To think manifesting works?

[itsatin]

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.

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

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

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!

They need to let it go apparently

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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?