Is Manfestation Bad? What It Is & How It Works

Co-authored by Jennifer McVey, Cht and Eric McClure

Last Updated: June 2, 2022 References

Manifestation has become increasingly popular in recent years, and you may be wondering if this fascinating trend is doing more harm than good. It’s complicated, but try to keep an open mind as you explore the potential benefits and downsides. There are a variety of ways that manifestation may be helpful, but a lot of it comes down to your attitude, beliefs, and mental health. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the pros and cons of manifestation.

Section 1 of 5:

What is manifestation?

It’s the practice of bringing an intention into reality by asking for it. Manifestation is based on the idea that the universe will give you anything you want if you believe in it and dedicate your energy to making it come true.^{[1]
X
Research source} You can manifest by writing about what you want, visualizing something happening, meditating on a goal, or speaking mantras and affirmations.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Expert Interview. 21 December 2021.}
- Manifestation is based on the “laws of attraction” from the 2006 book, The Secret, although a version of this has been around for centuries in certain religious traditions.

Section 2 of 5:

Does manifestation work?

No, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be valuable. There are indirect ways that manifestation may be helpful. Orienting yourself to stay positive and focus on your goals can also help you develop a growth mindset, and improve your attitude. It won’t magically make something happen, but just because it isn’t “real” doesn’t mean it can’t have real benefits.^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
American Psychological Association
Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists
Go to source}
- If manifestation improves your mood, and a positive mood makes it easier to achieve your goals, then you could make the argument it works in an indirect kind of way.

Section 3 of 5:

Is manifestation dangerous?

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There is nothing intrinsically dangerous about manifestation. There are some potential issues with manifestation depending on your personality and mental health, but there’s uniquely dangerous about it. Like anything in life, so long as you don’t obsess over it or place too much importance on the practice, you’re going to be fine.^{[4]
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- Think about it like exercise. Is exercise good or bad? Well, it’s good if it’s done correctly and you don’t overdo it. But it might be bad if you do it incorrectly and hurt yourself, or you obsess over it. But that wouldn’t really be exercise’s fault.
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Be aware that there are a lot of manifestation scams out there. If you’re interested in manifestation, don’t give any gurus your personal information or pay for any special guidance. You can learn everything you need to know about manifestation online—for free!^{[5]
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- A lot of people sell manifestation programs where they ask you to buy something for $20 or so, but with promises of helping you manifest thousands of dollars (or more). Don’t buy into it.

Section 4 of 5:

Potential Issues

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It may turn positive thinking into unproductive, wishful thinking. It’s good if manifestation helps you maintain an upbeat and productive attitude. However, putting too much weight into your manifesting may give you the impression that this is all you need to do to enact change. If this keeps you from being productive because you mistake manifesting as working, it might hold you back in the end.^{[6]
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- For example, if you’re trying to manifest a high-paying job but you aren’t updating your resume, looking for work, or networking, that manifestation may keep you from doing what you need to do.
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It might give you false hope that the impossible can happen. If you try to manifest something that can’t realistically happen but you convince yourself that it can if you just try hard enough, you may be disappointed in the end. Learning to let go of things that can’t happen is a good thing, but it’s a skill that needs to be cultivated. If manifestation blinds you to reality, it may not be productive.^{[7]
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- You can’t manifest the love of your life to show up randomly without pursuing a relationship, and if you spend a lot of time trying to manifest love you may build up false expectations in the end.
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It could exacerbate anxiety, depression, or symptoms of OCD. If you already have an issue with compulsive or negative thoughts, giving your thoughts more power may make your symptoms worse. If you have something like anxiety, learning to control your illogical thinking is a key component of getting better, but manifestation encourages wishfulness and letting go.^{[8]
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Research source}
- If you do have a mental or emotional disorder, talk to your therapist about manifestation. They’ll be able to give you specific guidance based on your personal situation.
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It may downplay the value of negative thoughts and feelings. Being scared, nervous, or doubtful can be a good thing! These feelings can keep you from making the wrong choice, or remind you of potential consequences. Manifestation can undermine these emotions, since the practice emphasizes positive thinking over everything else.
- Ever heard of toxic positivity? It’s the idea that being blindly positive and upbeat can keep you from acknowledging and dealing with negative emotions.
- Unpleasant feelings also give happiness its value and meaning. Nobody can be happy all the time, and that’s okay!
5
It can make you blame yourself if things don’t work out. If you spend weeks trying to manifest something when you’re convinced that’s all you need to do to get what you want, you may blame yourself if it doesn’t work out. Manifestation suggests that you can make anything happen if you try hard enough, and if it doesn’t work out, the implication is that you did something wrong. That can create a negative cycle.^{[9]
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- If you have a tendency to be really hard on yourself, manifestation might make it difficult to let go and accept yourself for who you are.

