allowing, welcoming uncertainty and staying open to all possibilities.
- Chopra suggests Friday as the day to focus on this law.
- It pairs naturally with intention setting, meditation and the Law of Attraction.
Explore More on Self Help Supermarket
Use these guides alongside this one:
- Law of Attraction – thoughts and creation
- Law of Attraction hub – videos and resources
- The Secret – the law of attraction explained
- The Sedona Method – release feelings
- Reality Transurfing – shape your own reality
- Abraham-Hicks – allowing and alignment
- Law of One – the teaching of unity
- Meditation – calm the mind
- Vedic Meditation – effortless mantra practice
- Mindfulness – present-moment awareness
- Advanced manifestation techniques – go deeper with manifesting
- Stress – ease pressure and worry
- Browse all self-help techniques – compare every method on Self Help Supermarket.
Sources
- Chopra, D. (1994). The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams. Amber-Allen Publishing / New World Library. https://www.newworldlibrary.com/product/the-seven-spiritual-laws-of-success
- Chopra, D. (2004). Detachment. Healthy.net. https://healthy.net/2004/04/14/detachment/
- Chopra, D. (2007). The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evo-K_8tCU0
- Chopra, D. (2020). 7 Spiritual Laws of Success: A Guided Meditation [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQrKfp_p7_o
- The Chopra Well. (2021). Revelation & Awakening: The real meaning of detachment, surrender and freedom [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMMyzz3s0VQ
- The Chopra Well. (2021). Revelation & Awakening: The Wisdom of Uncertainty [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAhkvYUGs8A
- Chopra, D., & Simon, D. (2004). The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga. Wiley. Bookshop.org listing
Self Help Supermarket guides are for general information and are not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.
