Many people around the world use manifesting to reach their goals, by switching to a positive mindset and dealing with negative emotions in the process.
Fans of the practice will claim that it does wonders, but does manifesting work?
We’ll cover the answer in the post, including what manifesting means, some potential issues with the practice, and whether it will work for you.
Manifesting: The Basics
Manifesting involves the prospect of controlling our future through positive beliefs and affirmations.
People may have become familiar with the term through popular self-help literature, but the origins of the practice are thought to have originated from Hinduism traditions.
The idea of the universe unfolding as a result of our thought patterns goes back as far as the 2nd century BC.
Affirmations are one of the tools used to manifest (You might also want to check out How To Manifest Writing Down?). These are small phrases repeated regularly, to create happy, positive actions and mindset.
Telling yourself regularly that you can reach your goals can be very effective, as you end up thinking that you can turn your desires into reality.
This idea is connected to the notion of the law of attraction, the idea that positive mindsets will bring positivity to your life, while negative beliefs do the opposite, bringing negativity to your life.
Put simply, the things that happen in your life are a result of your mental state.
You can practice manifestation in several ways. Vision boards are a popular choice, as they allow people to visualize a state in which they’ve reached all of their goals.
Some people choose to journal, noting down particular aims and the actions required to reach them.
Others like to meditate, though some believe that meditation and manifesting don’t work well together.
This is just one of the problems that are linked with manifesting, which we’ll cover in more detail below.
Problems Related To Manifesting
The main issue with manifesting is that it doesn’t regard the experiences of those who struggle to think positively.
These include people who are mentally struggling with depression, anxiety, or chronic health issues.
For instance, many individuals who manifest believe that if they worry about thinking a bad scenario will occur, it will happen.
In this case, manifestation can make your current situation worse.
This is why everyone, particularly those who struggle with negative thoughts, should be cautious when practicing it.
There are also instances in which the law of attraction can be hard to understand.
The idea that similar beliefs attract similar scenarios can be insulting to those who have gone through traumatic experiences.
The notion that your beliefs are responsible for death, or physical or emotional abuse, is offensive.
This is why some people that practice state that trauma cannot be manifested.
For example, having a close family member that died from cancer is obviously, never the fault of anyone. Proposing anything otherwise would be appalling.
There’s also another issue with viewing manifestation as certain, even though there is no factual basis behind the practice.
It can be argued that this makes us more susceptible to conspiracy theories and fake news.
Studies have shown that individuals who trust their emotions over factual data are more prone to falling victim to these scams.
Manifestation might help some people reach their goals, but this doesn’t mean that you can fully rely on the practice to bring positivity into your life.
Does Manifesting Really Work?
While there might not be any scientific evidence for manifestation, there might be some psychological reasons why the practice might work.
The placebo effect is widely known, as it tells us that the mind has amazing healing powers.
The thought that we have control over outside factors might be all that’s necessary to bring positive events closer.
This also explains why affirmations work. Repeatedly saying positive phrases out loud can help us feel calmer, making us more likely to make the changes needed to reach our goals.
Manifesting allows us to feel like we have power over the things that we cannot control, which can be empowering.
However, many people that advocate for manifesting on social media are good-looking, put together, and live a lavish lifestyle in expensive properties.
It’s easy for us to believe that manifesting will bring these elements to us too.
The reality is that these successes are a result of privilege, luck, and hard work, not manifesting.
Manifesting may help you reach your goals, but do take the practice with a pinch of salt.
Sometimes there will be things that are out of your control, which is perfectly okay!
Manifestation Vs Mindfulness
We can gather that there is some truth to the notion that our beliefs, negative or positive, can affect our reality.
Despite this, don’t take this to be absolute proof that manifestation works.
If we don’t think that we can reach an aim, like getting our dream career, we act in ways that make this more likely.
This may look like anxious behaviors in the interview or talking down about ourselves.
This is why taking on a positive mindset can help. Manifestation practices, like vision boards or journaling, can help us become less negative and reach personal goals.
This, however, is down to attitude, not magic.
A problem with manifesting is that if you think too much about your thoughts and beliefs, you might become apprehensive about scenarios that weren’t present beforehand.
This is where mindfulness can be beneficial.
Mindfulness involves separating you and your thoughts, realizing that you are not the result of negative thoughts spinning around your mind.
Mindfulness and meditation, practices that separate reality from thought, can be seen as the full opposite of manifestation.
They might be different, but you can still use the two practices together to reach your goals.
Meditation allows you to visualize your goals, which you can then use to manifest your desires.
Manifesting isn’t just thinking positively, it’s a concentrated practice that helps you focus on what your goals are and believe that you can achieve them.
Try using meditation and mindfulness as part of your visualization exercises.
This will help you obtain greater control over your emotions and thoughts, so you genuinely become more positive about your current situation and future.
The Bottom Line
Manifestation involves the notion that our thoughts dictate our reality, focusing on thinking positively to bring positive things into our lives.
There’s nothing wrong with this, but it’s important to remember that some things are out of our control. Successes are often the result of hard work, luck, and privilege.
Consider combining mindfulness with manifestation. This can help you truly gain control over your present situation, visualize your desires, and finally reach your goals.
Hi, we are Ben Easter and Paige Stephens-Easter, and we have been married for 10 years. Together, we have immersed ourselves in the world of personal development, with our full-time business - Lucid Shift Coaching.
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