Section 5 of 5:

Potential Benefits

1
It can improve your attitude towards change. There is nothing wrong with dreaming big and hoping for the best. Manifestation implies that the universe can give you something if you adopt the right mindset, and that’s a powerful idea. If manifesting puts you in touch with the world around you and helps you keep a healthy focus, that’s a good thing.^{[10]
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- There’s a balance—there are things you have 100% control over, and there are things you have no control over. Manifestation can help many people understand that.
- If you try to manifest a new career and nothing changes, it may be the wakeup call you need to get motivated and take charge!
2
It might help you clarify what you want in life. Manifesting often requires long periods of focus, thinking, and reflection. In that journey, many people come to understand what they really want to achieve and pursue. If you feel lost, confused, or unsure of yourself, manifestation may help you pull some things into focus.^{[11]
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- For example, if you start manifesting a romantic partner but all of your visualization or freewriting is about not being alone, you may realize that you don’t need a relationship, you need a friend. Learning the value of companionship here can realign your focus.
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It may give you confidence to pursue your goals. There’s nothing wrong with believing that good things can happen.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Expert Interview. 21 December 2021.} If you’re naturally a pessimistic person and manifestation reassures you that your dream will become reality, it can be a huge motivator. People who assume the worst will happen may be more likely to give up, so in this sense, manifestation really can help you achieve.^{[13]
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Research source}
- If you’re worried about failing math class and manifestation gives you the hope you need to believe in yourself, you may score higher than you would have without the manifesting.
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It may relieve stress and calm your mind. Popular manifestation techniques involve visualization, journaling, positive affirmations, and meditation. These are well-established therapeutic exercises, and they can be deeply rewarding. Even if the things you try to manifest don’t come to reality, the practice itself may improve your headspace.^{[14]
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Research source}
- Daily meditation can improve your memory, boost your mood, give you more control over your emotions.^{[15]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
- Positive visualization can help reduce stress and improve your ability to sleep.^{[16]
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  Research source}
- Journaling is really beneficial when it comes to managing anxiety, stress, and fear. It can also help you track your headspace over time to identify triggers.^{[17]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  University of Rochester Medical Center
  Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
  Go to source}
- Positive affirmations may help you stick to your goals over a long period of time and encourage healthy behavior.^{[18]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
5
It can be empowering to feel in charge of what happens to you. The premise behind manifestation is that you have the power to create the world you want to live in.^{[19]
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Expert Source

Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Expert Interview. 21 December 2021.} For many people, this is deeply encouraging and powerful. If you find manifestation improves your overall outlook in life, that’s a good thing. Feeling like you can achieve anything can make you the best version of yourself!^{[20]
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Research source}
- Everything depends on your personal beliefs and attitude. If manifestation improves your relationship with the world and helps you, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is manifesting?

Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Jennifer McVey is a Spiritualist, Seer, and the Spiritual Director of Spiritual Answers and Solutions. With more than 22 years of experience, she specializes in manifesting, ghosts and spirit attachments, hypnotherapy, channeling, and spiritually based life coaching. Jennifer has also published 13 Affirmation Image and six Word Search Puzzle books in spirituality and self-help and has produced over 600 audio sessions.

Jennifer McVey, Cht

Spiritual Director

Expert Answer

Manifesting is based on the idea that you are a powerful creator who can create your own life.
Question

How can you manifest something?

Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Jennifer McVey is a Spiritualist, Seer, and the Spiritual Director of Spiritual Answers and Solutions. With more than 22 years of experience, she specializes in manifesting, ghosts and spirit attachments, hypnotherapy, channeling, and spiritually based life coaching. Jennifer has also published 13 Affirmation Image and six Word Search Puzzle books in spirituality and self-help and has produced over 600 audio sessions.

Jennifer McVey, Cht

Spiritual Director

Expert Answer

If you want to manifest something, write it down. Put the date you are writing on. Write a title. Use concise and positive wording. Then write the date by which you want it.