Mental Health

Decoding the Internet’s Favourite Trend: Manifestation

It’s been a stressful couple of years, and amidst all this, people want to envision positive things happening for them. Manifestation has become the new craze on the Internet, and here’s an inside scoop into what it is.

By Aditi

23 May 2022

The Internet is a crazy and rapidly evolving place, and there’s a new trend every day that grabs attention. While manifestation may seem like just another trending topic on the Internet, it’s actually nothing new in itself. If you’ve ever heard about the Law of Attraction, you may already be familiar with the concept of manifestation.

From Oprah to Drake, many celebrities vouch for the power of manifestation. Whether it’s achievable or another bogus trend, Dr. Shreya Chakravarty, a psychologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, helps us understand manifestation and what it’s all about.

What Exactly Is Manifesting?

The concept behind manifestation is based on the impact of positive thinking, how it can lead to positive action, especially when it becomes habitual. Practicing manifestation means actively putting your intention and energy towards something you hope will happen and then watching it become a reality. The theory is that it’ll come to be if you think it.

However, unlike what it sounds, manifestation doesn’t magically make these things become a reality in your life. Manifestation simply enables you to envision the life that you want for yourself and helps you work towards it. As Dr. Shreya says, ‘’For me, the emphasis is not only on the thoughts but on action and efforts also. I personally don’t believe that just thinking of owning a Bugatti will make one the owner of it.’’

According to Dr. Shreya, proponents of the Law of Attraction claim that it is based on a scientific theory. Still, many others have rejected the claim and called this concept ‘metaphysical pseudoscience’.

Why Are People So Crazy About It?

It’s been a rocky few years for many people. The COVID-19 pandemic has left a lasting impact on everyone’s lives. As the world slowly moves on, the memories and impact of almost two years of lockdown still remain.

The International Labour Organisation estimates that 81 million jobs will be lost by December 2020 due to the pandemic. Millions of people lost their livelihoods during the pandemic, and difficulties in finding other jobs led to a boom in freelancing. Social media is another aspect that flourished during the pandemic. In a world where having one job is not enough, and almost everyone is involved in the ‘hustle culture.’ For many manifestation has become the medium to find success.

All your goals, aims, and aspirations can become tangible once you “manifest” them. But, many people still remain on the fence on whether that can actually happen.

Does It Work?

The Law of Attraction states that both positive and negative manifestations can happen. If you believe that something bad will happen, it will eventually be brought into the world as well. The idea that people constantly need to be optimistic and happy can be hard for those who struggle with mental health.

For many others, manifestations can work similarly to a placebo. Whether it does or doesn’t do anything, they believe that it does, and that is enough for them. There is no actual scientific evidence to prove that manifestation works, but you can find enough success stories from various people. Dr. Shreya states that those who practice manifestation in their daily lives tend to see an increase in their willpower and positive thinking.

While there is a certain sense of empowerment you can feel once you take control of your life and begin positive manifestation, it isn’t like that for all people. For those who struggle with OCD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, it can be difficult to constantly manifest good energy and situations, and it can even cause them stress.

Related Story: Meditation And Living With Grace

Popular Affirmations For Your Dream Life

According to Dr. Shreya, when you’re looking to start manifesting, you have to be free from doubts and biases. It is crucial that you begin with a positive attitude. There has to be a clear and focused goal and a tangible result at the end. For example, a manifestation like ‘’I want to be happy’’ won’t work when you don’t know what will make you happy. However, a manifestation like ‘’I want to get a promotion at my job within the next six months’’ is a concrete and tangible goal you can work towards.

Visualising what you want to manifest will bring forth more motivation and positivity. Consider opting for journaling, where methods like 3-6-9 or 10-10-10 can work. For example, the 3-6-9 manifestation method means that you write what you’re manifesting three times in the morning, six times in the afternoon, and ten times in the evening. The sentence should be used as your affirmation, and practicing gratitude is crucial.

Cosmic Energy and Manifestation

Whether you’ve just finished reading The Secret or have come across yet another social media post about manifestation, it’s your choice whether you want to follow along with it. Since it’s an activity that most of us tend to do throughout our day as well, there’s no real harm in trying it out and seeing if it works for you. However, you have to understand that just like any other activity, even manifestation has its limits.

For those who are struggling with mental health, it might be best to avoid manifestation when it becomes all-encompassing. Dr. Shreya states that it can lead to mood instability, and if that’s what is happening, it is crucial to stop right away.