Oh, quite possibly similar to Dianetics or something. It goes, like attracts like, so if you think happy thoughts, good things will happen, and if you're sufficiently "advanced" and sending out the right vibrations, the Universe will reward you. Therefore anyone who experiences misfortune is someone who liked thinking negative thoughts so much they made it come true and therefore they deserve it. UGH.

In the case of my Nana, this theory could be made to fit the facts, because she spent her whole life complaining and looking for the worst interpretation of anything that happened, and by golly she never found herself short of things to complain about. But it's silly to believe that she caused further misfortune by dwelling on negative thoughts. In my case, I consider the whole idea utter bunk and often feel quite gloomy, and my life contains a mix of good and bad (and an excellent house), neither of which I consider proof of anything.

These distressing spiritual beliefs come from someone who's close family and who matters a lot in my life; I am getting better at turning the subject when it comes up, but I may soon need to tell her I am not interested in hearing further from her on the subject.