Understanding The Manifestation Concept: Can All Desires Come True Depending On The Way Of Thinking?

Illustration (Unsplash / Ben White)

JAKARTA - A person's life can change 180 degrees by changing the way of thinking. One proof of this was told by the owner of the Twitter social media account @colatash which went viral after being flooded with tens of thousands of likes. In the world of psychology, this phenomenon is called manifestation. Tracing the history, this kind of concept has been put forward by the French philosopher Rene Descartes in the 15th century in his famous statement: "I think therefore I am." The question, is it true that by thinking about what we want, everything will come true?

We start with the @colatash story. In a thread on Twitter, she shared that she once felt ugly and untreated. That thought was ingrained deep enough in her mind, that she became a person who really didn't care about her appearance.

But ever since she changed her mindset, and convinced herself that she was beautiful, everything changed. "I prefer to eat healthy foods, like to workout, and most importantly, I don't really care what people think," she wrote.

Guys, if you want to study seriously, firstly you have to think that you are smart. It's called the manifestation. In fact, everybody's a smartass. Hear me out, I used to think I was ugly and untreated, that's why I ignored my appearance. But since I thought that I am beautiful, dedicated, +

— Rana (@colatash) February 3, 2021

She claimed to have succeeded in implementing the concept of manifestation. It is the key to her change. Then what is manifestation?

As explained in Psychology Today, basically this concept focuses on what we want and get it through what we think, say, and do. But most people think as if we just need to think positively, then all our wishes will be fulfilled.

But in reality, it is not as easy as blinking an eye. Psychologist Denise Fournier in her essay on Psychology Today emphasizes that the most important part of the concept of manifestation is about doing. It's not just a matter of thinking.

This certainly fits with @colatash's claim, who succeeded in transforming herself thanks to manifestation. Changes in her are indeed triggered by thoughts, but still, the final result or output is created from what she does. It is then as if we could possibly feel, that the universe has agreed to our thoughts.

Cogitu ergo sum

This concept of manifestation is not novel. The famous French philosopher Rene Descartes who lived in the 15th century once issued a "word", namely "cogitu ergo sum" which means "I think therefore I am".

Psychologist Tika Bisono interpreted Descartes' words that we do have the ability to direct our energies, to create what we want. "From another point of view, this is freedom of consciousness," said Tika to VOI.

Humans, said Tika, basically can move their own energy. "That's what's called motivation."

Motivation, said Tika, is fluctuating. It can light up, It can be dimmed. "It can't be bought, it has to come from ourselves," she said.

Tika said that when she provided counseling, it was not for her patients to make decisions. "But moving the person so that motivation arises."

Back to Decartes' statement, "I think therefore I am", said Tika, is actually favoring the strength of the mindset. "So that a person can manifest himself/herself according to what he/she wants."

French philosopher, Rene Descartes (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Complete control over yourself

In educational or developmental psychology, there is what is called the law of nature and the law of nurture. "Nature is related to innate talent, nurture is a parenting pattern that we get from outside," said Tika.

In terms of influence, human is faced with good and bad choices. When it is manifested continuously, these experiences belong to the human. "It has absolutely nothing to do with other people," said Tika.

Because according to Tika, God the Creator has indeed provided humans completely with what they need. In fact, according to her, the capabilities of the human brain which have been researched for hundreds of years will not be fully revealed. "Still remains a mystery."

Then what happened to @colatash looks like she has done a miracle. But it is not. Indeed she has had this ability since she was born.

However, said Tika, @colatash used to make a fatal decision in his life. She decided to listen to what people said that she was ugly.

"So, in fact, she can't blame what other people say, so she is influenced. She made the decision to badmouth herself."

Tika agrees that we can be greatly influenced by the words of others. But still, she said, the most final decision on ourselves is only ourselves.

"Who is the final decision maker? The last one, before the decision is continued with actions (indifferent to ourselves, indifferent to appearance), it is her (@colatash) taking the decision, right. We should be antithetic," said Tika.

Then if some bad things affect us, we should resist them. "Prove it if we are not bad," said Tika.