I tried manifesting every day for a month, here's what happened

Bernard O'Shea. Picture: Moya Nolan

Let's get down to the science of it. The power of manifestation isn't just fairy dust; it's rooted in psychology. Research shows positive thinking can boost mood, increase motivation, and even improve problem-solving skills. It's like training your brain to become the ultimate life coach.

According to mentalhealth.net, positive thinking isn't just a mental exercise; it can transform various aspects of daily life, ushering in a new reality. Committing to this shift and believing in the feasibility of your goals triggers a natural inclination to take concrete actions.

Positive thinking also bolsters self-esteem, empowering individuals with the confidence needed to pursue their dreams. While it's not a cure-all for deep-seated self-esteem issues or mental health challenges, it allows people to confront life with optimism, curbing negative thoughts and self-doubt.

But manifestation isn't just a new-age fad. Throughout history, cultures worldwide have used various methods to manifest their desires, from vision boards to prayers. The ancient Greeks even had a goddess of fulfilment, Eudaimonia!

For the ancient Greeks, notably Aristotle, Eudaimonia was the ultimate goal of human existence. It went beyond happiness and pleasure, focusing on cultivating virtues, excellence, and moral character. Aristotle believed that Eudaimonia could be achieved through a life of rationality, virtue, and realising one's full potential.

More recently, psychologists like Dr Barbara Fredrickson have shown that positive emotions, like those cultivated through manifestation, can broaden your mindset and increase resilience. It's like your brain inviting all the cool kids to the party, making life a never-ending adventure.

So, all we have to do is think positively; whatever your dream is, it will happen. Here's where the logic for me breaks down.

When we think of religion, particularly the Catholic faith, we are told that if our thoughts are faithful and virtuous, we will be also. We are first in line to get into club heaven. 

It's easy to force your mind to think a certain way if you believe that everlasting life is the reward.

But what if you're stuck in a job you hate, or like me, self-employed, and constantly looking for work? I can't just manifest myself in a Netflix series. I've tried, and it didn't work. This is where the backlash for manifestation theory has consistently failed. But its possible that I’m looking at it with my big, cynical, bogger head and missing the point.

So for the whole month of December, every day for 20 minutes, I thought about one thing I wanted to achieve. I set the timer on my phone every day and thought about flying an aeroplane. I made no effort to look up flying lessons online or any "real life" move to make it happen; I just sat quietly and launched my thoughts out into the universe. I didn't speak to anyone about my desire to fly. I ensured I didn't consciously or subconsciously bring it up in conversation.

By the second week, I was dreaming about flying a Boeing 747. My dreams became so vivid that during one dream, my kids even came up to see the cockpit. What's more, I always flew the plane to sunny destinations. Every time we landed, I could feel that continental heat on my body as I walked across the tarmac with my aviators and bright white crisp pilot's outfit.

When January hit, I thought about getting flying lessons. But I realised I was happier flying in my dream world. I didn't have to incur any expensive lessons, and there was no way I would iron a uniform. However, my consistent manifestations did offer me one eye-opening realisation.

The thought of doing something exciting was enough for me. When I started to manifest my dream work opportunities, the scientific rationale behind the theory really worked.

I stopped working on a script that showed potential and gained a bit of attention three years ago. During covid I retrained and moved sideways out of comedy and entertainment for a while. I had done nothing with the script since. So I took the week to manifest one positive thought: "What would happen if I got it made?" When I started working on it again, I didn't do it because I was motivated by getting a commission. I remembered that I simply loved writing dialogue and felt fulfilled by it.

So, has manifestation worked for me? It has I suppose if you value the journey over the destination.