Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think manifesting works?

116 replies

itsatin · 19/08/2024 20:09

That's it really..
I'm reading a lot about it and I'm hoping it does work although I'm not wholly sure how to go about it for effectiveness.

OP posts:
MiddleagedBeachbum · 19/08/2024 20:10

I think it does and have seen it work :)

purpleme12 · 19/08/2024 20:10

I think it's a load of rubbish

Lmnop22 · 19/08/2024 20:10

I think good things happen to positive people who aren’t anxious and worrying about things not working out. So, to that extent, it works for sure!

DeadbeatYoda · 19/08/2024 20:13

Yes

Maplesy · 19/08/2024 20:14

I think it does in as much as someone who is 'manifesting' something often spends time and energy thinking about it, and this includes pondering how to get there. Having the mindset of I'm going to do this rather than I can never ever achieve that also helps in having the confidence in taking up opportunities etc.i don't believe starting at an image of what you want on a piece of paper magically leads to anything, but yes I do think someone focusing energy on thinking about achieving something helps.

Thethruththewholetruth · 19/08/2024 20:14

I think it’s more about the positive attitude aspect, a glass half full approach goes a long way, the world and most people are full of moaning negativity.

m00ngirl · 19/08/2024 20:15

I think it does, by directing/focusing your thoughts you can direct/focus your energy to the right places. The literature that describes it as a kind of sorcery annoys me, I think it's just psychology.

A lot of people drift through life not even knowing what they truly want. Once you establish that at a deep level, and you know what you want and why, and the. focus your attention on it in a positive way, you start consciously and subconsciously directing your energy and making decisions towards the places that help to achieve your goals. I think it's that simple.

It has worked a lot for me. I set my intentions and have achieved a lot against the odds. I'm always astonished when I look back and think how unlikely it was that I would actually achieve what I did. I use visualisation and I know it consciously and subconsciously sets me in the right direction.

cariadlet · 19/08/2024 20:15

A positive attitude could make someone more confident, more ambitious, more inclined to seize opportunities.

That's the only possible way that it could work.

Thinking about it logically, how could wanting something to happen, make it more likely to occur? What could the causal link possibly be?

If someone can produce positive evidence from a peer reviewed scientific trial, I might change my mind but I won't hold my breath.

Senor · 19/08/2024 20:16

It's worked for me multiple times, but it's quite tricky keeping it up.
I think it's a lot harder to visualise what do you want rather than what you don't want, therefore it's a practice like all the other practices out there

selldonaterecycle · 19/08/2024 20:16

I think it does to some degree but there's no magic. If you think, eat, sleep, breathe, manifest a goal then you're much more likely to achieve it than if you don't. It's all about focus and positive thoughts that will influence your behaviour and what you choose to do.

But following a few manifesting influencers on SM, buying a manifestation journal and writing down I want to win £1m quid every day probably won't work!

User623 · 19/08/2024 20:16

I think it's dangerous and can cause serious mental health issues in those prone to them (such as OCD, psychosis and delusions)

FatmanandKnobbin · 19/08/2024 20:17

Been manifesting Gérard Butler sweeping me off my feet for years, hasn't happened yet, still hoping though.

Senor · 19/08/2024 20:18

cariadlet · 19/08/2024 20:15

A positive attitude could make someone more confident, more ambitious, more inclined to seize opportunities.

That's the only possible way that it could work.

Thinking about it logically, how could wanting something to happen, make it more likely to occur? What could the causal link possibly be?

If someone can produce positive evidence from a peer reviewed scientific trial, I might change my mind but I won't hold my breath.

why don't you try it, it's pretty easy, just take a blank piece of paper and write down your ideal scene

Bruceytwo · 19/08/2024 20:18

I think it's utter nonsense, and don't believe in anything woo. Despite that, everything I've ever manifested I've achieved so I'll keep doing it! Like PP have said it must be the optimism/intention that makes thinks happen. It is remarkable really.

HamSad · 19/08/2024 20:18

It doesn't exist. Neither does karma.

LookAtThatCritter · 19/08/2024 20:19

FatmanandKnobbin · 19/08/2024 20:17

Been manifesting Gérard Butler sweeping me off my feet for years, hasn't happened yet, still hoping though.

Ah, that's my fault. I've been manifesting the same thing. He's probably confused which direction he should sweep.

User623 · 19/08/2024 20:19

FatmanandKnobbin · 19/08/2024 20:17

Been manifesting Gérard Butler sweeping me off my feet for years, hasn't happened yet, still hoping though.

I've done the same with Henry Cavill but alas he has yet to arrive at my door.

WoopsLiza · 19/08/2024 20:19

I think it's the wedge end of a very gross, blame-the-victim mentality, and it's no surprise it has been formetnted in the most individualistic and capitalist societies on the planet.

If your lives aren't what you want them to be, I totally understand. If you wish you were more in control of them, I totally understand. But I think it is the grossest form of gaslighting that someone has persuaded you it's your fault and not the result of societal and economic factors disabling you.

By all means determine that you and going to approach things with a positive mental attitude and try to focus in your lives on the things you actually feel are worth working towards. I really hope that you get them and I also believe you deserve them. I just also believe that even shit people deserve nice lives and if we were more up for facing that, more people could have nicer lives and as a result might have positive mental attitudes.

It is a form of delusion borne out of traumatic disappointment to believe you got a nice life because you had the right thoughts in your head. It will haunt you even if you do actually achieve the things you want.

Read Smile or Die by Barabara Ehrenruch for a bracing call to arms

Wombbaalaa · 19/08/2024 20:20

If you don’t believe in manifesting though by the rules, you wouldn’t manifest 🤣

m00ngirl · 19/08/2024 20:21

User623 · 19/08/2024 20:16

I think it's dangerous and can cause serious mental health issues in those prone to them (such as OCD, psychosis and delusions)

Wow. A comment on how victim culture increasingly pathologises positivity, aspiration and achievement.

Thinking positively to help manifest carefully crafted personal goals is not in any remote sense "dangerous".

User623 · 19/08/2024 20:21

Wombbaalaa · 19/08/2024 20:20

If you don’t believe in manifesting though by the rules, you wouldn’t manifest 🤣

And if you stick to the rules all you'll manifest is a serious mental illness 🤓

Theredfoxfliesatmidnight · 19/08/2024 20:22

It depends. Visualising you're going to win the race you're preparing for, or imagining you've got the job when you're going for interview - yes that works. Visualising a happy life when you have anything but, and trusting in the universe to provide (?!) Not so much.

FatmanandKnobbin · 19/08/2024 20:23

LookAtThatCritter · 19/08/2024 20:19

Ah, that's my fault. I've been manifesting the same thing. He's probably confused which direction he should sweep.

How about you manifest Monday through Wednesday, and I'll manifest Thursday through Saturday, then we can give him a break on Sundays?

FatmanandKnobbin · 19/08/2024 20:24

User623 · 19/08/2024 20:19

I've done the same with Henry Cavill but alas he has yet to arrive at my door.

Maybe we need to do it on the night of a full moon or something, not quite sure of the rules 🤣

User623 · 19/08/2024 20:25

FatmanandKnobbin · 19/08/2024 20:24

Maybe we need to do it on the night of a full moon or something, not quite sure of the rules 🤣

Once Upon A Time Film GIF

You might be onto something there