To think manifesting works?

I think the whole idea is quite offensive really. You know - if there's anything in it, why don't starving people just manifest themselves some food? Why don't people who are abused / in poverty / ill or disabled / whatever just manifest a solution? It all comes from such a place of Western affluent privilege. No prizes for guessing where it comes from - the USA, where everything is geared towards convincing the whole population that anyone who is in any way disadvantaged has only themselves to blame and just can't have been trying hard enough. No, don't campaign for a fairer society or challenge systemic injustice, peasants - just accept that poor people are poor because they have an attitude problem, and look after number one.

And yet at the same time, paradoxically, it's also a way of telling people that they can get what they want without getting off their arses and working for it in any wat at all. Which is bullshit in a different way.

Maybe don't fall for either flavour of bullshit?

It worked for me people laugh at me but I went to an angel card reader and she gave me a prayer to arch angel Michael to say everyday and daily affirmations . Less than a month later I met my DH and a woman I worked with the same story . He rolls his eyes at me when I tell him I manifested him lol

Presumably all those poor fuckers crossing the Channel in small boats today are manifesting a better life for themselves and their kids. People in Gaza, or the people in Israel whose lived ones were abducted by Hamas, just aren't manifesting properly.

It's such nonsense. Call it positive thinking, if you like - that does have a positive effect of mental wellbeing and attitude, but you can't change things just by wishing for them.

I’m manifesting a win on euro millions tonight. I’m really positive about it. I’ve worked out a responsible way of utilising my winnings.

It doesn’t matter that I haven’t got off my arse to buy a ticket does it?

This. “Manifesting” as an empirically observable phenomenon is a load of nonsense but it taps into two really fundamental truths about human existence:

a) that people who are focused and driven tend to be more successful than those who drift aimlessly along and
b) self belief is very effective at motivating people to do well and getting people to give them what they want.

”Manifesting” is just giving these two facts a slightly cult like spin.

It's a form of witchcraft. So yeah it can work but it's not without payment in some sort of way

I always thought it was a load of crap (I'm a scientist so not into all the woo stuff). However, I tried it recently and it actually worked! We were struggling to buy a house, we viewed over 30 houses, put in offers on at least half of those and had never been successful. We live in a very competitive area for housing and it was very stressful, doubting we would ever find something. Everything was either out of budget or unsuitable. So one day, I asked/prayed/manifested (whatever you want to call it) to send me a nice normal house that would be perfect for us. Two days later, a lovely house in budget came on the market, straight away I thought this is the one I asked for! and in less than a week we had an offer accepted and under asking price! I know it was probably just a coincidence that we got a house right after I manifested it but it worked!!

I don't think it exists in a mystical context, but as other have said, I think it's psychological and about directing energy and attention to achieving something.

With Karma, I think it's just probability. There's usually only so long someone can behave in a shitty way before they're caught or do something shitty to the wrong person.

More than that though, @Angrymum22 has achieved something really quite impressive - through hard work and sacrifice (her words, not mine) and is now crediting the universe for it, rather than herself. That seems quite sad.

That does not sound at all healthy.

All this manifesting malarkey when all people are doing is working towards what they want, however that may take hold. Manifesting is not some supernatural spell. Like a lot of things that start seemingly innocent (be kind, be nice etc) they end up getting toxic.

I’ve been ‘manifesting’ that since 1994 and nada 😡

It works in that if you have a positive attitude towards something happening then you're more likely to take steps towards making that happen and/or take opportunities which you might otherwise feel are too risky.

Also, if you feel genuinely confident that something will work, then you'll usually perform better at it and present better to others, which is hugely influential. If you're anxious, then you'll pass that anxiety onto others who may otherwise help or support you. Actually I've found this is one of the most important things to understand in life.

It also "works" in terms of the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon - essentially what you're looking for, you'll notice more often. Like when you have a miscarriage and pregnant people seem to be literally everywhere when you wouldn't even have noticed them before.

It can be harmless enough in those contexts and if it helps you feel positive about things then go for it. In fact when it's framed as being confident, defining your goals and believing in yourself, then I think it's very positive. It's the magical thinking side of it which is a problem.

I have unfortunately seen a really toxic side to this belief system - have you heard the parable of the drowning man? Where the man in a flood is on his roof and refuses help from 2 boats and a helicopter because he has faith that God will save him, only to drown and arrive in heaven and ask God why he didn't save him and God says - I sent you two boats and a helicopter!

I've seen my mum get stuck in unhelpful thought loops similar to this, thanks to her belief in manifestation and other similar philosophies. Thinking that this opportunity which has come up is not the right one, because it is not exactly what she has "manifested". And while ultimately that is her choice, it hasn't worked out that well for her. She also seems to get worse (in terms of MH and general coping) the more she withdraws into this world. Whereas the more she comes out of it into the more tangible world she does better - from an outside perspective.

