I’m not manifesting anything
The subtle intrusion of new age beliefs
There’s a common idea in our society that we can manifest reality. Even those of us who don’t subscribe to any new age beliefs are subtly influenced by them.
I found myself being hesitant not to “speak something into existence”. But I had to pause mid-thought and ask myself… what do I mean by that? Do I truly believe that my words can create reality? That if I dwell on some negative thought about the future it will happen? Does that mean I then ought to feel guilt or responsibility if it does? And what makes me think I have this power anyhow? Where did this idea come from?
One of the most crucial ideas in “new age spirituality” is that one can manifest their reality. At its most extreme level, new age thinkers believe that all reality is only a manifestation of one’s thoughts and beliefs. That beliefs over all else create one’s life circumstances. This idea has become so prevalent we don’t consider the possibility that it is complete nonsense.
For one, the only speech that creates reality is the speech of God. But outside of Aqidah we can also ask if this idea is experientially true. Sometimes life just happens and it has nothing to do with us or our thoughts. It’s a big complicated world with varying will powers and actions in contradiction with each other. It’s also a confusing world where bad things happen to good people and good things to not-so-good people. The world is ordered and chaotic and the only one in complete control is God.
Through an experiential lens, I would say that rather than my thoughts manifesting into reality they are the starting point of focused attention/possibilities, which sometimes guide my actions and sometimes lead to outcomes aligned with the original thought.
Also, sometimes our thoughts are aligned with reality because Allah gave us that particular insight into some future happening; not because he gave us control of His world.
So while we shouldn’t want to —or at least I don’t want to, dwell too much on possibilities I’d rather not happen, I also don’t want to put too much weight on my words. Words and thoughts are just one of many possible factors that influence the world, while God is the only one whose will completely directs it.
And Allah knows best.