A lot of people are manifesting: dreams, goals and a whole lot more. I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I also have a lot of respect for the manifesters. I admire their positive thinking and perseverance. After a long process, I'm now accepting that I may not be benefiting from this practice.
I have read and seen a lot of criticism about the manifestation ways. I'm not going to do that here. I have been looking into the good and the bad of manifesting, and I have nothing. Although this works for some, in my case, it didn't help much. I don't want to ruin a good thing. Of course, it can be a harmful practice if you don't keep an open mind, but so is anything in life.
I have nothing against manifesting; I just want to offer an alternative to anyone who struggles with magical thinking, obsessions, intrusive thoughts, depression, etc. Examine why manifestation doesn't work for some individuals with OCD and how setting an intention instead (without manifesting in the equation) could be a better fit. If manifestation works for you, manifest away, this post isn't for you.
What is Manifesting?
According to Julia Malacoff from InStyle magazine it is
In the simplest terms, manifestation is putting your intention towards something that you hope will happen, then watching it happen in real life. In other words, if you think it, it'll come true.
Manifestation has its rules, but it depends on who you ask. From what I have gathered, some in the manifestation community believe intrusive thoughts will not affect what you are working towards happening as long as you don't pay much attention to them. Others suggest bringing to minimum negative thinking, including intrusive thoughts, as these will affect the outcome of your manifestation negatively.
I have also heard the advice not to use negative language. As a result, I now have the compulsion not to use certain words or correct myself when I say stuff like: "I hate 'x' thing" I then follow it with, "Oh, well, I suppose hate is a strong word" from fear it may impact my goals. The more I avoid the word, the more I say it, and the more corrections follow. I want to clarify that no one is to blame here, I have OCD, and my friends gave me well-intended advice that has worked for them.
As for me, well…
I Don't Want to Hold Back Anymore
Ok - I have said this every day for the last week: I have a kidney infection. I wasn't treated properly for a UTI. Then, after I waited for my appointment for two weeks, the infection went up to my kidney. I'm now worried that I may die (OCD thinking). My only outlet has been writing when I can.
If I didn't have OCD, keeping calm would be much easier, but that isn't the case. At this point, I don't think I want to get rid of it, but rather understand it and face it, which is why I started therapy again to do Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
Another requirement for manifestation is to be sure of yourself all the time. I need to question manifestation; to not be 100% sure if I'm missing out on something good as part of this new ERP treatment. It is all part of living with uncertainty (and probably harmony 🌈).
Is There a Link Between OCD and Manifesting?
Disclaimer
I don't speak for the whole OCD community. Everyone's experience is different, and if you are someone with OCD that benefits from manifesting, then all power to you. This is my take on the topic from personal experience, not professional advice.
Now, I'm telling you not to dream, plan or work on what you want. Of course not. However, manifestation has the potential of both triggering the obsessive aspect of OCD and the compulsive too. Let's examine that:
If I don't manifest (think about what I want in life consistently), then it will not come true. The mental taxation of not thinking hard enough could be considered a magical thinking obsession. The mental compulsion could be to think on your goals when you catch yourself not manifesting.
If I don't act with consistency on what I want, it could mean I won't make it happen. (Acting a certain way to avoid supposed outcomes is considered compulsive behaviour). The more I do and think, the more I avoid bad things!
This may be taking things like the Law of Attraction (LOA) to an extreme, but with OCD, taking things to an extreme isn't always a conscious choice. You may have your take on the LOA or manifestation, but what happens when these beliefs control your thoughts and actions and are no longer just tools for motivation?
I think that if the reader is struggling with manifestation and magical thinking, my suggestion is to miss out on it altogether.
Take the Risk & Experience FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Maybe we non-manifesters will see the light someday. But, in the manifestation ways, if it isn't good for you, then let it go.
What I propose to do instead is to take the risk of missing out on the trendy-secret formula for success. Empathy, compassion, and therapy are generic but work.
Rather than manifesting, I like to set an intention in the present moment. Some do this as part of a manifestation routine, yet you don't have to. Setting an intention helps me write and keeps me on track. It also helps me focus on my therapy goals.
Setting an intention vs. manifesting, and FOMO
Setting an intention can be either of two things. One, setting an intent to a craft or two, thinking about what you like to focus on in the present moment. Checking in with yourself and seeing what you feel like doing.
The difference between setting an intention and manifesting is that instead of thinking about the same thing repeatedly till it comes true, I allow myself to be another uncertain grain of sand in the cosmos. I'm often scared that I'm missing out on manifesting a house, a car, or a job. But I have a to-do list, and that's all that matters now.
You will find the specifics in this journey. I'm happy that manifestation works for some out there. Take the risk of missing out on the trend if the trend isn't serving you. That's all for today.