And growing up being told that thoughts literally create energy ripples in the universe which can cause good or bad things to happen gave me some really, really unhealthy worrying thought spirals as a teenager leading into adulthood, which (I was told by a psychiatrist) effectively amount to OCD rituals. It took me a really long time to be able to trust that I can have whatever thoughts I like in my own head and it's totally safe to imagine any scenario without that having any effect on the real world.

They need to let it go apparently

Oh, they’re just not doing it right. They need to buy this £££ book, and sign up for this £££ online course, and this £££ app and then they’ll see results!

If it works why aren't people continually manifesting lottery wins? Or an end to world hunger and poverty?

Doesn't work for me anyway. My life is a complete shitshow no matter how positive my thoughts and wishes are!

I think it's more to do with having a positive mindset.

Thinking positively will help keep you motivated towards your goals rather than giving up at the first hurdle.

If you think positively/optimistically, you will start to see more positives/wins in life rather than focusing on the negatives. Being positive usually means you're putting yourself out there and will find you naturally attract more opportunities (or 'goodluck').

Obviously life is unpredictable, and can be extremely shit, but having a positive mindset could really help in certain situations in life such as job hunting/career progression/breakups/self improvement/weightloss etc.

I don’t think manifesting works - what about the holocaust, Gaza, Bangladesh etc. Did people manifest that?

It reminds me of that short story, The Monkey’s Paw about the tragic consequences of wishing for money!

However, positive thinking, in my opinion does work . I needed more money, looked for job opportunities, side hustles etc and found them. If you sit on your arse just wishing for money, you are unlikely to get it!

Absolute nonsense. You can take actions for something to happen yes but not by sheer will.

That’s a lovely yellow copy. That helps !

try and it see. Return in a year and tell us if it worked.

Soooo I am very non woo but I read the Florence Scovill book, ignored the bits about god. Everything I have thought of since then has come true. Not many things and not crazy things but certainly extremely good ‘luck’

www.amazon.co.uk/Game-Life-How-Play-Complete/dp/1250250692/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?crid=18T3G1EHBVXZI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FtYA9pCYx2tT29c_gsRTtjxeZkuTP376kUEq88D86_mTfodNrSky4I9HC0PxMQ_qmYf53a0U6ywOtVu0OuE5AAM85bSz6_4HHLGUxEHN9QWhif8GzXWtaG5ekCPWLHQ4hxgpCkiBOZu-V-ytXWpvdunGdKNaFh9HSgMu9OMNJbLaQLmiH-_nCT9Loyuy4U971luBr0gOI2d05Ij8GVVCvg.FcN_Ct77HiqLsr0YpxWS0WkyEG4SAlul8t5hapDbcAY&dib_tag=se&keywords=florence+scovel+shinn+the+game+of+life&qid=1724144432&sprefix=florence+sco%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-16

Manifesting a winning lottery ticket hasn’t done much for me I'm afraid.

I think it's just a case of setting positive intentions and I really love having a vision board to keep my goals in my mind.
I haven't done one for a while right enough but I had great success with the last one I did.

I was in a homeless unit after leaving my ex,unemployed and suffering from an as yet undiagnosed condition which meant I was on crutches, in a wheelchair or on a mobility scooter.
All while trying to parent a 3 and 5 year old.

My board was basically ...

a 3 bed home of our own with a garden for the dog.
(I printed out exterior pictures of the house and garden and a three bedroom floor plan from the internet)

Happy children

Healthy life

Get a job I could do from home even if the children were at home.

Now all of the above came to be, down to the floorplan of the council house I was very lucky to get allocated.

I got my diagnosis and sought private treatment and got my life back.

An ex colleague got in touch and offered me a job I could do at home and as it (mostly) wasn't customer facing he didn't mind if the children were around.

Would this all have happened without the daily reminder to keep going and fighting for what I wanted?
Maybe 🤷‍♀️

But I think without it I may not have had such a positive mindset and might have given up.

Your life isn't going to change because you got the pritt stick out and glued some pretty pictures to a bit of cardboard but I firmly believe keeping a visual representation of your goals that you can look at daily is definitely helpful for your mindset.

Now where's that pritt stick? 😊

Manifesting just sounds like a trendy buzzword. No one said manifesting years ago.

If you focus and work towards something then yes that can yield good results but lying in bed ‘manifesting’ you’re going to be the next CEO of Amazon is not going to happen.

This all started with sportsman visualising their success.
Ollie Watkins claimed he manifested that goal into reality and intended to do the same for the semi final but it didn't seem to work on the day for all his positive thinking we lost.
I'd say anything that only appears to work sporadically is probably just down to chance.
He kicked the ball towards the goal with his foot not his imagination and it went where he'd aimed.

If I said it rains the next day every time I clapped my hands before bed and clapped my hands every night chances are it would 'work' sometimes I'd wake up and it be raining but not because I'd manifested with my mind.