Contrary to what someone taught you, it's not thoughts that attract 'wanted and unwanted things,' it is your beliefs

What you believe, more than any particular thought you think, is responsible for creating your current reality. A thought is something you think, a belief is something entirely different. When there is a conflict between a thought you think and a belief, the belief always wins.  To learn how you create your reality with your beliefs, read this article: 

How Our Beliefs Create Our Individual REALITIES.