Does Manifestation Work?

Hey there,

While waiting in line at the bookstore, I struck up a casual conversation with the woman in front of me. 

Within minutes, she was convinced that the universe sent me to meet her.

She said we were destined to cross paths so I could “unlock my potential”—and conveniently, she had just the right crystals to sell me for balancing my aura.

Encounters like this are surprisingly common.

And it tends to be a particular type of person. 

They’re usually dressed in flowy clothes, layered in beads, and casually mention 'integrating' after their fifth ayahuasca ceremony.

But hey, who am I to judge? Maybe my aura does need work.

Naturally, this got me wondering—do manifestors know something I don’t?

Am I missing out?

Should we all be sipping sacred plant brew under a full moon to unlock cosmic secrets?

I’m skeptical, but hey, I like to keep an open mind.

Maybe they’re onto something. Maybe if I became a manifestor, the universe would start revolving around me too. Sounds fun.

What Is Manifestation?

According to TikTok, where #manifestation videos have racked up over 35 billion views, manifestors believe they can think their way to success, wealth, and happiness.

Apparently, you just “transmit” your desires to the universe with thoughts like “I’ve met the love of my life” or “I’m already rich,” and voilà—the universe supposedly vibes with your frequency and delivers it to your doorstep faster than Amazon Prime. 

I mean who wouldn’t want to send a cosmic DM to the universe and get instant results?

Why Manifestation is Trending

Manifestation is all the rage today, but it’s not a new concept. It started in the early 1900s with authors like Neville Goddard, Norman Vincent Peele, and William Walker Atkinson introducing the idea in books like Thought Vibration: Or The Law of Attraction in the Thought World.

Fast-forward a century to 2006, Rhonda Byrne revived the concept with The Secret, a self-help bestseller that sold millions of copies and brought manifestation into the global spotlight.

I think the cult of manifestation seems to be thriving now more than ever because of:

• Hyper-Individualism: We’ve lost touch and connection with a sense of belonging, community, and something greater than ourselves. The prevailing self-absorbed societal mantra is “You are the master of your destiny! Unless Mercury is in retrograde.”

• Social Media & Quick Wins: Everyone loves a cheap dopamine-fueled “Look what I manifested!” post on social media. But nobody ever talks about the hours of hustle and grind that probably made it happen.

• Disillusionment: When traditional success paths, corporate jobs, religions, and social structures like family dismantle and feel disconnected, it’s comforting to believe “the universe has your back.”

Add in celebrities and gurus hyping up their “manifestation mornings,” and you’ve got a movement that promises a shortcut to success that’s hard to resist.

Confidence Boost or Con Job?

Luckily there’s a new set of studies that put manifestation beliefs to the test so we can all step out of the patchouli-scented haze for some clear-eyed objectivity.

Here are the key findings:

• First off, manifestation beliefs are surprisingly common—a whopping 1/3 of the 1,000+ study participants believed in “manifestation.”

• Manifestors radiate optimism, and sometimes, their confidence creates a self-fulfilling prophecy that does lead to positive outcomes.

• But their overconfidence can backfire, driven by unrealistic ideas that they can reach big, unlikely goals (e.g. earning $300,000 a year or getting 100,000 fans) in a short time. This makes them emotionally vulnerable and easy targets for scams, unrealistic promises, and get-rich-quick schemes.

• They have a hard time dealing with setbacks in a realistic way. Instead of objectively looking at what went wrong, they excuse failures because they’re “not in vibrational alignment” which makes it harder for them to think critically or learn from their mistakes.

• Since they tend to dream big and believe they can achieve more, even when it’s unrealistic, manifestors take bigger financial risks which can lead to things like bankruptcy or failed businesses. They might throw their savings into a meme crypto coin or start a llama yoga business because they believe, “The universe gave me a sign!”

Ultimately, the study found no real link between manifestation and objective measures of success—like income or greater achievement.

What Actually Works?

Clinging to manifestation beliefs alone as the sole source of achieving your goals is like mapping a road trip but never starting the car.

It promises clarity without effort, confidence without risk, and success without sweat.

Here’s how to reframe manifestation into something useful:

1—Visualization + Action = Success Visualizing your goals is great and it works because your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) starts looking for ways to achieve them. But don’t just dream it—do it! Without action, you’re just daydreaming in HD.

Even if it’s 11:11 on the clock— skip the wishful thinking and instead use critical thinking to make a list of small, realistic action steps and get to work. Stop passively waiting on the universe for cosmic alignment.

2—Be Positive, But Not Unrealistic or Gullible Question the guru who promises you “$10K in 10 Days!” for $499. If it’s so easy, why aren’t they on a yacht instead of posting on IG or DM’ing you?

Before taking a big leap, think critically and ask rational questions: Is this risk based on well-thought out strategy or vibes and energy? Because vibes, good energy, delusional positivity without a realistic plan doesn’t pay rent.

3—Acknowledge Effort and Luck Manifestors love to credit the universe for their wins. But as the study subtly points out, success is much more about hard work, resources, and a touch of luck.

So put in the grind and celebrate micro-wins. Because success isn’t a single leap; it’s a collection of small, sweaty steps.

The Real Secret

Believing in yourself is powerful. Heck, sometimes it’s half the battle. 

But manifesting success also requires action, persistence, and consistency.

Here’s my hot take: The true power of manifestation isn’t in cosmic alignment—it’s in the clarity it provides. When you focus on your goals, your brain’s RAS filter is primed to pay attention to aspects of the world related to that goal.

Manifestation simply shines the spotlight on your desires.

It’s your mind saying, “Hey, you’re saying this matters so let’s find evidence of it.”

The rest? Well, that's up to you.

So, go ahead.

— Light the candles.

— Make your vision board.

— Say the affirmations.

Do you. But also… roll up your sleeves, make a plan, and get to work.

The real secret is combining manifestation plus action. Because while belief is powerful and the universe might vibe with your frequency— it’s your actions that truly move the needle.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to balance my aura and manifest a pizza delivery. 

Namaste, Shalom, & Stardust Wishes,

Shakila

p.s. Here’s the results of last week’s poll.