December 30, 2023
Writers: Abby Alvarado, CJ Dumaguin, Kyra Ballesteros
Researchers: Abby Alvarado, CJ Dumaguin
Editor: Richardson Mojcia
Graphics: Jia Moral
Tweetchat Moderators: Tobey Isaac Fhar Calayco, Allysa Jane Fincle
Oh, 2023. A not-so-easy year for some but others have embarked their journey with so much growth and fulfillment. That’s how people learn, anyhow. Looking back, we all gained valuable insights into our successes, challenges, and personal growth that paved the way in setting our focus and intentions to move forward on the path of personal growth, fulfillment, and awesomeness this 2024. Alright, let’s manifest!
One day left before we enter a new year, and it feels surreal. It seemed like only yesterday we were celebrating the arrival of 2023 – and now, here we are, preparing for what this brand new year would give us; manifesting that it wouldn’t be harsh this time. To prep themselves for the new year, people opt to write resolutions, construct vision boards, and cutie their way to success. According to piedmont.org, creating a New Year’s resolution vision board is a powerful way to visualize all of the things you want to do, be, and have in your life. It also serves as a daily reminder of your goals and is a great way to hold yourself accountable.
Basically, your New Year’s resolution envelopes the things in the current year that you want to maintain, improve, change, and new things to achieve. Maybe this year has not been kind to you; maybe events that caused turbulence in your life happened, these materials can be an insignia of promise that you will make things better. This leads us to the other trend that allegedly surmounts the effectiveness of resolutions and vision boards, and that is manifestation.
SETTING INTENTIONS FOR RENEWED MOTIVATION, NEW ENERGY, AND VIBRATION!
Manifestation is amplified when you take action where you feel guided regardless of how uncomfortable it makes you feel. We deserve to start anew. We can start off this 2024 strong with renewed motivation, new energy, and vibration! It’s okay if there are things that we have not accomplished or failed to do in 2023. We can always bring a fresh dose of motivation towards continuing to work out our goals with the Law of Attraction and manifesting into action by allowing ourselves to focus, feel, and change our frequencies to become a vibrational match to what we want to achieve.
While it is fine not reaching our goals yet, it is also important for us to take a moment to realize our choices and reflect on the experiences that we had this 2023. We sometimes fail to resist the pressures of life, losing the initial motivation to achieve those goals we set ourselves. The reasons for this high rate of failure are diverse, ranging from setting unrealistic expectations to lacking a clear action plan.
Instead of setting rigid goals, intentions allow for flexibility and adaptability, fostering a more sustainable and holistic approach to personal development. They invite us to reflect on what truly matters in our lives and to cultivate a positive mindset, creating a foundation for meaningful change and lasting transformation.
Setting intentions can give us the chance to create opportunities and to be open with experiences for our personal growth. Intentions focus on the present moment, encouraging individuals to cultivate a mindset aligned with their deepest values. In essence, while goals provide a destination, intentions offer a path.
Goals may create pressure and stress if not achieved, while intentions promote a more holistic and sustainable approach to personal development. Both can coexist harmoniously, with goals serving as the waypoints on the journey guided by intentions. The key lies in finding a balance that fosters continuous growth and fulfillment throughout the year.
POWER OF MANIFESTATION
Manifestation, in consonance with Jenners (2020), is the practice of thinking aspirational thoughts with the purpose of making them real. According to the same article, there are different ways to manifest. Some TikTok videos say that it can be as superficial as coming across a video. However, some also claim that manifestation is a practice that won’t be as efficient without connecting to the spiritual world prior. Scripting or writing down your manifestation thirty-three times is another way, allegedly. Given these assumptions, there are also some who believe that there is no right way to manifest.
In the Philippines, one popular way of manifesting is placing the word cutie after your wants, in a social media post between two stars ✨. For instance, if you want a new phone and you want to manifest it, all you need to do is to post “✨new phone cutie ✨” on Facebook or on any other platforms, as you wish. This trend arose when a tweet of a celebrity in the name of Maine Mendoza resurfaced, spelling “arjo cutie”, during her engagement with then-boyfriend, now husband, Arjo Atayde. Netizens believed that Mendoza’s post was a manifestation of her blossoming love life. With that, the word cutie snowballed through the internet.
✨2024 CUTIE ✨
As the year concludes, it is undeniable that we want the next year to be better than any other year that passed. With this comes thousands of cutie manifestation posts, praying for a slay-er 2024. Although it is alluring to think that we can solve our problems through manifesting, there are, in fact, no scientific studies that it is effective and that a person can actually manifest something through their mind (Michael, et al., 2023). The same source revealed, however, that some scientists suggest that positive thoughts can promote positive actions. These actions will then be our key to turning our manifestations into reality.
One related saying is, “faith without works is dead.” Meaning if one desires something, it is not enough to trust that the universe alone will make it happen, but if one works hard enough to earn those desires, the probability of bringing those dreams to life will increase inevitably.
Whatever the reason why we want to manifest a greater 2024, it is best to partner our faith with actions and remember that, as unfortunate as it is, not all of our aspirations come true through those combinations. To fix this, according to Jenn (2020), is to recalibrate. Ensure that you are aligned with your goals, and if you are no longer on the same page, it is best to consider manifesting something else. However, doing this comes with acceptance of what is not meant to be.
We all wish that 2024 will be kinder to us, but it won’t be without our help. Let’s make it happen. ✨2024 cutie ✨
Session Questions:
- Which events affected your mental health the greatest this 2023? How did you continue to take care of your mental health during?
- What habits will you continue to make sure you can take care of your mental health this 2024?
- Let’s manifest more community conversations in 2024! What kind of mental health-related topics do you want to talk about in 2024 with #UsapTayo?
If you or someone you know needs mental health consultation, kindly refer to our directory for mental health facilities, services, and organizations around the Philippines: https://mentalhealthph.org/directory/.
References:
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/21524975/manifesting-does-it-really-work-meme
https://www.thealignedlife.co/what-to-do-if-your-manifesting-isnt-working/
