Tara Isabella Burton, an insightful author and cultural commentator, teams up with Rebecca Jennings, a features writer for New York Magazine, to dive into the fascinating world of manifestation. They discuss the surge of this belief system post-2020 and its prevalence on social media platforms like TikTok. The conversation touches on how manifestation blurs the lines between personal identity and societal expectations, and raises important questions about individualism versus empathy in today's digital age. Is manifesting making us less aware of our humanity?
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insights INSIGHT
Manifesting and Spirituality
Manifestation, a popular belief, suggests that strongly desiring something can bring it into reality.
It's often associated with spirituality and concepts like the law of attraction or "the secret."
insights INSIGHT
Online Manifestation and Engagement
Manifestation content online often uses engagement tactics.
These tactics encourage interaction and virality, blurring the lines between genuine belief and content promotion.
insights INSIGHT
Internet and Manifestation Symbiosis
The internet's algorithmic nature reinforces the idea of manifestation.
By tailoring content to individual desires, the online world creates a sense of reality being shaped by those desires.
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Published in 1952, 'The Power of Positive Thinking' is a classic self-help book that emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mindset to overcome life's challenges. Dr. Peale provides practical techniques such as affirmations, visualization, and faith to help readers build self-confidence, achieve their goals, and improve their personal and professional relationships. The book is rooted in Christian ethos and uses biblical teachings to guide readers towards a more fulfilling and joyful life.
The Secret
Rhonda Byrne
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne introduces the concept of the law of attraction, which suggests that positive thoughts can attract positive outcomes in life. The book outlines a three-step process: ask, believe, and receive. Byrne emphasizes the importance of gratitude, visualization, and maintaining a positive mindset to achieve one's desires. The book covers various areas such as prosperity, relationships, health, and happiness, and includes examples and quotes from historical and modern-day teachers who have allegedly used this principle to achieve their goals[2][3][5].
America is a deeply spiritual nation. Over 70% of us say that we feel spiritual in some way. But – at the same time – we're getting less religious. So for people who are spiritual-but-not-religious – what's replacing organized religion? What do they believe – and where does that show up in their day-to-day lives? In Brittany's series called Losing My Religion, It's Been a Minute is going to find out.
In her final episode of the series, Brittany is investigating so-called manifestation. It's this popular belief that if you want something badly enough, it'll come to you. You might know this idea by other names, like The Law of Attraction, or The Secret. Manifestation spiked in 2020, according to Google Trends, and it's still riding that wave online. Brittany calls on Tara Isabella Burton, an author and journalist, and New York Magazine's Rebecca Jennings to get to the bottom of this trend: the appeal of manifestation, its symbiotic relationship with the internet, and why it might make us less aware of our humanity.
Want to get to know Brittany? Follow her at @bmluse on socials.
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