Part 5/7:
Magical Thinking and Secular Manifestation
The contemporary concept of manifestation, promoted through books like The Secret or popular even in mainstream media, exemplifies this dangerous conflation of thought and reality. It suggests that by wishing hard enough or visualizing success, individuals can manipulate external circumstances without regard to tangible effort or external factors.
This perspective neglects the complexities of reality and false-claims genuine agency. Instead, it fosters a magical mindset that can distract from practical action and realistic planning, creating false hope based on wishful thinking rather than grounded effort.