What is "manifesting", the well-being trend with billions of network shares?

Want to leave negative thoughts aside, and at the same time boost your morale? This is the idea of ​​"manifesting", a trend that mixes positive thinking and magic.

On social networks, in particular Tik Tok, a well-being trend has become particularly viral during confinements: the manifesting. It's simple: the #manifesting hashag has been used billions of times, and it's not over … "All the cool kids are demonstrating these days", announces the very serious Guardian. But what is behind this English term, which means "to manifest", "to express"? This is a slightly philosophical trend, a little well-being, which invites us to see the glass half full, hoping that this will have a positive impact on our life. A form of magical thinking: if we imagine very strongly what we want, we put all the chances on our side so that this wish comes true.

Manifesting is not a new concept: the term appears in this sense in 2006, in the personal development and bestseller book The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne. Which itself was inspired by the "law of attraction", a concept in vogue since the 19th century, which wanted our minds to be powerful enough to have an impact on matter, in particular, our physical health. We understand why the manifesting and its vast program (some will say smoky) works so well in a Web version, where it can be declined in podcast format, “inspiring” Instagram publications and other mantras. It is not surprising either that it experiences a boom in 2020, a year of extreme limitation of our physical actions due to confinement: with manifesting, we need nothing but our brains to regain control of our lives …

Does manifesting really work?

Once stripped of its digital finery, the manifesting recalls the positive thinking of our grandmothers … For Vice, this philosophical principle is even millennial and universal. "All thoughts turn into things one day or another", recalls the site, which points out that one of the (unofficial) spokespersons of the movement, the well-being instagramer Lacy Phillips, praised the merits on the Goop platform, of Gwyneth Paltrow, regularly criticized for his bullshit recommendations …

The manifesting may have a worldwide success, it is not based today on any scientific basis. But it is not for all that dangerous for health, since it does not invite to consume detox tea or to insert crystals in orifices which are not intended for this purpose. Like all pseudosciences, the important thing is undoubtedly to believe in it, like a placebo, and so much the better if we observe beneficial effects on our mind. Only downside: beware of injunctions. No, our minds are not all powerful, and it would be very toxic to invite anyone to "think positive" about problems with depression or anxiety, or even an illness. But nothing prevents yourself from feasting on feel good thoughts and sweet dreams, which will only be tastier if they come true.

Céline Péchard with CCM.

Celine Peschard

Journalist who likes the versatility that his job can offer. Specialized in the historical field, societal subjects and auteur films, against a background of electronic music. University curriculum based …