I discovered manifestation on TikTok. It seemed to be more of that witchy mysticism that has gained such traction on social media these days. On further inspection, I realised it has more noticeable results than I expected.
Manifestation is by no means a new concept, but it is a rising trend, gaining prominence on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube. Manifestation is all about willpower translating into a tangible outcome. Similar to the Law of Attraction, it is “the belief that your thoughts and energy have the power to shape your reality”.
Manifestation Methods I Tried And What Happened
There is a lot of different manifestation methods out there to experiment with. A lot of them include writing of some kind; Journaling, mantras, little notes. Writing in the past tense is integral to almost all of the processes. Some people burn candles, some people hold crystals over their hearts, or play specific frequency sounds and music. Some people even make sigils. @witchy.tipss on TikTok demonstrates this process, and it’s quite beautiful really. @vibinwithciivii on TikTok claims that it’s not about asking, it’s about declaring and decreeing.
I tried three different manifestation methods:
- Affirmations
- Gratitude journaling and
- The 5×55 method
Affirmations are the easiest manifestation method to use, and they mainly consist of writing or speaking your wants and desires. Repeating affirmations like a mantra and using phrases such as “I have” or “I am” increases the effectiveness of this technique. You’re basically telling the universe what you want and hope for, and inviting these things into your life. For me, this method was more about making sure I spoke positively about myself and my future. It was about changing the way I conversed with myself, encouraging rather than critiquing. I discovered it’s also a fun game to play with your friends when drunk. Get happily tipsy and learn about each other’s goals and deeper, mushier aims for life.
Gratitude journaling was a lovely experience. The method revolves around you journaling. On one page, you will write all the things you currently have and are thankful for. On the next page, you will write down things you hope to have in the future. Make sure to write them how you did for the affirmations. For instance, “I’m so thankful I have found my soulmate.” This was a very introspective process, through which you could re-evaluate your life in terms of the success you have already had.
The 5×55 method I tried had much more tangible results than the first two. This technique requires you to choose an affirmation. For instance, “I am so thankful I received an offer to study at…” Once you have decided which affirmation, you will write this down 55 times, for 5 days. Two days after I completed this, I received an offer to study my masters. While I’m not saying this was the only reason for my success, it certainly came at a coincidental time.
While I’m still waiting on results on the first two of the methods I tried, I noticed an incredible difference in my optimism about the future. My goals are largely long term, but the experience has upped my productivity and planning.
What I Learned About Failure and Demoralisation From Trying Manifestation
I’ve always had a lot of ideas and dreams, and never really knew that this was something you could plan out, as well. That’s not a skill I was taught in school or university. How to visualise your future, how to find the steps for it, and make plans. Some people journal. Some make scrapbooks and vision boards. Some Pinterest boards, and now, TikTok’s. Small videos, snapshots of the life they want to live. I never did this. I’ve failed a lot in my short life. It creates a lingering impression, a constant shadow of imposter syndrome, and every failure that follows seems to reinforce my outlook on my life.
Writing out my affirmations and my gratitude journal entries have taught me that we only ever see progress at the end of it all. It’s hard to see how far you have come when you’re in the middle of it. Progress moves so slow it can be hard to track, and there is no progress without some pain.
It’s hard to know whether or not it’s the participation in these “rituals” that brings some universe-guided shift towards success. What is important, more than discussing this, is that it inspires people, especially vulnerable young people, to make moves towards bettering themselves and their lives. It lets them contemplate the projection of their life and the ways in which they can succeed in it.
If you approach Manifestation thinking things will magically fall into your lap, you’re not going to like the answer. Rather than witchy powers, manifestation acts more as a confidence/productivity booster. I’ve found it a balm — a momentary comfort, the same way tarot readings and horoscopes are. It’s hope, and it can be healing. It makes you introspective about your life, and the things and goals you actually want.
What I have learneded is that it’s natural to want to listen to negative or intrusive thoughts. But affirmations are a great way to hold yourself accountable to what you want and tell yourself that it’s achievable. The way you speak to yourself is a self-fulfilling prophesy, so manifestation is a great tool for some light self-care.
