Is Manifestation Culture Doing More Harm Than Good?
In recent years, “manifestation” has become a popular buzzword in the self-help world. The idea that we can create our reality simply by thinking positively and visualizing what we want is appealing, but I have some serious concerns about the way manifestation is talked about. Today, we’ll take a closer look at manifestation culture, and share a few thoughts on why I have some serious doubts about it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for positive thinking and believing in yourself. Visualizing and setting intentions are certainly powerful in achieving our goals. But here are some reasons why I think manifestation culture can be problematic:
It's not the full picture: While having a positive mindset is important, manifesting everything you want can oversimplify the complexities of life. It doesn't account for the many variables and factors outside of our control that can impact our lives. Furthermore, it overlooks the systemic barriers that exist in our world: Manifestation culture places the burden of success solely on the individual's mindset and actions, ignoring the impact of systemic oppression, inequality, and other external factors that can influence our success. There’s likely a good reason that manifestation culture is so widespread in mostly Western, privileged, materially wealthy spaces.
It can lead to guilt, shame, and inadequacy: Let's be real, sometimes things don't go our way. Manifestation culture can make us feel like we've failed if we don't always attract the things we want. The notion that we create our own reality suggests that if you don't achieve your goals, it's because you didn't manifest them well enough or you weren’t thinking positively enough. This can create pressure to always be positive and lead to negative self-talk when things don't go as planned. And #realtalk for a second - people NEVER manifest abuse or trauma that they’ve experienced at the hands of another person. Aspects of manifestation culture can further stigmatize and blame these individuals for things they didn’t deserve.
It ignores the role of hard work: While positivity can be helpful, it's not a replacement for putting in the work required to achieve our goals. Manifestation culture can make us think that simply thinking positively is enough, when in reality, it's only one piece of the puzzle.
Lastly, manifestation culture is incredibly prone to confirmation bias. I notice that people are quick to take credit for manifesting something good that happened to them, but rarely (if ever) talk about that same principle applying when something doesn’t go according to plan. Did you really manifest your dream company, or did your privilege grant you a sizeable inheritance that funded your endeavor? And when a tree gets struck by lightning and falls down on your car, did you manifest that too? (Kidding, sort of.)
So, what should we do instead? Here are a few tips that have worked for me:
Set clear and realistic goals: Be specific about what you want to achieve and create a plan for how to get there. This gets you to own your sense of power and autonomy. But also, acknowledge that many things we want to achieve require outside help to make happen, and embrace seeking out help and support from others. It truly takes a village.
Focus on the process, not just the outcome: Instead of fixating on the end result, focus on the steps you need to take to get there. Celebrate your wins, big and small along the way: Every accomplishment is worth celebrating. Give yourself some credit for the hard work you put in.
Practice gratitude: Manifestation culture can be all about wanting more and more, but taking time to appreciate what we already have can be a powerful way to cultivate positivity and contentment.
I hope these tips give you some food for thought and help you navigate the world of manifestation culture. If manifesting really helps you, I’m thrilled for you, I really am. But remember that if it’s not your thing, it’s totally ok too.
Instead of putting all our faith in manifestation, we can take practical steps towards our goals and remember that everyone's journey is different. What works for one person may not work for another.
So, take what resonates with you and leave what doesn't. The most important thing is to stay true to yourself and your values, and remember that success looks different for everyone.
BTW, my mission is help people love their lives so they never want to leave them.
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